The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1910-01-28

dent that Holbrook was quite at home
in the canoe:maker's house, and that
he had no intention of calling any one
else into our affairs. He had undoubt.
eddy heard the revolver shots below
and rushed from the cottage to inves.
tigate; and, meeting me in full flight,
he had naturally taken it for granted
that was involved in some designs on
himself. AS he leaned against a
table by the door his grave blue eyes
scrutinized me with mingled indigna.
ton and interest.
I seemed to puzzle him, and his gaze
swept me from head to foot several
times before he spoke. Then his eyes
flashed angrily and he took step to-
ward me.
"Who in the devil are you and what
do you want?"
my name is Donovan, and l 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..
Glenarm's place, near Annandale."
That's rather unlikely; Mr.. Glen.
arm is abroad. What were you doing
down there on the creek?"
Il 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
l 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 off
there In the road. Then he was to
stab you. The assassin was an Ital-
Ian. His employer spoke to- him in
that tongue. I happen to We &C.
quainted with it."
, You are a 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 expeIt
ton. Che 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
be took " crack at me as ran across
the platform. It's not the fault of
either that I'm not quite out of bust
ness"
An inneE door back of me creaked
slightly. MY castor swung round at
the sound.
20 Rosalind! It's all right. A gen.
tleman here lost his way and I'm CIV
ing him his. bearings
The door closed gently, and ! heard
the scznd of steps retreating through
the cottage. I.noted the anxious look
in Holbrook'sz face as he waited for
the sounds 70. cease; then he ad.
dressed me again..
"Mr. Donovan, thia is, q quiet neigh.
borhood, and L am a. peaeeable man,
whose worldly goods could teupt no
one. There were undoubtedly others
besides yourself down there at. the
creek, ftr one man couldn't have
made all that rnW;. hut as you are the
one I caught L must deal with you.
But you have, protested too much; the
idea of Italian bandits on Tippeeanoe
creek is creditable to, your imagina-
ton, but it. doesn't appeal to my com.
mon sense. /. don't know about your
being guest at Glenarm house
even thas, is flhmsE- A guest in the
absence cfithe host is. Just a little too
fanciful. I'm strongly disposed to
take you to: the calahoose at Tippe.
canoe village
Having been In Jail several times IL
different parts Of the world was not
anxious to- add to my experiences h
that direeti0n- Moreover, hal come
to this lanely house on the TtRpeca-
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.
You seem to accept my word re-,
luctantlN. even after have saved you
from being struck down. at your own,
door,. Now I will be frank with you.
l had purpose in coming here"
He stepped back and folded his arma.
Yes. I 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.
Il know who you are. Me-. Hol-
brook"
! His hands went into his pockets
again, and he stepped hack and
laughed.
! you are remarkably bad guesser,
Mr.. Donovan. II you had Visited me
by daylight Instead Of coming like a
thief at midnight, you would have
i aavai1 vn,lraA1e m,,rh fro,,h1o NJ,