The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-04-19
80 ahead. young millionaire p,r :,

WALL 1ou Ior Your breakfast |
here, anyway. Don't you forget that"
Il will be home at nine o'clock the
usual Sunday breakfast hour" re.
turned IN an unruffled tone. He
snorted and rang off without defining
to reply further. and I hung up the
receiver with the feeling that had
done my part towards a reconciIia-
ton. FOR the present at least, the
matter must rest where 1t was. Then
calling up the hotel Office and leaving
an order for them to awaken me at
seven O'Clock, I locked the door and
turned out the light
At the ringing Of the call bell the
next morning at the hour had des-
ignated, arose and began my toilet
had slept but little and that little
was more like the semi-consciousnes
| which comes from exhaustion rather
than the slumber of repose. felt un-
refreshed, respondent, self-angry. Nor
was my appearance in the glass sat
isfactory as I ran my eyes over my
reflection. had little desire for
breakfast, but inasmuch as had told
Uncle Abner that l would be present
at that occasion, paid my bill and
took car homeward. The morning
was fundamentally dream. The
foliage had been bathed by a night
shower and the air was perfumed with
the incense Of growing green things.
AS passed up the walk among the
oaks could not but realize how beau
tiful the grounds were despite their
unkemptness, and that 1t would cost
me pang after all to leave this
place permanently should my quar-
rel with It's owner develop to that
acute stage. For it was under these
trees that had passed so many pleas
ant hours with Clare. or wandering
through the marble halls of my air
castles. Mrs. Tebbets admitted me
upon my summons: but no sooner
had l entered the sleepy halls than
my fondnes for the place vanished
In the old depression which always
came upon me as l viewed their
loneliness. 1t was like passing into
vault, cheerless, gloomy, the echoes
hooking my footsteps. l went straight
to my own room. The door was closed
between where was and my uncle's
, apartment, and stood listening. Usu
ally he was up and could be heard
puttering around before this, bvt nov
all was silence beyond. opened the
, door that separated our quarters ant
> stepped forward. But on tn
' threshold I stopped with my eye
sweeping the scene that lay before
me.
The room was in a state of disorder
y Everywhere was to be seen the han'
a of violence. Bureau drawers had beel
v ransaked and left yawning; the be-
was a twisted tangle Of sheets AM
= crumped pillows; clothing was seal
= tered about the floor. But what wa
: more ttartling than anything else wa
!. the c5ndition of the iron safe. 1t
y combt ation had been shattered b
:, some, hoxerful explosive and It's doc
= standhg wide, gave a full view Int
>. its lbted interior. With the swes
:, starting from my forehead ! rushe
"a forward.
m inspected 1t with a glance. N
q. money remained in 1t. but the paper
" looked as though they had not bee
ID disturbed beyond general overhaul
W ing. Lswept my eyes about the roo
II and under the bed. No glimpse of N
9, uncle rewarded me and ran from II
1T room with loud calls for Mrs. TIE
Or bets. 1t was her custom not to di
10 turb us Of Sunday mornings until 81
at announced breakfast, and that 81
It. knew nothing of the condition OF
4 fairs in the upper part Of the hou'
or had been evidenced by her ordinal
Il. demeanor as she admitted me. Fro
re- room TO- room Of the upper story
e. went IN rapid search of the missil
is one, and at last, In one Of the dal
~ closets I found him and dragged nj
forth. He was bound hand and fot
d. and I bent over him and shook hi
IN He seemed to be rather more unco
nd scious than otherwise, but he certa1
es ly was alive.
It, PufRns up the stairs in response