Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-07
CHAPTER IL.
The Cherry Room.

Il was Just comm to show you to your
room, sur" she said. I've aired 1t fine
for you-the cherry room"
Lead on, Lady Macbeth Lead cherry
lips to cherry room!'
She smiled back at me as we began to
ascend the staircase you're a light
hearted gentleman"
why shouldn't 1 be?"
True for you, sure-a laughing man for
Inc, every day in the week. All the Nor
vans are that YOU'RE Squire Henry Nor
van the master says
How do you know the Morvans are
lighthearted Peggy?"
rive seen Mr. Bran Morvan here, more
than once"
I'm wager you have"
"Oh, I'm not sayin he don't have a
word or two for me, when he does come,
but it's not often after all. Mostly he puts
up at Merrys Tavern-thats nearer to
Morvan Manor, you see-though master,
here, don't think much Of Bat Merry. But
Mr. Bran Morvan. he's merry enough him
self that's sure
The devil he isl" thought to myself.
BY this time we had entered the cherry
room. A cherry wood table, with writing
materials thereon, occupied the middle.
Curtains of white muslin hung at the
windows, and the glow of the candle. as
Peggy set It on the table, showed a cherry
wood bed in an alcove.
Thank you, Peggy" l said. Il expect a
visitor at any minute AS soon as he
comes, show him up"
Yes sur
She made no move to go, however, but
stood looking up at me, her eyes dancing.
''Well?'' asked.
"Welll'' she Knocked.
looked at tho inviting mouth. "Oh. hor'
l cried. rs that 1t, my pretty rogue!''
She eluded my emotion. and ran laughing
to the door. mo, no. You're too late now
sur. You're no real Morvan, after all-Mr.
Bran. wouldn't have needed 10 be told to
kiss a girl good-night!"
The devil he Wouldn't" This time
spoke me thought aloud, but Peggy had
already vanished.
I disposed myself as comfortably as pos
sible. I had little to do save to wait for an
hour or two on the chance that Link. since
he had missed me on the road. would be
sharp enough to seek me at this, the
nearest public house.
began to wonder II the half-breed had
carried to a happy end the errand upon
which I had despatched him. MY direc-
lions had been as plain as 1 could make
them-to strike straight southeast from
Gloucester TO the outer curve of Mays
Point; thence on by a maze of foot-paths
to the island in the marshes where my little
hunting-lodge had stood, long ago. I
counted much on It's still standing-on the
little knoll above the sea, amidst the red
cedars and the holly. where years might
pass and only the wild ducks or the wilder
cattle, or fox or muskrat. would ever dis
cover me-
II was true that LINK was new to this
part of the world. but a man who had
guided us-Henry Morvan and me-through
the Missouri wilderness, was not likely to
be confused in West Jersey little less wild
though it was.
resolved to walt an hour or so, then, II
Link we're not yet at hand, to push on
alone to the lodge. would travel by night
as much as possible, for my recent en-
counter with the ci-devant hostler, Evans,
was clear proof that ! was easily TO be
recognized by one who had once known me
we'll.
That had been a lucky thouRht-to i'm
pose myself upon Mr. Hancock as Henry
Morvan. But for that 1 might have been
laid by the heels. by this time, or at best
have been riding for the river and safety,
Poor Morvan! He would have been first
TO cry: "Hncore!" to my pretty trick.
But never again would hear that cherry
voice Henry Morvan was asleep on a
green bluff above the Missouri.
I arose, walked TO the white-curtained
window, and stared into the night Even
through the loaded window-panes, could
hear the freshening wind signing among
the cherry trees below.
The wind had sighed more mournfully the
night Henry Morvan died. River fever had
taken him in a day and a night. He had
only had time for brief talk with me be-
fore delirium racked his mind, and the fire
Of his disease scorched his weary body. ]
had buried the best friend | had ever had
In that green bend OF the river.
From his talks with me l had cleaned
the three names-his cousin Bran Nor.
van, who was now the heir, the family
lawyer, Mr.. Thomas stockton, and the
family friend. Mr. William Hancock. This
information was little enough. As II
CHANGED. also, my acquaintance in West
Jersey had been with the counties that ia
nearest the sea, 30 that I had never seer
Morvan Manor.
On the whole, II was a stroke of pure
luck that Mr.. Haneock's self-eonceit, aided
by the liquor he had drunk and my own
chance resemblance TO Henry Morvan, had
given me the opportunity TO put to sleeI
the landlords lingering suspicious.
The wind, signing, tapped a great bougf
against the pane My friend was dead
his name had served my purpose OF the
moment-there was nothing left for me &c
DO for him but to send a letter to Mr.
stockton. giving him the proofs OF Henry
Morvan's death. Only month before. al
I knew, Morvan had written the lawyer
that he was on the point of coming home
l hoped the man OF business was not toe
musty to feel some sorrow at his wealthy
clients sudden death.
As for Mr. William Hancock-if he re
memberer tomorrow-and ! doubted it
that he had met a live Henry Morvan to
night, he would be too distrustful OF him
self 70 make mention OF the fact-hs mus