Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-08-14
CHAPTER vI1I.-(Continued1


got to the palings by the park, and
kept them in touch until at length |
reached the carriage drive gate of Flex-
more's house. BY this time, what with
one accident and another, it must have
been pretty nearly four o'clock. There
were lights in the house. Before the door
stc-d Lynn Yeames' mare, Flexmore's
gardener holding her head.
Afternoon, sir" said he in an under
tone that spoke of calamity. There was
foreboding silence, also, on the part of
the maid servant as she opened the sit
ting room door.
Miss Ddlrymple was on her knees be-
fore a big chair drawn near the fire, In
which little Laure sat, her face buried
in her hands. They were not aware of
my presence. l left them, closing the
door behind me in silence.
Where is Mr.. Yeames?" l asked of the
mad who waited in the hall.
Upstairs in masters room, sir" she
replied lugubriously.
Neames was standing by his uncle's bed
side; he thrust his hands quickly in his
| pockets as the door opened and | entered.
No one else was there. l went in silence
to the bed and looked down. Flexmore's
eyes were closed, but his jaw had drop
ped.
You're a bit too late with that will"
said Yeames, in a tone and with an ex-
preston on his face that implied a good
deal-a tone of subdued POPULARITY, cum
ming leer that babe me understand he
knew why hadn't come earlier. why,
what have you been doingT he asked
with surprise. You're a sight to be
SEEN"
"How long has he been gomez" asked,
Indifferent to my appearance
"Oh, not above a quarter of an hour.
Gertrude's just gone down. She did all
that was possible to restore vitality. But
it's all over this time. He won't come
} back any more, as the song says"
Have you sent any one for DR.. Aw-
drey? He ought 10 be here"
"Of course he ought, but l suppose he's
got some interesting pauper to look after.
l went for him myself. The old boy
was shocking bad when l arrived here
after leaving you. l went over to Aw-
drey at once, but he was out; came back,
and by that time nunky was pretty near
} the finish"
"Was he in a state of consciousness at
lndJ LlLne VI uJI!
"Well, he was conscious enough to ash
for you, and wonder why you hadn't
; turned up"
/. 1t occurred to me that Lynn Yeames
l seeing his uncle's precarious condition
had himself stretched that cord for me-
{ instead of going for DR.. Audrey, in order
to prevent my arriving in time to gel
\ Flexmores signature to the will.
e do you know why l did not turn up
= as you call it?' l asked sharply.
. mot 1; but you're not sorry, sup
: pose, that you did not get here in time
a 1t was on the tip of my tongue to re
4 tort, Not SO sorry as you may have rea
= son to be, Mr.. Yeames :" but said moth
ing, for l wished to see how far THU
Z young mans faulty would carry him, ant
t contented myself with thinking of tn
e bitter punishment in store for him whel
# he should find out how completely he hat
deceived himself. Certainly no self-de
ception could be more complete than his
= Assured of my venality, led away by hi
: own hopes and over-confdence in the sue
9 cessful issue of his cunning, be apparent
2 ly felt as sure of being possessed of hi
uncle's fortune as though the thousand
) we're already in his hands.