The Irish standard., 1909-03-20
CHAPTER III.
Z, Meet Mr.. REGINALD Gillespie.

40 IlSdI tu lue co " a. OebA -
figure sprawled on the veranda and my
Japanese boy spoke to me softly. The
moon was at full and drew up in the
shadow of the house and waited lima
had been with me for several years
and was a hoy of unusual intelligence.
He spoke both English and French ad-
mirably, was deft of hand and wise Of
mind, and 7 was greatly attached to
him. His courage, fidelity and dis
erection I had tested more than once.
He lay quite still on the pier, gazing
out upon the lake, and ] knew that
something unusual had attracted his
attention. He spoke to me in mo-
ment, hut without turning his head.
"A man has been rowing up and
down the shore for an hour. When
be came in close here I asked him
what he wanted and he rowed away
without answering. He is now on
there by the school,"
Probably a summer boarder from
across the lake" ay
Hardly. sir. He came from the d.
rection OF the village and acts
quecrly."
I flung myself down on the pier and
crawled out to where lima lay. We
lay by the post that bore the three
lanterns. and watched the slow move
ment Of a rowhoat along the margin
Of the school grounds. st. Agathas
maint aims athouse for the use OF
students, and the pier lights-red,
white and red-lay beyond the boat.
man. and he seemed to he drawing
slowly toward them.
Drop one of the canoes into tho
water" I said: and I watched tho
prowling boatman while Lima crept
back to the boat house. The canoe
was launched silently and the boy
drove It out to me with few light
strokes. took the paddle. and we
crept close along the shore toward
the st. Agatha light, my eyes intent
on the boat, which was now drawing
was feeling his way carefully, az
though the region was unfamiliar; but
he now landed at the pier and tied his
boat. hung hack in the shadows
until he had disappeared up the bank.
then padded to the pier, told lima to
wait, and set off through the wood
path toward ST. Agatha's.
Where the wood gave way to the
broad lawn that stretched up to the
school buildings caught sight Of my
quarry. He was young fellow. not
above average height. hut compactly
built. and stood with his hands thrust
hoyishly In his pockets. gazing about
with frank interest in his surround
ings. He was bareheaded and coat
less. and his shirt-slccves were rolled
to the elbow. He walked slowly
along the edge of the wood, looking
or toward the school buildings, and
while his manner was furtive there
was. too. an air OF unconcern about
him and heard him whistling softly
to himself
He now withdrew into the wood
and started Off with the apparent In
tention Of gaining view of ST. Aga
tha's from the front. and followed.
He seemed harmless enough; he
might he a. curious pilgrim from the
summer resort; but I was Just now
the guardian Of st. Agatha's and In
tended to learn the strangers bust
ness before had done with him. He
reached the driveway leading in from
the Annandale road without having
disclosed any purpose other than that
Of viewing the vine-clad walls with a
tourists idle interest. The situation
had begun to bore me, when the
school gardener came running out OF
the shrubbery, and instantly the
young man took to his heels.
Stop! Stop!" yelled the gardener.
The mysterious young man plunged
wind.
after him. Andy. After him!"
yelled to the Scotchman.
7 shouted my own name to reassure
him and we both went humping
through the beeches. Whoever the
young gentleman was. he had no in
tention of being caught; he darted in
and out among the trees with astound-
ing lightness. and saw in a moment
that he was slowly turning away to
the right
Run for the gate!" called to the
gardener, who was about 20 feet away
from me, blowing hard. ! prepared to
gain on the turn If the young fellow
dashed for the lake; and he now led
me a. pretty chase through the flower
garden. He ran with head up and ell
bows close at his sides. and his light
boat shoes made scarcely any sound.
He turned once and looked back and,
finding that I was alone. began
amusing himself with feints and
lodges, for no other purpose,
fancied. than to perplex or wind me.
BY this time had grown pretty
angry, for a foot race in school gar.
den struck mo with disgust as q child:
ish enterprise, and I bent with new
spirit and drove him away from his
giddy circling about the summer
house and beyond the only gate by
which he could regain the wood and
meadow that lay between the garden
and his boat He turned his head