Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-04-13

what then?"
THE young man upstairs was
awake" she went on, "hammering at
his door like all possessed. And it
was locked on the outside!" She
paused to enjoy her sensation.
81 would like to see that lock-"
Hotchkiss said promptly, but for some
reason the woman demurred. Il will
bring the key down." she said and dis
appeared. When she returned she
held out an ordinary door key of the
cheapest variety.
1--WE had to break the lock-" she vol
for two days. Then one of the twins
found the turkey gobbler trying to
swallow it. 1t has been washed since"
she fastened to assure Hotchkiss,
who showed an inclination to drop it.
"'You don't think he locked the door
himself and threw tAe key out of the
Window" the little man asked.
''The windows are covered with
mosquito netting, nailed on. The mis-
ter blamed it on the children, and it
might have been Obadiah. He's the
quiet kind, and you never know what
he's about"
Hes about to strangle, isn't he"
Mcknight remarked lazily, cor is that
OBADIAH"
Mrs. Carter picked the boy up and
inverted him, talking amiably all the
time Hes always doing it." she
said, giving him a shake. Whenever
we miss anything we look to see if
Obadiah's black in the face" She gave
another shake, and the quarter I had
given him shot out as if blown from
a gun Then we prepared to go back
to the station.
From where / stood I could look
into the CHEEKY farm kitchen, where
Alison West and l had eaten our al
fresco breakfast. looked at
the table with mixed emotions, and
then, gradually, the meaning Of some
thing on it penetrated my mind. Still
in it's papers, evidently just opened,
was a hat box, and protruding over
the edge of the box was a streamer of
vivid green ribbon.
On the plea that / wished to ask
Mrs Carter a few more questions, 1
let the others go on. l watched them
down the fagstone walk; saw Nc
knight stop and examine the gate
posts and saw, too, the quick glance
he threw back at the house. Then /
turned to Mrs. Carter.
81 would like to speak to the young
lady upstairs" / said.
She threw up her hands with a
quick gesture of surrender. "I've done
all l could" she exclaimed. She
won't like it very well, but-she's in
the room over the parlor."
| went eagerly an the ladder-like
stairs, to the rag-carpeted hall. Two
doors were open, showing interiors of
four poster beds and high bureaus.
The door of the room over the parlor
was almost closed. I hesitated in the
hallway; after all, what right had l
to intrude on her? But she settled my
difficulty by throwing open the door
and facing me.
I'll beg your pardon, Miss West, !"
/ stammered. ct has just occurred
to me that 1 am unpardonably rude. l
saw the hat downstairs and Il
guessed"
"The hail" she said. st might have
known. Does Richey know I am
here?"
"I don't think SOL / turned to go
down the stairs again. Then halted.
"The fact is" said, in an attempt at
justification. I'm in rather mess
these days, and I'm apt to do ire
sponsible things. 1t is not impossible
that 1 shall be arrested, in day or
so, for the murder of Simon Harring-
tom"
She drew her breath in sharply.
"Murder!" she echoed. "Then they
have found you after ALI"
'I don't regard it as anything more
n-er-inconvenient," | lied. 'They
can't convict me, you know. Almost
all the witnesses are dead
She was not deceived for moment.
She came over to me and stood, both
hands on the rail of stair. Il know
just how grave it is" she said quiet
ly. my grandfather will not leave one
stone unturned, and he can be terrible
terrible. But''-she looked directly
into my eyes as I stood below her on
the stairs-"the time may come
soon-when l can help you. In
afraid I shall not want to; I'm a
dreadful coward, Mr. Blakeley. But
Il will" She tried to smile.
81 wish you would let me help you,'
I said unsteadily. LET US make it a
bargain; each help the other!"
The girl shook her head with sad
little smile. 81 am only as unhappy
as I deserve to be-" she said. And
when | protested and took step to-
ward her she retreated, with her
hands out before her.
why don't you ask me al the ques
tons you are thinking?" she demand
ed with catch in her voice. ooh,
1 know them. Or are you afraid to
ask?''