, 1908-05-21
CHAPTER XIII.

''"eu soHie breakfast, though i believe
no one had manifested an appetite.
and we were cheering ourselves with
the idlest talk possible. %stoddsrd, who
mad been to the chapel for his usual
seven o'clock service, was deep in the
pocket Greek testament he always car.
rled.
Bates ran In to report q summons
at the outer wall, and Larry and I
went together to answer it. sending
Bates to keep watch oward the lake.
Our friend, the sheriff, with a dep
uty, was outside in a buggy. He stood
up and talked to US over the wall.
You gents understand that I'm only
doing my duty. It's an unpleasant
business. but the court orders me to
eject all ~trespassers on the premises,
and I've got to do It."
The Law is being used BY an in
famous scoundrel to protect himself.
I don't intend to give In. We can hold
out here for three months. II neces-
sary, and I advise you to keep away
and not act as a tool for a man like
Pickering"
The sheriff listened respectfully.
resting his arms on top Of the wall.
You ought to understand. Mr.. Glen
arm, that I amt the court: I'm the
sheriff, and it's not for me to bass on
these questions. I've got my orders
and I've got to enforce EN-. and I hope
you will not make it necessary for ne
to use violence. The Judge said to me,
We deplore violence in such cases.
Those were his honor's very words"
You may give his honor my compli-
meats and tell him that we are sorry
not to see things his way. but there
are points involved in this business
that he doesn't know anything about,
and we, unfortunately, have no time
to lay them before him"
The sherif's seeming satisfaction
with his position on the wall and his
disposition to parley had begun to
arouse my suspicious. and Larry sew
eral times exclaimed impatiently at
the a~bsurdity of discussing my affairs
with a person whom he insisted on
calling a constable, to the sherif's evi-
dent annoyance.
"YCu, e'"-wc've got our eve on yuu,
~ " - H'.-ar cone a q laace
able. Laurance Donovan; the descrtp-
tons fits you to a u"
You could buy a nice farm with
that reward, couldn't you" began
Larry, but at that moment Bates ran
toward us calling loudly.
They're coming across the lake.
sir" he reported. and instantly the
sheriff's head disappeared, and as we
ran toward the house we heard his
horse pounding down the road toward
st. Agatha's.
The law be damned. They don't in
tend to come in here by the front door
as a matter of law" said Larry. Pick
ering's merely using the sheriff to give
responsibility to his m~aneuvers."
1t vas no time for a discussion of
motives. We ran across the meadow
past the water tower and down to the
~boat-house. Far out on the lake we
saw half a dozen men approaching the
Glenarm grounds. They advanced
steadily over the light snow that lay
Upon the ice. one man slightly in ad-
vance and evidently the leader.
Its Morgan" exclaimed Bates.
And there's Ferguson
Larry chuckled n slapped his
thigh.
Observe that stocky little devil Just
behind the leader. He's my friend
from Scotland Yard. Lads! this is
really an international AFFAIR"
Bates, go back to the house and
call at any sign of attack" l ordered.
1.-THE sheriff's loose somewhere"
NAra DiaHarinU 10 dfracftn0 htQ
forces from afar," remarked Stoddard.
81 count ten men in Morgan's line"
said Larry, and the sheriff and his
deputy make W more. That's IL, not
counting Pickering. that we know OF
ON the other side"
Warn them away before they get
much nearer" suggested Stoddard.
I'VE don't want to hurt people II we
can help it,"-and at this / went to the
INT of the pier. Morgan n his men
were now quite near, and there was no
m~istaking their intentions. Most OF
them carried guns, the Others r.
volvers and long ice hooks.
Morgan" | called, holding up my
hands for a truce, I'VE wish you no
harm, but If you enter these grounds
you do so at your peril.
They had paused at a word from
Morgan and listened sullenly.
Were all sworn deputy sherins,"
called the caretaker smoothly. We've
got the law behind u.s."
THAT must be why you're coming
In the back way" replied.
The thickset man whom Larry had
identified as the English detective now
came closer and addressed me in =
high key.
You're %harboring a bad man, Mr..
Glenarm. You'd better give him up.
I've got my papers and h American