Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-11-17

this door and the wide and hospitable
veranda which separated 1t from the
driveway.
Il am willing to 90 all odds that I
shall find that veranda the most in
teresting part of the house." he re-
marked in quiet conviction to himself
as be noted its nearness to the stable
and the ease with which one could
step from it into a vehicle passing
down the driveway
1t had another point Of interest, or,
rather, the wing had to which 1t was
attached. AS his eye Travelled back
across this wing In his lively walk
toward the stable be caught a pass
Ing glimpse of nurse's face and fig-
ure In one of its uppe' windows.
Once around the cor Ter. be perceiv-
ed that the stable dO)r was closed.
but that window wei. up the garden
side was open. EncCJntering no
watchful eye. he stepped up to the
stable window and peered in.
A man sat with his back to him pol
! ishing bit Of harness This was prob
| 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 meant 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 horse stamped and fdgeted.
Only one held their attention. This
was a mare on the extreme left, a
large gray animal with 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 sense
Of watchful presence to which all of
US are more or less susceptible, they
were both surprised to see tears on 1t.
The next instant he had started to his
feet and the bit of harness had ratified
from his hands to the floor.
"Who are your he asked. with q
touch of anger quite natural under the
circumstances. Cant you come In by
the door and not creep sneaking up to
fake a man at disadvantage
AS he spoke he dashed away the
tears with which his cheeks were still
wet.
81 thought a heap Of my young mis-
tress," he added in evident apology for
this display of what such men call
weakness. Il didn't know that it was
In me to cry for anything. but find
that 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
fcer.
Enough to bring me here" acknowl-
edged.the other.
"Do you mean to this house or to
this stable?"
ITO this stable"
"Have you heard that the horse was
out that night?"
Eyes; she was out"
"Who drivingw
"Ah. that's the question:
'This man can't tell you"
"But I'm going to talk to him for al
that"
HE wasn't here that night He was
ut a dance. He only knows that the
mare was out"
"But I'm going to talk to him."
MAY | come in too? I'll not inter
rupt. I've just fifteen minutes tc
spare"
Hexford threw open the stable door
and they both walked in. The coach
man was not visible, but they could
/ .I~1s &c