Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-13

somehow or other all these things
work into It, Now if you can thro"
any light at all, help me out
"I've told you all l know I'm not
exactly an intimate Of these people
but I've known them off and on TOT
\ three or four years, and there simply
isn't anything unusual about them'
i They're Just like every one else, only
a little nicer-the last people~on earth
to act so queerly or have closet
skeleton"
I "At any rate them seem to want to
get rid of me-" I said. well, they
can't do it. If they've got some scan
/, dalous idea Of me, they're going 10
apologize; and if they're in trouble
I'm going to make myself useful. I've
fallen into an adventure, and I'm go
(! ing through with it,
"Ill tell you one thing" said Bob,
very solemnly for him, 'if there is any
family secret it's nothing against
Lady. She's about as good and White
and honest-but you don't need to pc
told that.
no" said I, Il don't. And perhaps
that's the reason"
I waited where I was for the rest
of the week, partly because was re-
solved not to put myself in the wrong
afresh by following Miss Tabor's move
ments too Immediately, and partly 10
give time for Bob's promised vlndlca-
ton of my character to take effect.
could not, however. believe that 1t
would, in itself, make any great dill
ference; for the more l considered,
the more it seemed to me that had
been right in my suspicion. and that
the whole empty charge had been
merely an excuse for driving me from
the house and device for terminating
the acquaintance. I discovered during
those few days the truth Of the saying
that to think is the hardest thing In
the world; for my attempts to reason
out the situation persistently resolved
themselves into adventurous dreams
and emotional "reminiscences until
suspended Judgment in despair and put
the whole matter from my mind. And
it was with an eager relief at last that
I babe good-by to the Ainslies and re-
traced my journey. Bob had received
in the meantime no answer to his let
ter; but by that time was not to be
surprised.
took my old room at the inn, got
myself into white flannels with
leisurely determination. and set forth
to call on Miss Tabor. 1t was not hot,
and all the air was clear with that
sparkling zest common enough IN
autumn but rare in the heat of mid
summer: and as hurried along, the
beauty of the world flowed over me In
a great, joyous wave of hope and res
olution. The little distance between
the inn and the Tabors covered be-
fore I realized it.
"Is Miss Tabor at home?" asked
the maid at the door.
She took my card and hesitated.
I'll go and see, sir" she said finally,
and ushered me into the big living
room. I was all alone, and the room
where sat was cool and pleasant.
found my heart beating a little faster,
and wondered at myself. Presently the
maid returned.
miss Tabor is not at home" she
said.
Somehow, had not expected it, and
for moment stood looking at her
foolishly as she held open the door.
she is in town, is she not?" I asked
clumsily.
II am not sure, sir; she Is not at
home, sir" the woman repeated wood
emily.
I trudged back through the glare Of
the impossibly brilliant day sick with
and wondering If she
had really been away. Could there be
any reason why my card had not been
taken to her? Had some general order
gone out against me? Then brought
my imagination to a sudden halt I
was getting to be fool. The proba,
bility was that the maid had simply
spoken the truth; and in any case,
the whole matter was easy of deter
mination. At the inn I wrote short
note to Miss Tabor, saying that was
in town for few days, regretting
that had missed her and asking when
I should find convenient hour to call |
This dispatched. 1 found myself in a
state of empty hurry with nothing to
do; and after supper and a game or
so Of cratic pool. set out to walk
off an incipient and unrea soning attack
Of blues.
BY the time had tramped through a
couple Of townships and turned toward
home I was fairly cheerful again.
landmarks had begun to look I'M
familiar in. the gathering gloom. and
took my turnings little uncertainty:
so that it was with thrill of surprise
that I found myself on crossroad
that ran alongside the Tabor place.
The great house was largely dark and
peaceful. Windows below glowed
dimly through the dusk: and above,
4 single square shone brightly. Two
men were coming up the .long drive
way in front. which paralleled the road
On which l stood; and as they ap-
preached the house. it seemed to me
that they were walking not upon the
gravel Of the drive. but upon the grass
beside it. When they reached the
steps they turned aside, and skirting
the house with more evident avoid
ance of paths. crossed stretch Of
avn to what appeared to be stable
Or garage some distance behind it. |
There was furtiveness about the
whole proceeding that did not like,
and l stood still moment Watching.
Presently match was struck in a !
room above the garage and the gas