Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-04-06


tits the finest thing I ever heard
Of" Mcknight said, staring up at the
ladder and the trap. What a vaude-
Vile skit It would make! Only you
ought not to have put your foot on
her hand. They don't do it in the
best circles"
wheeled on him impatiently.
"You don't understand the situation
at ALL Richey!" l exclaimed. "What
would you say if / tell you it was the
hand of lady? 1t was covered with
rings"
"a LADY," he repeated. "Why, I'd
say it was darned compromising sit
utation, and that the less you say of
it the better. Look here, Lawrence,
l think you dreamed it. You've been
in the house too much. take it all
back; you do need exercise"
"She escaped through this door, 1
suppose" 1 said as patiently as
could. Evidently down the back stair
case. We might as well go down that
way"
According to the best precedents
In these affairs, we should find glove
about here" he said as we started
down. But he was more impressed
than he cared to own. He examined
the dusty steps carefully, and once,
when a bit of loose plaster fell just
behind him, he started like nervous
woman.
what l don't understand is why
you let her CO." he said, stopping
once, puzzled. You're not usually
quixotic.",
when we get out into the country,
Richey," l replied gravely, Il am go
ing to tell you another story, and II
you don't tell me I'm fool and
craven, on the strength of it, you are
no friend of mine"
We stumbled through the twilight
of staircase into the blackness of the
shattered kitchen. The house had
the moldy smell of closed buildings;
even on that warm September morn
ing it was damp and chilly. AS we
stepped into the sunshine Mcknight
gave shiver.
Nov that we are out" he said, Il
don't mind telling you that | have
been there before. Do you remember
the night you left, and the face at
the Window"
when you speak of it-yes."
"Well. l was curious about that
thing," he went on, as we started up
the street, "and 1 went back. The
street door was unlocked, and | ex-
amined every room. was Mrs. Klop-
tons ghost that carried light, and
clumb."
did you find anything?"
"Only a clean place rubbed on the
window opposite your dressing room.
Splendid view of an untidy interior.
If that house is ever occupied, you'd
better put stained glass in that win
dow of yours"
AS we turned the corner / glanced
back. Half a block behind us John
son was moving our way slowly
When he saw me he stopped and pro
ceeded with great elaboration to light
a cigar. BY hurrying however, he
caught the car that we took, and stood
unobtrusively on the rear platform.
He looked tagged, and absent-minded-
ly paid our fares, to Meningitis de-
light.
1--WE will give. him run for his
money" he declared, as the car moved
countryward. Conductor, let us off
at the rnuddiest lane you can find"
At one o'clock, after a six-mile ram
BILE, we entered a small country hotel
We had seen nothing Of Johnson for a
half hour. At that time he was a
quarter of mile behind US, and losing
rapidly. Before we had finished our
luncheon he staggered into the inn,
One of his boots was under his arm,
and his whole appearance was deplor-
able. He was coated with mud, streak
ed with perspiration, and he limped
as he walked. He chose a table not
far from us and ordered Scotch. Be-
You'd touching his hat he paid no at
tention to US
TIN just getting my second wind, ;"
Mcknight declared "How do you feel,
Mr.. Johnson? Six or eight miles more
and we'll all enjoy our dinners" John
son put down the glass he had raised
to his lips without replying.
The fact was, however, that l was
like Johnson. / was soft from my
weeks inaction, and l was pretty well
done UP. Mcknight, who was we'll
spring Of vitality and high spirits, or
dered a strange concoction, made of
nearly everything in the bar, and sent
it over to the detective, but Johnson
refused it.
81 hate that kind of person." Nc
knight said pettishly. kind of a fell
low that thinks you're going to poison
his dog if you offer him bone"
When we got to the car line, with
Johnson draggled and dropping tail
to the kite, 1 was in better spirits.
had told Mcknight the story of the
three hours just after the wreck;
. "a y