, 1910-12-29

r. Re- ss'tssssfNnnoGpI II
into his confidence through the whole
affair it would have been much sim
pier. If he had been altogether frank
about Jack Bailey, and If the day after
the fire he had told me what he sus.
pected. there would have been no har-
rowing period for all of us, with the
boy in danger. But young people re-
fuse to profit by the experience of
their elders, and sometimes the elders
are the ones to suffer.
was much used up the day after
the fire. and Gertrude insisted on my
going out. The machine was tempo.
rarily out of commission. and the car.
rage horses had been sent to a farm
for the summer. Gertrude finally got
a trap from the Casanova liveryman,
and We went out. lust as we turned
from the drive into the road we passed
a She had put down a small
v%alise, and stood inspecting the house
and grounds infinitely. | should hard
~ have noticed her had 1t not been
for the fact hat she had been horribly
disfgured by smallpox.
UGH" Gertrude said, when we had
passed, what a face! shall dream
OF it tonight. Get UP, Flinders"
"Flinders?" I asked. rs that the
horses name?"
1T is" She fiicked the horses
stubby name with the whip. He
didn't look like a livery horse, and
the liveryman said he had bought
him from the Armstrong; when they
purchased a couple of motors and cut
down the stable. Nice Flin6ers-good
old boy,n
Flinders was certainly not a COM
mon name for a horse, and yet the
y%oungster at Richfield had named his
prancing, curly-haired little horse
Flinders! 1t set me to thinking.
At my request Halsey had already
sent word of the fire to the agent
from whom me had secured the house.
Also, he had called Mr.. Jameson by
telephone, and somewhat g%uardedly
had told him of the previous nights
events. Mr.. Jameson promised to
come out that night, and t. bring an
other man with him. / did not con-
slider 1t necessary to notify Mrs. Arm
strong, in the village. No doubt she
knew of the fire, and in view of my
refusal TO give up the house an inter
view would probably have been I'M
pleasant enough. But as we passed
DR. Walkers white and green house
thought of something.
Stop here, Gertrude" l said. 81
am going to get out"
TO see Louise?" she asked.
NO, | want to ask this young Walker
something"
She was curious, / knew, but / did
not wait to explain. ] went up the
walk to the house. where a brass sigr.
at the side announced the office, and
went in. The reception room was
empty, but from the consultation
room beyond anne the sound of two
voices. not very amicable.
1T Is an outrageous figure some
one was storming. Then the doctors
quiet tone, evidently not arguing,
merely stating something. But ] had
not time to listen to some person
probably disputing his bill. so I
conghed. The voices ceased at once,
a door closed somewhere, and the doc.
tor entered from the hall Of the house.
he ooked sufficiently surprised at see.
ing me.
Good afternoon, doctor" I said
formally. 81 shall not keep you from
your patient. I wish merely to ask a
question:"
Won't o sit DOWN."
1t will not be necessary. Doctor,
mas any n come to you, either early
TINS morning or to-day, to have you
treat a bullet wound?"
Nothing SO startling has happened
to me-" he said. "A bullet wound!
Things must be lively at Sunnyside."
! didn't say it was at Sunnyside.
But as it happens, 1t was. II any such
ease comes to you, will 1t be too much
trouble for you to let me know"
shall be only too happy" he said.
understand you have had a fire up
mere. too. A fire and shooting In n
night is rather lively for a quiet place
like that"
1T is as quiet as a boiler-shop," |
replied, as l turned to go.
And o are still going to stay"
Until am burned out" ! respond
sn, And then. on my way down the
Doctor" ! asked at a venture,
nave you ever heard of a child
namad LuGien Wallace?"