Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-08
CHAPTER VII.
Which Treats of a Puzzling Inter-

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1t was late the next morning when
Pierre's CHEEKY call awoke me. I tum-
bled out Of bed with an uneasy sense OF
the nights events stil upon me, and,
back my pistol bolt. let him In.
He smiled amicably over the large break
fast basket.
M sieu' hat slep' wello"
"Tolerably. Have l kept you waiting?"
''Eet is the two-t'ree time I hat come.
But m'sieu give no SCUM
az was very tired
He spread out his hands expressively.
"Sans doute'' he agreed. quietly. but
there was a twinkling hint OF under
in his eyes.
1t would have been strange, indeed. IL
he had not known something of my mid
night adventure. and / contented myself
with the thought that his manner could
augur nothing but good. But as l ate my
annoy me. His friendly glance seemed
to take on a malignant CLEAN; the genial
smile appeared to grow into the ugly dis
tortion of q grin. What II l had struck
harder than I had intended? What II
to give him his proper name
found? Justice. as it was understood
here. could hardly be suspicious to an
outsider. With Pierre's watchful gaze
upon me already felt the nervous dread
Of the condemned.
Are they all well-down at the house?'
but yes, m'sieu'.' He favored me with
a look Of surprise.
IAN well?'' 1 repeated. "even Mr.. Hay
Ward?"
mo, the young one
In YER good condition, m sieu'-ver
fine
Hes about, I suppose?'
Pierre shook his head grudgingly. Not
JUS about-but if m'sieu' wish to see
him"
Later on, perhaps. Is he in bed:'
"Oh, wees, m'sieu." He drew out his
words with an exaggerated pout Of in
difference. But eet is nozzings-for one,
two days, maybe, an zen all right again.
L assure you eet is nozzing."
His anxious desire to make light Of the
matter was as amazing as it was COM
forting. l drew a sigh Of relief.
HAS he been taken sick?"
mo. You see. he did go out walking
las night. an in re dark he fall, an
''Cut himself?" l hazarded.
Cut himself-zats eet-agains' a stone
"a YER sharp stone, maybe He
glanced up at me cunningly, as he lndi-
Gated his left shoulder. "Oh, re smalles'
Was it a lie? Or simply the result of
ignorance? A lie I decided. But what
new move in the game was 1T intended to
I'm glad it's no worse l said, lamely.
Eyes. IN sieu'. An he hat no bad feel
ings about Get. He Is YER glad eet hap
pened
Why
Because eet show him how foolish he
was
'.Foolish?'''
"Yes, m sieu'-to go out walking in re
dark"
The man was becoming ridiculous. I'm
afraid some OF the women Of his family
will hardly agree with you.'
But yes, m'sieu', zey do-all OF zem.'
And again, with enforced emphasis: "AIl
If zen, m Sieu."
Then who was that woman screaming
sarly this morningn'
The geniality in his face faded into a
ook of startled surprise. 'Zere was no
soman screaming he declared. In hasty
ienial Nobody screamed. M'sieu' mus
af had bad dream
Not at all. 1 was very wide awake
when I heard it,
II cannot help Eat. Zere was nozzing
% hear-nozzing-an' l know"
Again he was lying. and again / won
Tered for what purpose. How could you
KNOW" demanded. sharply. unless you
were up all night
Il was. m sieu'-zat is he explained,
hastily, Il was res'less-not sleepy
I'm bed?'
''Of course.
4 hint Of anger in his voice warned
me to question him no further. l finished
my meal in studied silence. and he, as
cleared away the things. AS he
lifted the basket he turned to me, sui
lenly.
You are to come wiz me-
Ny heart leaped into my throat, though.
after all, had been expecting some such
summons.
''Where?'' stammered.
ITO re big house. M'sieu Hayward-ze
d. man-wants you to come.
Good" I returned, with affected cor
iiality. II shall be delighted to make
MS acquaintance But, as l followed
Pierre across the threshold. / took occa-
sion to thrust Dicks long knife into my
belt.
1t was a day conceived and born In an
mood Of sadness. A cold.
.heerless light. filtering through the sod
len clouds. struck out the faintest OF
without shape or contour, with
,ut depth or distance. Sea and land
we're fairly washed in gray.
The sluggish wind. moaning over the
cliffs, gave mournful voice to this inn
,alpable sorrow. and as it swept my face
shivered as at the touch Of death. But
PIERRE with his mercurial temperament,
ness, and a few yards down the path he
urned to me with his old infectious smile.
"M'sieu' hat nozzing to fear he said,
lssuringly, IF he do what M'sieu' Hay
ward tell him.
And that is?''
"Ah, eet is not for me to say
1 was not to be comforted by any such
,ague statement. But after what hap
,ened last night
"Nozzing happened las night" he re-
terated, flashing me a quick glance OF
meaning Il hat told m'sieu' already
many times-Zere was nozzing. He will
10 well not to forget
IL was evident that, for some hidden
'eason, my attack upon Dick was to be
orgiven. Il have no wish to remember
t." l assented, .'if young Mr.. Hayward
will do the same
"Oh. Deck, he make no trouble. An,
,eside', he in bed-seecE."
He wagged his head with an air OF
inality. and, as we were nearing our des-
ination, l let the subject drop. The
louise. seen. from close quarters. was
anger, more pretentious, than I had at
irst thought it. A two-story wooden
structure, its breadth Of six windows lent
an imposing solidity. while the deep. |
haded .veranda across the front, with its
of easy chairs and ham,
nocks. gave it a sense Of luxury strange |
Y out of keeping upon this lonely isle. |
indeed. under no circumstances could 1
conceive it to be the home of ruined |