The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1912-09-21
MIADY YdrDOUBT
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OoFYRIGn1 Acrrclune aco. 1911

door opened. and he stood there gaz-
ing at me with sphinx-like stupidity.
l arose to my feet. gripping the back
OF chair. but the utter vacancy in
that face seemed to numb action.
There was no positive expression. no
dim glimmer Of interest in his fea-
lures: the shining bald head alone
gave him grotesque appearance. re-
straining me from violence. l could
as easily have warred with a baby.
Il trust. sir. you slept WELL" he said
soothingly. "and that the service is
satisfactory"
l choked back my Indignation. tho
quiet Difference of his manner causing
me to feel like brute.
Nothing could be added to my hap
piness." l answered. unless it might
be little Information which you seem
disinclined to furnish"
He waved one hand. as though
brushing calmly aside some imagined
insect
"Disinclined? Oh. no. sir: there is
| nothing to conceal. sir. I assure you"
Then. for Gods sake. let 1t out Of
your system. mani" burst forth i'm
patiently. Whom am a prisoner TO-?
What am held for? What sort Of
treatment is this am receiving?"
Peter bowed. without the tremor Of
an eyelash.
DO not mention 1t, sir" he muir
INJURED smoothly; I'VE are only too
proud to have you as our guest at
! Elmhurst. 1t has been very quiet here
now for some weeks. sir. and your
| coming was welcome to us all"
could only stare at the fellow with
| open mouth. SO dumbfounded as to be
speechless. OF all the idiots l had
ever met he was the worst, or else
his acting was magnificent To save
me was not certain which might be
the correct guess. He continued in
stately solemnity:
Il trust there remains nothing more
you desire to learn sir? II not, l am
requested to conduct you to the H.
brary. All. thank you. sir-this way.
please"
He stood aside, statue-like, his eyes
looking directly past me, and pointed
with dignity to the open door. obeyed
the calm movement of that hand as
| though 1t had been a military order.
but. as l stepped into the twilight of
! the outer basement, l suddenly per-
ceived the presence there Of the at
tendant graybeard. He moved in ad-
vance. and l followed. aware that
Peter was closely at my heels. A
glance told me here was a library. not
! only In name, but in fact. a large
| square room. well lighted, the furni-
ture mahogany. shining like glass.
| three of the walls lined with books.
| mostly in sombre bindings. A green
topped table occupied the center Of
the apartment, massive affair. flanked
by leather upholstered reading chair.
while before the front Windows were
cushioned lodges. My rapid glimpse
about ended in Peter standing in dig
nified silence barely within the door,
his hand upon the knob.
Il am authorized. SIR" he said i'm
pressively. gazing directly across my
shoulder. not feature expressing
emotion. ito permit you to remain
here on parole"
Parole! What do you mean?"
Parole was, | believe, the word
used, sir" in calm explanation. ut is.
as l understand. sir. a military term
signifying pledge"
"Oh. l know that. Kindly concede
that l possess some small intelligence,
Peter. But to whom is this parole
given. and what does It imply?"
ITO myself, sir. This may seem
slightly unconventional, sir, but trust
you will repose sufficient confidence in
me not to object The sole require
ments are that you remain In this
room until sent for"
THAT will not be long?"
II think not. SIR"
And who will send for me?"
Peters eyes surveyed me, but with
out expression.
II am quite unable to answer that,
SIR"
but had already butted my head
against that stone wall sufficiently to
learn the uselessness Of any further
attempt. Peter was Peter, and
crushed back my first impatient excla.
nation to say humbly:
"All right. my man. I'll wait here"
I sank back into the upholstered
chair. and for a moment after he had
closed the door l did not move. Then.
scarcely knowing whether to laugh or
swear over the situation, crossed the
room. and gazed out through the win
dow. Far down the winding driveway,
half concealed behind the trees, a
body Of British troops was tramping
toward the house.