The Tupelo journal., 1910-09-16

1T 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. "A bullet wound!
Things must be lively at Surnyside."
II didn't a it was at Eunnyside.
But as it happens, it was. II any such
Ease comes to you. will it be too much
trouble for you to let me know?"
Il shall be only too happy" he said.
r"I understand you have had q fire up
there, too. A fire and shooting in one
night is rather lively for a quiet place
like that"
TT is as quiet as a bo~iler-shop,' !
replied, as / turned to go.
"And you are still going to stay?"
until / am burned out" / respond
ed. And then, on my way down the
steps, / turned around suddenly.
Doctor" l asked at a venture
"have 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.
"Lucien Wallaceg he repeated.
mo, l think not. There are plenty OF
| Wallaces around, but l don't know any
Lucien."
| was as certain as possible that
he did. People do not lie .eadily to
me, and this man lied beyond a doubt
| But there was nothing to be gained
now; his defenses were up. and left
| half irritated and wholly bafled.
Our reception was entirely different
at DR.. Stewards. Taken into the
bosom Of the family at once. Flinders
tied outside and nibbling the grass al
the roadside, Gertrude and l drank
! some homemade elderberry wine and
told briefly of the fire. 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, l asked him the same
question l had put to DR.. Walker.
Shot" he said. BLESS my soul
/ uO. why, WudI AdVO yOu COOA OAA
up at the big house, Miss lines"
Some one tried to enter the house
| during the fire, and was shot and
slightly injured" / said hastily
please don't mention it; we wish t6
make as little of it as possible"
There was one other possibility. and
we tried that. At Casanova station
saw the station master, and asked him
If any trains left Casanova between
one o'clock and daylight. There was
none until 6 a. m. The next question
required more diplomacy.
ibid you notice on the six O'Clock
train any. person-any man-wht
limped a little?" l asked. please
try to remember; we are trying te
trace a man who was seen lettering
around Sunnyside last night before
the fire."
He was all attention in a moment.
81 was up there myself at the fire.
he said volubly. I'm a member o.
the volunteer company. First big fire
we've had since the summer house
/ burned over to the club golf links
My wife was sayin' the other day
Dave, you might as well "a saved the
money in that there helmet and shirt.
And here last night they came il
handy. Rang that bell so hard
hadn't time scarcely to get EN- on"
"And-did you see a man who
limped?" Gertrude put in, az he
stopped for breath.
mot at the train, man," he said
NO such person got on here to-day
But I'll tell you where / did see q
mar that limped. / didn't wait till the
company left; there's a fast freight
goes through at 4:45, and l had t.
get down to the station. ! seen there
wasn't much more to do anyhow al
the ire-we'd got the flames under con
trol'-Gertrude looked at me ant
smiled-'so / started down the hill
There was folk here and there goin
home, and along by the path to the
Country club l seen two men. One
was a short fellow. He was sitting OF
a big rock, his back to me, and hi
had something white in his hand, as 1
he was tying up his foot. After II
gone on a piece / looked back, and he
was hobbling on and-excuse me, miss
he was swearing something sicken
ing"
(TO BE CONTINUED.)