Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-30

You did to entertain the panicky passen
gers when a fire broke out in the hold
used to sit with my eyes popping ou
and my mouth open when grandpa tolc
those stories. You were quite the mos
/ wonderful man. l assure YOU"
Then the conversation drifted to Kill
bourne's powers OF observation and de
duction. and Mr.. Mcclure did not agar
that day mention his mysterious expert
\ ence.
| 1t was past Q o'clock when we took ou'
departure from Red Gables for Mr.. Nc
| Clure, seconded by Dolly asked us to re
main to tea. and kilbourne. without ref
/ ference to me, joyfully accepted the in
| vftation. His spirits remained at tor
| notch all the evening, and II was witt
obvious reluctance that he left with me
when / resolutely withdrew.
I'VE shall look for frequent calls from
Mr.. Bliss since he is to be so near. and
hope. Mr.. kilbourne. that we shall see
YOU in Winton very often this summer.
Mr.. Mcclure remarked heartily as We
rose.
TIM returning to Overlook next Satur-
day." answered Kilbourne-which was
news to me-"and 1t is highly probable
that ! shall remain q week. Be sure that
shall come here as often as YOU Will
let me. You see. Mr.. Bliss and are
working together. No-not literary. ex-
actly-semi-s / should call it
work that must be finished soon. and as
1ir. Bliss Is under orders to keep to the
country during the heated term, Ii will
doubtless fall to my pleasant lot to come
out to him.
why, why! should never have
dreamed that you were in a doctors care.
Mr.. Bliss" exclaimed Mr.. Mcclure. tNor
should /. was my mental commentD You
look so thoroughly well. / hope you find
that the Winton air is benefiting you?"
1T is all and more than I hoped for.
answered. truthfully; and assured him
that my trouble was mere nothing,
tendency to heart weakness being my
chief diff1culty-a remark that brought a
sharp glance from Kilbourne. but ap-
peared to leave my host and his fair
granddaughter In doubt as to my serious
ness.
But Kilbourne had the last words with
Dolly. and before he left he had extract
ed from the old gentleman an invitation
to spend the afternoon and evening at
Red Gables on the following Sunday.
When we were on the high road Kill
bourne drew my arm through his
You look weary. lad" he said "A
sick man should be abed by this hour"
Hang your humor. Kilbourne! sup
pose we change the subject?"
McClures. Let me thank you for put
ting me in the way to see more OF them
permitting me to ask myself up again.
you know
"Oh. well. you're welcome!'
Sounds cordial, I'm accustomed.
however, to contained expression on the
part OF your excellency; ] know, there
fore. that you mean Holy smoke! Is
that one of the novelties you offer Wis
itors?'
A cry broke upon the air, not loud at
first, but penetrating, and so unusual as
to be undesirable. Was II OF rage or
OF pain? Or was 1t a laugh? 1t rose.
trembled and broke; and 1t was not re-
peated.
Good heavens." cried. Can 0aspard
have gone suddenly mad?"
We hastened up the drive. our eyes
fixed on q glimmer OF light that nitteo
from room to room on the ground moor
of the villa. When we reached the por-
tico entrance we found Gaspard on the
other side OF the screen door, q lamp In
one hand. a cooked pistol In the other.
You heard 1t, m sieus: zee-vat 1t vaz!
zee laugh. zee cry? A cra-zie nomme
thought I would see.
Where was II. this-noiseT ] asked.
"Ici. In zis vey maison, m sieu.
Are you certain Il was in the house!
"Oui, m'sieu, here"
"Ali yhere-zis chambre. rat chambre.
UP zee stairs, down zee stair; oui. all
where. Zere vas no one, m sleu. IL was
zee voice of Beel-ze-bub; 1t could be no
other. Or OF zee dead
NONSENSE" I cried. sharply. IL At this
late day Gaspard were to get notions OF
the supernatural into his head l should.
indeed. have fine time.
Come" said kilbourne, taxing the
lamp from Gaspard and instructing him
TO light the one that hung In the hall.
Let us see for ourselves. Better get
,-our revolver. Bliss" he added, in an un-
dertone. 1t took but a moment to act
upon his suggestion.
spard tells me that the house Is
locked except for this door. and he VIII
STAY by 1t until we return. said Mi,
bourne with your permission We will
lock every room as we leave 1t. Have
YOU a key ring?"
ITO he continued tomorrow.)