The Irish standard., 1909-04-03

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 I 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..
Glenarms place, near Annandale."
That's rather unlikely: Mr.. Glen.
arm is abroad. What were you doing
down there on the creek?"
II wasn't doing anything until two
men came along to kill you and
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 good story, Mr.. Donovan"
Quite so. I was standing on the
deck of the houseboat, or whatever it
is"
Where you had no business to
be-
Granted. had no business to be
there; but was there and came near
getting killed for my impertinence, as
I 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 broken motor car of
there in the road. Then he was to
stab you. The assassin was an Ital.
ian. His employer spoke to him in
that tongue. l happen to be &C.
quainted with it.
"You are 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 crack at me as ran across
the platform. It's not the fault Of
either that I'm not quite out Of busi'
ness"
An inner door back Of me creaked
slightly. My captor swung round at
the sound.
20 Rosalind! It's all right. A gen.
t.eman here lost his way and I'm CIV
ing him his bearings"
The door closed gently, and I heard
the sound of steps retreating through
the cottage. I noted the anxious look
in Holbrook's face as he waited for
the sounds to cease; then he ad-
dressed me again.
"Mr. 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 l must deal with you.
But you have protested too much; the
idea Of Italian bandits on Tippecanoe
creek is creditable to your magma
ton, but it doesn't appeal to my COM
mon sense. I don't know about your
being a guest at Glenarm house
even that is dimsy. A guest in the
absence of the host is just little too
fanciful. I'm strongly disposed to
take you to the calaboose at Tippe-
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 I
did not relish the idea Of being thrown
into country Jail by him. resolved
to meet the situation boldly.
luctantly. even after l have saved you
from being struck down at your own
door, Now I will be frank with you.
had a purpose in coming here"
He stepped back and folded his arms.
Yes, l thought So He looked
about uneasily, 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.
81 know who you are, Mr.. Hol.
brook"
His hands went into his pockets
again, and he stepped back and
laughed.
you are q remarkably bad guesser,
Mr.. Donovan. If you had visited me
by daylight instead of coming like a
thief at midnight, you would have
saved yourself much trouble. My
name is displayed over the outer gate.
am Robert Hartridge, the canoe
maker"
He spoke the name carelessly. his
manner and tone implying that there
could be no debating the subject 4
was prepared for evasion. but not for
this cool denial Of his identity.
But this afternoon, Mr.. Holbrook,
I CHANGED to follow the creek to this
point and I saw"
you probably saw that houseboat
down there. that is my shop. AS
tell you, am a maker of canoes. They
have. hope. some reputation-honest
hand work: and my output Is limited.