Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1909-12-11


ridge was did not matter; it was evil
dent that Holbrook was quite at home
In the canoe-maker's house, and that
he had no intention of calling any one
else into our affairs He had undoubt-
eddy heard the revolver shots below
and rushed from the cottage to inves-
t1gate; and, meeting me in full flight,
he had naturally taken it for granted
that was involved in some designs on
himself. AS he leaned against a
table by the door his grave blue eyes
scrutinized me with mingled indigna-
ton and interest
l seemed to puzzle him, and his gaze
swept me from head to foot several
times before he spoke. Then his eyes
flashed angrily and he took a step to-
ward me.
Who in the devil are you and what
do you want?'
My name is Donovan, and 1 don't
want anything except to get home
Where do you come from at this
hour of the night?"
Il am spending the summer at Mr..
Glenarm's place, near Annandale''
That's rather unlikely; Mr.. Glen
arm is abroad. What were you doing
down there on the creek?"
L wasn't doing anything until two
men came along to kill you and I
mixed up with them and got badly
muSSed for my trouble"
He eyed me with a new interest
'They came to kill me, did they?
You tell a good story, Mr.. Donovan"
quite SO. 1 was standing on the
deck of the houseboat, or whatever it
is
Where you had no business to
be-
Granted. I had no business to be
there; but 1 was there and came near
getting killed for my impertinence, as
1 have told you. Those fellows rowed
up from the direction of the lake. One
of them told the other to call you to
your door on the pretense of summon
ing aid for a broken motor car off
there in the road. Then he was to
stab you. The assassin was an Ital-
IAN His employer spoke to him in
that tongue. 1 happen to be &C
quainted with it,
You are a very accomplished per-
son. he observed, dryly
He walked up to me and felt my
pockets.
Who fired that pistol?"
'.The man in charge of the expedi-
ton. The Italian was trying to knife
me on the deck, and l broke away
from him and ran. His employer had
gone back to the boat for safety and
he took a crack at me as 1 ran across
the platform. It's not the fault of
either that I'm not quite out of bust
ness
An inner door back of me creaked
slightly. My captor swung round at
the sound.
20 Rosalind, It's all right. A gen.
tleman here lost his way and I'm Civ
ing him his bearings"
The door closed gently, and / heard
the sound of steps retreating through
the cottage. / noted the anxious look
in Holbrook's face as he waited for
the sounds to cease; then he ad-
dressed me again
MIR. Donovan, this is quiet neigh
borhood, and 1 am a peaceable man,
whose worldly goods could tempt no
one. There were undoubtedly others
besides yourself down there at the
creek, for one man couldn't have
made all that row; but as you are the
one I caught 1 must deal with YOU
But you have protested too much; the
idea of Italian bandits on Tippecanoe
ton, but it doesn't appeal to my COM
mon sense. 1 don't know about your
being a guest at G1enarm house
even that is fimsy. A guest in the
absence of the host is just a little too
fanciful. I'm strongly disposed to
take you to the calaboose at Tfppe-
canoe village"
Having been in Jail several times IN
different parts of the world was not
anxious to add to my experiences in
that direction. Moreover, I hal come
to this lonely house on the Tippeca-
noe to gain information touching the
| movements of Henry Holbrook, and l
did not relish the idea of being thrown
into country Jail by him. resolved
| to meet the situation boldly.
you seem to accept my word re-
| luctantly, even after 1 have saved you
from being struck down at your own
| door, Now 1 will be frank with you.
1 had a purpose in coming here
He stepped back and folded his arms
Yes, 1 thought so.'' He looked
| about uneasi1y, before his eyes met
mine His hands beat nervously on
| his sleeves as he waited, and / re-
solved to bring matters to an issue by
speaking his name
L know who you are, Mr.. Hoi-
brook"
His hands went into his pockets
again, and he stepped back and
| laughed
You are a remarkably bad guesser,