Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-11-30
Whispering
Pines
-

Eyes. one. 1t belongs to a respecta-
BILE family. There's n funeral there
today
"Not Miss Cumberland's" exclaim-
ed Sweetwater. all agog in a moment.
eyes, Miss Cumberland's."
The next turn Sweetwater took was
toward the handsome residence dis
trict browning the hill.
Fifteen minutes later he stood in a
finely wooded street before an open
gateway guarded by a policeman.
Showing his badge. he passed in and
entered a long and slightly curved
driveway. AS he did SO he took a
glance at the house. 1t was not as pre-
tentious as he expected. but infinitely
more inviting.
The ceremonies had been set for 3
o'clock, and it was now half past 2.
AS Sweetwater reached the head of
the driveway he saw the first Of a
long file of carriages approaching up
the street.
Lucky that my business takes me
to the stable" thought he. "What is
the coachman's name? l ought to re-
member it. All! Zadok-Zadok Brown.
There's a combination for you!"
He had reached this point in his
soliloquy-a bad habit of his, for it
sometimes took audible expression
when he ran against another police
man set to guard the side door. A
moments parley and he left this man
behind, but not before he had noted
this door and the wide and hospitable
veranda which separated it from the
driveway.
81 am willing to go all odds that l
shall find that veranda the most in
teresting part Of the house," he re-
marked in quiet conviction to himself
as he noted its nearness to the stable
and the ease with which one could
step from it into d vehicle passing
down the driveway.
1t had another point Of interest, or.
rather, the wing had to which it was
attached. AS his eye travelled back
across this wing in his lively walk
toward the stable he caught a pass
ing glimpse Of a nurses face and fig
ure in one Of it's upper windows.
Once around the corner. he perceiv-
ed that the stable door was closed,
but that a window well up the garden
side was open. Encountering no
watchful eye, he stepped up to the
stable window and peered in.
A man sat with his back to him pol
ichinr q hit 0F h rp0S Tbio xuoc v,roI
ably Zadok, the coachman. Sweetwa-
ter suddenly experienced a momenta-
ry confusion by observing the head
and shoulders Of Policeman Hexford
leaning toward him from an opposite
window-in much the same fashion
and certainly with exactly the same
intent as himself. AS their glances
crossed both flushed and drew back,
only to return again, each to his sever
al peephole. Neither meal to lose
the advantage of the moment. Both
had heard Of the gray horse and wish
ed to identify it.
There were three stalls, and in each
stall a horse stamped and fdgeted.
Only one held their attention. This
was a mare on the extreme left, a
large gray animal with a curious black
patch on its near shoulder. The faces
Of both men changed as they recog-
nized this distinguishing mark, and in
stinctively their eyes met. The coach
man rubbed away with less and less
purpose until his hands stood quite
still and his whole figure dropped in
irresistible dependency. AS he raised
his face, moved perhaps by that
Of a watchful presence to which all Of
us are more or less susceptible, they
were both surprised to see tears on it.
The next instant he had started to his
feet and the bit Of harness had ratified
from his hands to the floor.
"Who are you?" he asked, with a
touch of anger quite natural under the
circumstances. Cant you come in by
the door and not creep sneaking up to
take a man at disadvantage"
AS he spoke he dashed away the
tears with which his cheeks were still
wet.
II thought a heap Of my young mis-
tress," he added in evident apology for
this display Of what such men call
weakness. II didn't know that it was
In me to cry for anything, but I find
that I can cry for her"
Hexford left his window, and Sweet
water slid from his. Next minute they
met at the stable door.
"Had luck?" whispered the local Of
flcer.
Enough to bring me here" acknowl-
edged the other.
"Do you mean to this house or to
this stablew
ITO this stable"
"Have you heard that the horse was
out that night?"
Eyes; she was out"
"Who driving"
"Ah, that's the question:
"This man can't tell you"
and finally brought him with a merry
air Of triumph straight to his mothers
arms.
He had In his pocket an ingenious
ntAt9n fssxnx.ttn& Sx,henk ~ ArA a-ksalk~a