The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-04-14
Ole
MYSTERY
By Stewart Edward White
And Samuel Hopkins Adams
Copyright, 1907. by Mcclure, Phillips Co.
CHAPTER XVIII.

~ nothing TO do but smoke ana To
chew my cud, which was bitter. There
could bc no doubt, however | may have
saved my face, that command had
been taken from me by that rascal
Handy Solomon. was In two minds
as to whether or not should attempt
to warn barrow or the doctor. Yet
what could l say and against whom
should l warn them? The men had
grumbled, as men always do grupblc
In idleness, and had perhaps talked a
little wildly. but that was nothing.
The only indisputable fact ! could
adducc was that had allowed my
Authority TO slip through my fingers.
And adequately 10 excuse that should
khavc TO confess that | was writer
and no handler of men.
l abandoned the unpleasanttraln.o of
thought with a snort Of disgust hat II
had led me to another. In the Joy and
uncertainty of living | had practically
lost sight Of the reason for my coming.
With me II had always been morc'thc
adventure than the story. My writing
was byproduct, utilization of what
life offered me. | had set sail pos
sessed by the sole idea of ferre;ing
out DR. Schermerhorns investigations.
but the gradual Development of affairs
had eaded by absorbing my every fac.
ulty. Now. cast into IN eddy hy my
change of fortunes. the original idea
regained its force. was out of the
active government of affairs. with
leisure on my hands. and my thoughts
naturally turned with curiosity again
to the laboratory in the valley.
Darrow's ''devil fires We're again
painting the sky. I had noticed them
from time To- time. always with In
creasing wonder. The men accepted
them easily MS only one OF the uncx-
planned phenomena OF a sailors expert
cnce. but had not as yet hit on, n
hypothesis that suited me- they were
not allied 20 the aurora. They differed
radically from the ordinary volcanic
emanatlons and scarcely .resembled
any electrical displays | had ever seen.
The night was cool. The stars bright
| resolved to investigate.
Without further delay arose TO my
feet aud set OF into the darkpess. I'm.
medigtcly one Of the group detached
himself from the fire ana Joined me.
Going for a little walk. sir;' asked
Handy Solomon sweetly. That's quite
right and proper. Nothin' like little
walk 10 get you ct and right for your
bunk"
He held close to my elbow. We got
just as far as the stockadc In the bed
of the arroyo. The lights we could
make out now across the zenith, but
owing to the preclptapce Of the cliffs
and The rise OF the arroyo bed It was
impo, sible to see more. Handy Solo
mon felt the defenses carefully.
"A man would think. sir, IL was a
cannijal island" he observed. "All so
tight and tidylike here. 1t would take
ships guns to batter her down. \
man might dig under these here two
gate logs II no one was against him.
Like to try It. sirf'
mo-" | answered grufily.
From that time on | was virtually a
prisoner. yet so carefully was my sur
yeillance accomplished that ! could
place my finger on nothing dehnite.
Some one always accompanied me on
my walks, and in the evening l was
herdcd as closely ms any cattle.
Handy Solomon took the direction Of
affairs OFF my hands. You may be sure
he set no very heavy tasks. The men
cut little wood. carried up a few
pals of water. That was all.
Lacking incentive to stir about, they
came to spend most OF their time lying
on their backs watching the sky. This
in turn bred q languor which Is the
siclSes3t, most soul and temper destroy
Ing affair Invented by the devil. They
could not muster up energy enough TO
walk down the beach and back. and
yet they were wearied to death Of the
inaetion. After a little they became
irritable toward one another Each
suspected the other of doing less than
he should. You who know men Will
realize what this meant.
The atmosphere of our camp became
surly. / recognized the precursor of its
becoming dangerous. One day on Il
walk in the hills came on Thrackles
and Pulz lying on their stomachs gaz-
ing down fixedly at DIR. Sehermer-
horns camp. This was nothing OK
traordinary. but they started guilty
to their feet when they saw me and
made of. growing under their breaths.
| All this that I have told you so brief
ly took time. 1t was tine eating
through of mems spirits by that worst
of corrosives, idleness. l conceive II
Unnecessary tn weary you with the de-
tails.
| The situation was as yet uneasy,
but not alarming. One evening ]
overheard the beginning of an absurd
plot 10 gain entrance TO the valley.
That was as-far as detail went. be
came convinced at last that ! should
In some way warn Percy barrow
That seems simple enough propo-
si.ion. does 1t not? But II you VII!
lstop TO think one moment of the DIFF
faculties of my position you VIII see
THAT it was not as easy as at first 1t
lo,,oo.. no.~n.t. etfIt yfgftQ1 u9 In