The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-01-06

com IN lne TN cup WHICH llc DcS'
gar held out to us. | had a strong
desire to hear him speak. hut he
only made a queer gurgling noise
in his throat that might have meant
anything, and we drove on.
had noticed one thing. however,
as | passGl Below the hem of the
beggar's ragged sleeve, | had caught
the CLEAN of gray go'd-the flash OF
golden spider with cleaning eyes
and my fingers itched to tear the
mans disguise from him. You are
right" | said to my companion. The
fellow is a spy.
We both turned and looked back.
But the road lay level like a twist,
ed dirty ribbon in the sunlight and
the beggar huddled among the dead
grasses by the roadside had nor
stirred.
My companion was trembling a
little. "We are nearing home" he
said. See, you can catch glimpse
of the smoke from the chimneys. "
I'VE have gained one thing" i
said a little hurriedly, "ani0 that /
think is time. If the beggar thinks
that | will leave tomorrow j think.
| hope-that we naye nothing TO
fear tonight 1t will give us time to
look about us. Are you sure that
the servants are thoroughly trust
worthy"
He had meant TO say that he was
sure. but sudden thought struck
him and the words died in his
throat.
My household is a small one" he
said uncertainty, "and ! have few
servants. A week ago I would have
stake3 my life upon the faithfulness
of those whom my roof shelters. To-
day"
To-day you are not so certain" |
said absently, but | was hardly lis
tening TO his words.
We had crossed a stream choked
by masses of water-flag and fringed
with buttonwood bushes, and a mo-
ment later we were moving along
a wide drive carpeted thick with
dank, rottng leaves and spongy win
the drift of the 'dse rain storm
Overhead the faint traces of pine
and oak branches partly smut out
the sky. An instant later we came
in sight of the house.
/ think that / hardly expected a
house of such pretensiousness. The
direct view of it from the front
struck me with admiration. The edi'
flee was large-buif i think, after
no particular stiyle-and the mate
rial used was some kind of gray,
native stone. The pines crept very
closely to the back of it, but in
front was largely mixed with oaks
and holly trees. A boy came for
ward and took charge of the car
riage, while my host, himself, con
Quoted me to large room on the
second floor.
You are dead tired he said
kindly. You shall give me some
aylNice presently, and | shall be
most glad to get it. Now | think
that | should like to advise you.
Lie down--forget for the moment
our perpexities-and sleep
IF | do you must promise that
you will not leave the grounds,
said positively. Il should like 1t
much better if you should stay qui-
etly in your own room. | am sure
that you are in grave danger, MT.
Areana. and l should never forgive
myself if anything happened to you.
He looked at me in a queer fash
ion that puzzled me oddly; started
to speak, then checked himself. Il
promise you that l will not leave
the house." he said a little formally
and closed the door of my room
behind him softly.
| fell asleep almost instantly but
the strangeness of my surroundings
or some hidden instinct made my
sleep a most unrestful one and filled
with horrible dreams. | was back
in town and l heard Aggies voice
begging me not to leave home,
warning me of some hidden danger
the nature of which she herself did
not understand. Again l was in the
long, Clark hall of my boarding
house burdened with the jug of wa
ter. and again | heard the ghost
of a sound and saw that sinister
shadow across the square OF light
at the end of the rassage. Again
| stood in the winter sunshine and
heard again the warning, half-mock-
ing voice, Then you may go to