Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-10-11
CHAPTER XIV.

Sn6lr IL WOulQ nave Oe00 m0C0 sim.
pier. If he had been altogether frank
about Jack Bailey, and If the day after
the fire he had told me what he sus-
pected, there would have been no har-
rowing period for all Of us, with the
boy in danger. But young people re-
fuse to profit by the experience Of
their elders, and sometimes the elders
are the ones to suffer.
was much used up the day after
the fire, and Gertrude insisted on my
going out. The machine was tempo
farily out of commission, and the car
fiage horses had been sent to farm
for the summer. Gertrude finally got
. trap from the Casanova liveryman,
and we went out. Just as we turned
from the drive into the road we passed
Q woman. She had put down small
valise, and stood inspecting the house
and grounds infinitely. I should hard
~ have noticed her had it not been
for the fact that she had been horribly
disfgured by smallpox.
"Ugh!" Gertrude said, when We had
passed, what face! shall dream
Of it tonight. Get up, Flinders"
"Flinders?" I asked. els that the
horses name?'
ct is" She licked the horses
stubby name with the whip. HE
didn't look like livery horse, and
the !iveryman said he had bought
him from the Armstrong; when they
purchased couple of motors and cut
down the stable Nice Flinders-good
old boy"
Flinders was certainly not COM
mon name for a horse, and yet the
youngster at Richf1eld had named his
prancing. carly-haired little horse
Flinders! I. set me to thinking.
At my :-ersest Halsey had already
sent wo-l O. the fire to the agent
from who,n We had secured the house.
Also, he llsg' called Mr.. Jameson by
telephone. and somewhat guardedly
had told l''H of the previous nights
events. slt. Jameson promised to
come oct -'r' night, and to bring an
other Ilan with him. I did not con.
slider it rec ssa-y to notify Mrs Arm
strong in the village. No doubt she
knew of the fire, and in view of my
refusal to g;.e up the house an inter.
view would probably have been un.
pleasant enough. But as we passed
DIR. Walkers white and green house
U thought of something.
stop here, Gertrude" 1 said. .sl
an going to get out"
ITO see LOuise ." she ac1rod
mo, l want to ask this young Walker
something
She was curious, l knew, but I did
not wait to explain. l went I'D the
walk to the house, where brass sign
at the side announced the office, and
went iii. The reception room was
empty, but from the consultation
room beyond came the sound of two
voices, not very amicable.
"1t is an outrageous figure" some
one was storming. Then the doctors
quiet tone, evidently not arguing
merely stating something. But | had
not time to listen to some person
probably disputing his bill, so
coughed. The voices ceased at once
door closed somewhere, and the dot.
tor entered from the hall of the house
He looked sufficiently surprised at see
ing me.
Good afternoon, DOCTOR" 1 said
formally. Il shall not keep you from
your patient. | wish merely to ask q
question:
Won't you sit DOWN."
ut will not be necessary. Doctor
has any one come to you, either early
this morning or to-day, to have you
treat a bullet wound?"
Nothing so startling has happened
to me-. he said. IA bullet wound!
: Things must be lively at Sunnyside."
Il didn't say it was at Sunnyside.
But as it happens. it was. If any such
case comes to you, will it be too much
trouble for you to let me know?"
Il shall be only too happy" he said.
II understand you have had fire up
there. too. A fire and shooting in one
night is rather lively for quiet place
like that"
1T is as quiet as boiler-shop." l
replied, as turned to 60.
"And you are still going to stay?"
Until | am burned out" respond
ed. And then, on my way down the
steps. I turned around suddenly.
Doctor" / asked at a venture,
shave you ever heard Of a child
named Lucien Wallace?"
Clever as he was, his face changed
and stiffened. He was on his guard
again in a moment.
"IMcien Wallace?" he repeated.
mo. / think not. There are plenty Of
Wallaces around. but don't know any
Lucien."
was as certain as possible that
he did. People do not lie readily to
me. and this man lied beyond doubt.
But there was nothing to be gained
now; his defenses were up, and left,
half irritated and wholly baffled.
Our reception was entirely different
ut DIR. Stewards. Taken into the
bosom Of the family at once, Flinders
tied outside and nibbling the grass at
the roadside, Gertrude and I drank
some homemade .elderberry wine and
told briefly of the IRE. OF the more
serious part Of the nights experience,
Of course. we said nothing. But when
at last we had left the family on the
porch and the good doctor was unity
ing our steed. asked him the same
question had put to DR.. Walker.
Shot" he said. "Bless my soul,
no Why, what have you been doing
up at the big house. Miss Innes?"
Some one tried to enter the housa