Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-01-12

ing which Stephen HargraVe staTeu
at me fire with the same settled look
Of stolid gloom.
Sir Richard had to repeat the q@es-
ton again before it awakened any
| resppnse. and then it was with GER
! ain dreamy absence of mind ffnad
the Spy unbutt0ned his coat, took
! sheet of papers fCom his pocket. and
handad it to has principal.
| Sir Richard took it. and spreading
| IT ,out upon the table before him, ex-
anlined it with leisurely scrutiny
| "Are YOU certain this is his hamd-
/ writing?" he asked.
81 saw him write it; | cut 1t out on
! the book with my own hands-It is mas
| writing, MASTER
Good" said Sir Richard. Now you
! had better go. Remember, you cannot
be too cautious. If you pass me IN the
road do not touch your hat. as you
| did a few days ago; it may arouse
/! suspicion. Better, if you can do IL
| naturally. say a few illnatured things
asr,,rt me On the Village. You can say
what YOU aasye, $50 that sy@u' do not I'M
willingly tell the tnuth-you under
stamd?" I.
..I'Il say y0u are a. hard master,
said the maH. raising his dark, mo-
rose eyes to his masters face.
Sis Richard smiled.
Certainly; anything of that sort to
throw dust in their eyes
The man rose.
Stay" said SIR Richard. You VIII
find Secanter Of spirits and a glass
on that bureau Help yourself.
But the man shook his head, ana
/ nut the offer aside, as it were. with
Jerk of his rongh haMd.
Good night, MASTER" he said
Good night, my good StepAen'
said Sir Richard.
And the man went silently into ehe
night again.
Sir Richard returned to his desk
and took up the sheet of paper.
"A strange fellow" he muttered-
"Rut I can rely upon him. know that
expression SO we'll; it was fear. Wheh
a man serves me from gratitude, am
not sure of him-gratitude is SO unnat-
ural. but when he fears, then leei
safe. Now let me see. A good hano'
and easy to imitate-notes on art
Bah, He will have something else TO
/ think of before 1 am done with MIN!
Yes the writing is easy to forge, and
/ the name-let me try.
So saying he pulled sheet Oh pa
ner from his hand, and carefully mi
fated the signature, Louis FELTON,,
which was carelessly scrawled at the
bottom of the sheet before him.
Easy enough after a little prac-
tice" he muttered, examining his
handiworll critically. 81 wonder there
are not more forgeries, even thah
there are: it is SO easy-so easy:
A bright fire was burning in the ola
dining room of the Hut. A small ana
particularly plain supper was set OUT
mon the table and Stephen HargraVe
stood looking down into the names
| waiting for his master.
That he bore his master no nate
might have been deduced by the care
with which he had made ready for his
appearance.
The fire was welcome; the chalf
! drawn close up to it was welcome,
! and stephen Hargrave's attitude, as
he stood listening, was welcome IN
its gloomy, distracted way
Presently there was a ring at the
bell, the door was opened by the lad
who served as Stephen Hargrave's as
sistant, and Louis entered.
Snow was on his coat, and his face
was flushed with the exercise and the
night cold.
well, stephen, my mani he ex-
claimed, cheerily, shading his eyes
from the light of the lamp and fire.
Here l am back at last! What a
cheerful room! Why, man you have
| all the neatness of a woman. What a
glorious fire! All, put the coat to dry
somewhere, it's saturated with snow.
A wild night, but grand one"
And he sank into the comfortable
chair and rubbed his hands over the
| fire.
Stephen left the room silently, and
as speechlessly reentered, with dish
| of steaming mutton chops.
Splendid" exclaimed the hungry
-ouis, as he drew his chair up to the
table. Cooked to perfection too;
Stephen, you are an artist"
| Then, with all hungry mans zest,
,e finished the chops, drank two cups
If coffee, and subsidized into the easy
chair again, with contented, happy
! ook on his face which seemed to set
he fire laughing with sympathy.
"Well, and how have things gone?
Anything happened.
mo; what should?" replied Ste.
phen Hargraye, roughly
Nothing, while you were here to
keep charge, my faithful BEAR" re
nlied Louis laughing good-naturedly
q can't think why your late master
parted with you, Stephen. He must
/ have cared more for veneer than
good. stout oak But" he added, more
gently, and with kindly anxiety In
his frank, open eyes, you look more
| 80 fr,4