The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-07-01

about TO build this man had given the
lavish and inquistive fastener n plan
Of the secret passages--to use In his
own future residence. Whether Al.
kins went alone or In company 20 the
Casa Fuerte the detective could only
surmise lie couldn't tell whether his
object would be mere blackmail. or
robbery OF the cipher. or assassination.
Perhaps he found tho insensible man
In the patio and was tempted by the
grisly opportunity; victim and weapon
both absolutely TO his hand; for II
was established that the dagger had
been shown Tracy by Mercer a. .
eurio. and left on the stone bench.
Perhaps he had not found the dag.
ger. but had his own means 90 make
an end OF his enemy and bis own ter
ror Blrdsall believed that he had &C
completes. or At least one accompllce.
with him. He conceived that they
had lain In ambush watching until
they saw kito go away Then an
entry had been made. Most like"
Birdsail concluded. he Jest nung that
dagger away for you folks TO hnd and
suspect the domestics. say Kiio. cause
he was away" hut this was not all
that Dirdsall had 20 report. IIc had
traced Atkins 10 the haunts Of certain
unsavory Italians; he had struck the
trail. in fine To BE- sure. II ran under.
ground and was lost In the brick
walled and slimy.tlmbercd cellars OF
Chinatown which harbored every sin
and crime known TO civilization or 10
savagery. What mAtterG by grace Of
his aunts powerful friend they could
track the wolves even through those
nolsomc burrows
Yes" sighed the colonel. stretching
out his arms. with a resonant breath
Of relief. we're out OF the maze: all
We have 10 do now IL to keep from be
ing killed. Which isn't such a plain
proposition In Frisco NJ In Massa-
chusettsi but reckon We can tackle
Il! And thcn-thcn. my darling. I
shall dare b. happy"
lie found himself leaning on hs
windowsill and staring like a boy on
the landscape. lost In the lovely hal
luclnations Of moonlight II was no
scene that he knew. Il was a vision Of
old Spain: and by and by from yonder
turret the princess. with violcts In her
loosened hair and her soft cheek like
satin and snow. would lean and look.
ii 10 meuvs a lastima mi e,srno pa
decor.
Como 10 amo. smams. belllssina nujsri
"Ah. no. little Girl" he muttercd
with a shake OF the head. 4 Ike ~
better 10 have you a plain. American
gentlewoman. a. Aunt Becky would
say. who could send me 10 battle with
a nice little quivery bmilc-sweet-
hearti on. I'm not good enough for
you. my dear. my dear" lie felt an
immense humility as he contrasted his
own lot with the loneliness OF
Keatcham ana Mercer and the multi.
tude OF solitaries In the world. who
had lost. or sadder still had never
possessed. the divine dream that IL
the only reality OF the soul. As such
thoughts moved his heart. suddenly In
the full tide OF hope and thankfulness.
glimpse OF an iceberg In summer seas.
Yet how absurd; Il was only that he
had recalled his stolcal aunts most
unexpected touch OF superstition.
Quite In Jest he had asked her n she
felt any presentlments or queer things
In her bones tonight lie expected TO
be answered that Janet had driven
every other anxiety out OF her mind:
and how was abe 20 break II 10 Mill.
centg-or with some such cAustic re-
partee. Instead. she had replied test
lily: yes. I do. Berthe feei-hor.
rid feel as II something out OF the
common awful we're going 90 happen.
II isn't exactly Atkins either. DO you
reckon II could be the suey When.
that bamboo-shoots mess we had for
dinner"
Although they spent a good 20 min.
utes after that, joking over super.
stitions, and he had repeated 10 her
some OF Tracy's and Arnolds most In.
genious "spooky stunts" 10 make the
neighborhood keep its distance from
Casa Fuerte. and they had laughed
freely. she as heartily as he. never
theless he OWNED that her smile was
apretense. Suddenly. an unruly tremor
shook his own Arm spirits. Looking
out on the stepped and lanterned
arches OF the wing. he was conscious
OF the same tragic endowment OF the
darkened pile. which had oppressed
him that night. weeks before. when he
had stood outside on the crest OF the
hill; and the would-be murderers
might have been skulking In the
shadows OF the pepper trees. lie tried
yainly TO shake on this dlstempered
mood. Although he might succeed for
a moment In a lovers absorption. Il
would come again. insidiously, seep.
ing through his happiness like a fume.
After futile attempts to sleep he rose.
and still at the bidding OF his uncanny
and tormenting impulse he took his
bath and dressed himself for the day.
by this time the ashen tints OF dawn
| were I'm hla ohamhor and m, .ha