Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-26
CHAPTER IX-Continued.

I felt instinctively that the Arms fam
lily was somehow involved. But how?
That either Maggie or her mother was
directly responsible ] could not believe.
And as for Uneven IL it could be
proved that he was at Overlook at the
hour of the crime. would 1 gain much
Not unless l could find q motive for the
deed. There was the legacy. to be sure.
but did Arms know of that? Granting
that he did know Of it, was five thou
sand dollars enough, even to his ignorant
legacy or his position became imperiled
1t might be. Proof that such a danger
threatened would certainly warrant an
hypothesis of his guilt.
/ made this note in my diary:
II James Arms, late farmer of Over
look. is the man l seek, my deductions
made from the report of the inquest and
trials were wrong. No man of his mus
cular build would have dragged Mr.. Som
hers body to the couch where 1t was
found: nor do i believe that he would
have taken the care that seemed to have
been taken to cover the manner of the
crime and protect the couch. But he is
a man who will bear study. and 1 mean
to accept the invitation of his mother to
"come again." and before long, too. That
his manner was not that of impulse that
other day / am confident. for twice since
on the road to town and he has answer
ed my greeting only with gruff: Aye.
aye! Halong with We, Betsey." or BE
hon with ye. SAIL as he touched his
mares with his whip.
What can be the secret Of sucn a mans
popularity with, or shall I say power
over. a man like Mr.. SOmhers?
/ have begun practice of visiting the
post office each day, for it is there that
the village idlers, whom l have come to
g. r1 no
gossip of the place is dished up fresh and
hot. I think that there l shall be able
to get information, but ! must be con-
tent to seek cautiously, gaining by scraps.
for the villagers will close up like their
own native clans once they divine that
they are being questioned. Moreover, I
am still regarded with curiosity and some
doubt, and must move conservatively un-
til | am a familiar character.
In the meantime l am coaching Gas
pard. l have told. him enough Of my
mission here to allay his curiosity. and
after assuring myself of his loyalty and
discretion, have instructed him to see as
much of the Horsfords as he can and
learn their version of the Somhers case,
their feeling toward their cousin. Jim
Arms. and his family and, il possible.
the meaning of the curious sounds l
heard in the cottage the other night.
He has found the commission an uphill
task. for Horsford Is no less the sphinx
has given Gaspard clearly to understand
that he will not have him coming about
Mrs Horsford with his French blandish-
ments- To me this is significant of one
of two facts. Either the heavy. silent
Horsford is capable of keen jealousy or.
as have conjectured. he is afraid Of his
wife's volubiity. l say her '.volubility."
for the impression that she made on me
that first evening still fingers, notwith-
standing that whenever | have since seen
ho cY,h1 fnnA nf ho
morning had been conspicuous.
Horsford apparently sees through the
excuses l make to get word with his
wife. and regards my approach with eyes
that invariably narrow.
Yesterday, quite incidentally. i learned
where Mr.. Mcclure lives. The Queen
Anne cottage in magnificent grounds,
that 1 have admired from distance. Is
MS, II seems. The entrance to the place
is only just across the road from the
east side of the triangle Of woods-almost
within shouting distance. 1 dare say II
| was the man himself whom I saw yes
| terday meandering around among the
| trees on the lawn and feeding nuts to the
SQUIRRELS. | was tempted to introduce
| myself at that time. but upon reflection
decided to await Kilbourne's arrival
| which is set for Saturday evening.
IL stands to reason that this Mcclure
knew Mr.. Somhers. and In all probability
| ne knew him well. as men of Mr.. Som
Il
here. i fancy. to be ignored by him. .
! believe that I'd better make Mr.. Nc
Clure's acquaintance at once, and not
wait for the company of that uncertain
Kilbourne. So here goes,
Whereupon. with a resolve-not un
mixed, I'll admit. with a thought of an.
other fntroduction-I snapped the rubber
band over the pasteboard covers of my
pocket diary and, rising from the grass
where l had been writing In the shade OF
a great elm tree, l sauntered eastward.
Al the entrance gates. however. the
man ! had seen feeding squirrels drove
| through his own gates and logged down
| the road away from me-
My plan thus frustrated. I turned to.
i ward the boathouse.
| If l may not call upon desirable old
that circumstances will be kinder in the
| matter OF water trip. Ii looks as II
there might be breeze stirring out there