, 1908-02-20

dinner hour one day and change it the
next. Bates wished to make CONVEX
sation-the sure sign of a guilty con
science in a servant,-and | was not
disposed to encourage him.
1 closed the doors carefully and be-
gan q thorough examination of both
the sitting-room n the little bed
chamber. l was quite sure that my
own effects could lot have attracted
the two men who had taken advantage
of my absence to visit my quarters.
Bates had helped unpack my trunk
and undoubtedly knew every item of
my simple wardrobe. | threw open
the doors of my three closets and
found them all in the good order
established by Bates. He had carried
my trunks and bags to a store-room,
so that everything / owned must have
passed under his eye. My money
even. the remnant Of my fortune that
| had drawn from the New York bank,
l had placed carelessly enough in the
drawer Of a chiffonier otherwise filled
with collars. It took but a momen to
satisfy myself that this had not been
Ehhu " VIC outV q 4
was not necessary to open a drawer
that had. from its appearance, never
been locked. The game was deeper
than / had imagined: l had scratched
the crust without result, and my wits
were busy with speculations as |
brushed my clothes, pausing frequent
ly to examine the furniture. even the
bricks or the hearth.
One thing only | found-the slight
scar of a hammer-head on the oak
paneling that ran around the bed
room. The wood had been struck
near the base and at the top OF every
panel. for though the mark was not
p%erceptible on all. a test had evidently
been made Systematically. With this
as a beginning. / found a moment
later q sDot OF tallow under a heavy
table in one corner. Evidently the
furniture mad been moved to permit
Of the closest scrutiny Of the paneling
Glenarm House really promised to
prove exciting. look from a drawer
Q small revolver, filled its chambers
with cartridges and thrust 1t into my
hip pocket. whistling meanwhile Larry
Donovan's favorite air. The Marche
Funebre de Ma%rionnettes My heart
vent out to Larry as | scented adven.
ture. and I wished him with me; but
speculations as to Larry's where
abouts were always profitless. and
quite likely he was in Jail somewhere.
The ham of who's excellence Bates
had limited was no disappointment.
ri, - to I hoyn a1yyavS hold nnthtnU
better In this world than a properly
baked ham ard the srccir' n Bate
placed before me was a de- Z 10 The
eys.-so adorned was 1t with spices:
80 crisply brown Its outer coat; and =
taste,-that first tentative taste. be-
fore the sauce was added,-was like
q dream of Lucullus ON true. / felt
that | could forgive a good deal in q
cool with that touch.-anything short
Of arson and assassination!
Bates" said. as he stood forth
where | could see him, you cook
amazingly well. Where did you learn
the business?"
Il can hardly say | know II. sir.
Your lamented grandfather grew very
captious. Mr.. Glenarm. l had to learn
to satisfy him. and l believe | did It.
sir, II you1l pardon the conceit."
He didn't die Of govt. did he? I
can readily imagine It."
mo, Mr.. Glenarm. 1t was his heart.
He had his warning OF It,"
"Ah, yes; to be sure. The heart or
the stomach,-one may as well fail as
the other. | believe l prefer to keep
my digestion going as long as possible.
Those grilled sweet potatoes again. II
you please, Bates"