Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-19

are done with each other" answered XII
bourne.
For heavens sake. Kilbourne."
cried. The good Lord certainly made
q mistake when he turned you out. You
were designed for an old woman.
Kilbourne grinned sympatheticaliy.
"All right" he returned He gave me
broad. strong. masculine shoulders. At III
events. I can bear anything that you
care to call me-"
I was too annoyed by Kilbourne's att-
tude to discuss the matter further with
him at that time. and as he persisted In
his intention to return home. we parted
for the night.
As I passed through the room on my
way to the street my attention was at
tracted TO the figure Of q small man hud-
recognized the insignificant figure as Bar
ney Rafferts. q two-penny detective whom
1 had bumped against at various times
in my reportorial experience.
Hello; Barney" I said: approaching
slumber can see you winl<ing." here
upon Barney Enclosed two small and
shifting eyes and regarded me with q
yawn.
"Ah, there. Bliss Say. IL you are going
out 1 think I'll join you. I'm done here"
|. We walked across the block to Broad
way and parted at once, for l took the
first car that came along and left Raf-
ferts standing on the corner. He was q
IL
but he was too small to win more than
a passing contempt. and I quickly dis
missed him and the conjectures as to MS
probable mission to the Reform CLUB
from my mind for the time.
The following noon, when kilbourne
and I lunched together at the Aston
House. Kilbourne was in more relenting
mood.
''Oh. yes" he said. in answer to my In
vitation. "Tll run up TO Winton for Sum
day to see how many ghosts you've laid
in the haunted castle, and maybe we can
track down a working theory. IL you've
not caught one by that time
After lunch / had just time to get TO my
lodgings for my suit case and to the sta
ton before my train left.
AS I let myself into the house my at
tention was attracted TO large white
envelope lying upon the shelf beneath the
mirror that also served as hall tree
Just inside the door. IL was addressed
TO me, and catching IL up I tore IL open
hastily and pulled out the sheet OF white
writing paper that IL contained. In type
writing, without heading, salutation or
signature, was this message:
None but the unwary or the foolish
would venture to Overlook. There is dam
ger there for YOU. Beware OF Horsford
I turned again to the envelope. which
purchased of any stationer. The type
written address was correct ana my
name was given In full But IL bore
neither stamp nor postmark. IL had come.
then. by person: called the m ma ,n
notes arrival. The landady showed acute
mystifcation. Her room was the first
floor rear and she had seen every one.
she said. who let himself In or out OF the
house, or had rung. since my own Depart
ure in the morning. In her opinion. the
message had been left by some one living
In the house. but that idea / rejected
mentally, for / knew that no one tunless
talked in my Sleep could know OF my
proposed trip to Overlook. Moreover. l
had communicated my intention OF going
there TO but two persons. kilbourne ana
Milbrath. and IL was improbable that any
one had Overheard our conversation un-
My mind flew TO Rafferts. Had that
miserable cur anything TO do with II!
rejected the possibility after a mo-
ment's reflection. for even had ne over
heard our conversation and wished to
annoy me by means OF an anonymous
message IL would be more like him. to
leave II at the club than TO shadow me
home. the only way knew that he could
have learned where / lived. My mail
and directory address had for years been
the club, and had been in my present
rooming place so short q time that felt
certain that even Kilbourne did not know
brath could not come under suspicion.
even had our acquaintance permitted him
to play such q prank.
But had no time to consider the mat
ter any further just then. ! promised the
maids liberal reward IL they could ind
who left the note and then made a dash
for the train.
On the way TO winton the undercur-
rent OF my thoughts was busy with that
letter. Who vas Horsfordy
Where had I heard the name? But 4
was to know about Horsford-and very
soon.
GO be continued tomoSRow.)