The pioneer express., 1912-12-06

shields, and sauntered leisurely along
the smooth macadam drive. bordered
by sentinel elms.
My thoughts were busy with the
new line Of conjecture which Romney
had unconsciously opened up for me-
! wondered whether by any possibil-
ity this eccentric painter, Murphy,
could be personally involved. Was
cameron acquainted with him? Had
they ever quarrelled? From what
Romney had told me of the affair at
Garrison's the artist was evidently Of
bellicose disposition. He had come
here two years ago. Cameron had
owned Cragholt less than a year.
Perhaps at the time he was preparing
the mansion for occupancy he had
offended the too sensitive Murphy,
Who'll was letting my imagination
run free-may have wished to take
hand at the new decoration. It
would probably be well for me to see
Cameron before seeing the artist. The
involutions Of my hypothetical train
led me, fear, into many monstrous.
~ preposterous conceits; yet. as sub
sequent events proved, the cogitation
in which l INDUCED on that afternoon
walk was not wholly idle. Although
the working out was along lines
which was then far from foresee-
Ing, 1t was curious. in looking back,
to observe how very closely, collater-
ally, even at that stage, came to the
truth.
In the midst of my revery, the
rhythm Of horses hoofs on the drive
awoke me to time and place. And as
l raised my eyes, saw, still some
distance away. but bearing down
upon me at a swift single-foot, the
girlish figure Of Evelyn Grayson, in
white waist and gray habit, mounted
on Prince Charley, a buckskin cayuse,
which for saddle purposes she pre-
ferred to all the thoroughbreds in the
Cameron stables.
Am I late?" she cried. refining the
wiry little animal to stand beside
me. Cecilia Ainslee just left. She
was expecting the Lentilhons to stop
for her in their motor boat, but they
broke down and were delayed, and
instead Of coming at three o'clock, it
was half-past four before they land
ed"
Il fancy you are just on the min.
ute," was my response, as consult.
ed my timepiece.
"But I'm still a mile from the
Lodge" she argued.
"And all the nearer to the trail" I
condoned. "It must be somewhere
about here, isn't it,"
you've passed it. It's just beyond
that next bend" And she pointed
over my shoulder.
why didn't you bring groom
with you to hold your steed?" l asked.
smiling. "You don't expect to ride
Prince Charley into the forest fast.
nesses, do you?"
Il could" she answered, promptly.
II will, If you dare me. He can pick
his way like cat. But it isn't nee
essary. He'll stand forever, the dear
thing, If drop the bride rein over
his head"
My preference was to have her on
foot at my side, and so did not dare
her. And thus it chanced that we left
the homely little animal standing
with dropping head and dangling rein
on the shadowed side of the drive.
way, and went of together down the
narrow, slow-descending trail, the
girl in the lead.
The slanting sunlight, shooting it's
golden arrows in intermittent volleys
the tree tops, made target of
her hair, as we passed, scoring bril-.
liant flashes of FURNISHED bronze. Her
hat, broad-brimmed sailor Of coarse
straw, was but poor shield for that
tawny coil which lay low
on her neck, and the darting rays
had their will with it. l have never
before or since seen hair Just like
Evelyn Grayson's. There was such a
wealth Of it, and its color was so elu.
sive. Under dim lights 1t seemed a
prosaic brown, but with small encour.
agement 1t changed to q fight fawn.
streaked with lustrous topaz strands:
which in the suns blaze became
bronze glory.
I'm pretty sure I Gun find the
tree" she asserted. as she swung
along. with that free, lissome stride |
which 1 loved. 1T is an old, dead |
chestnut, a great giant Of the woods. |
even in death; and 1t stands |
,nly half-dozen yards of the trail.
was looking for ferns, or l never |
n the world should have come upon |
t. How do you imagine that thing
,ver got away of here? And who
:ould have stuck 1t up on that dead
rec trunk?"
THAT is precisely what i should
Ike to find out" was my reply. ut
'eems very mysterious to me. About
What time was 1t. when you discov.
red it,"
Just before met you"
Had you heard any shooting in
he woods, before that"
+ .Shooting?" she queried, apparent
y surprised. "No. Was some one
D ,iss' .s
Il understood %. Poaching. Il
imagine. After some Of Cameror's
at pheasants."