Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-09-15
TfIT CIRCULAR STAIRCASE
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1T will not be necessary. Doctor,
has any one come to you, either early
this morning or today, to have you
treat bullet wound?"
Nothing so startling has happened
to me- he said. "A bullet wound!
Things must be lively at Sunnyside."
81 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.
81 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,"
replied, as | turned to go.
and you are still going to stay?'
Until l 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 moment.
''Lucien 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 -eadily to
me, and this man lied beyond a doubt.
But there was nothing to bo gained
now; his defenses were up, and left,
half irritated and wholly baffled.
Our reception was entirely different
at Dr. Stewards. Taken into the
bosom of the family at once, Flinders
tied outside 'and nibbling the grass at
the roadside, Gertrude and | 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, asked him the same
question l 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 house
during the fire, and was shot and
slightly injured" / said hastily.
Please don't mention it; we wish to
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 a. m. The next question
required more diplomacy.
Did you notice on the six o'clock
train any person-any man-who
limped a little?" l asked. please
try to remember; we are trying to
trace a man who was seen lettering
the fire"
He was all attention in a moment.
II was up there myself at the fire,
he said volubly. I'm a member of
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,
lave, you DIS WCI d SdNSu luc
money in that there helmet and shirt
And here last night they came in
handy Rang that bell so hard
hadn't time scarcely to get 'em on"
"And-did you see a man who
limped?" Gertrude put in, as he
stopped for breath.
Not at the train, MAN." he said
No such person got on here to-day.
But I'll tell you where | did see a
man that limped didn't wait till the
company left; there's a fast freight
goes through at 4:45, and l had to
| get down to the station. l seen there
wasn't much more to do anyhow at
the fire-we'd got the flames under con
trol"-Gertrude looked at me and
smiled-"so l started down the hill
| There was folk here and there goin
home, and along by the path to the
Country club seen two men. One
was short fellow. He was sitting on
big rock, his back to me, and he
had something white in his hand, as II
he was tying up his foot After I'd
gone on piece looked back, and he
was hobbling on and--excuse me, miss
he was swearing something sicken
ing"
(TO BE CONTINUED)