The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-11-16

|Rth ~ AA@N. teh~a - 49,
when the end OF breakfast had dis
persed the party. that spoke TO Peace
about It, offering to 20 to London my
self and do my best 10 carry out his
instructions.
Il had bad luck in my call for vol.
unteers," he said.
Il should have thought they would
have been glad enough to get the
chance OF work They can find no
particular amusement In loafng about
the place all day
Doubtless they all had excellent
reasons he said with a smile. But
anyway. you cannot be spared, Mr..
Phillips"
You natter me"
II want you TO stay in your bed.
room. Write. read. do what you like,
but keep your door ajar. II anyone
passes down the corridor, see where
he goes. only don't let him know that
you are watching him II you can help
g. / will take my turn at half-past
one. don't mean to starve YOU"
| obeyed After all, IL was in
manner. promotion that the inspector
had given me: yet II was tedious,
anxious time No one came my way,
barring a sour looking housemaid.
tried TO argue out the case. but the
deeper got the more conflicting grew
my theories. was never more glad
10 see friendly face than when the
little man came in upon me.
The short winters afternoon crept
on the inspector and ! taking turn and
| turn about in our sentry duty. Dinner
time came and went. | had been or
/ duty from nine, but at ten-thirty !
poured out a whisky and soda and
I went back to join him. He was sit
ting in the middle OF the room smok-
ing a pipe in great apparent satisfac.
ton
BED time. isn't IT." | grumbled,
smiling at his strong tobacco.
/ "Oh. no" he said The fact is we
are going 20 sit up all night"
threw myself on couch by the
/ window without reply. Perhaps | was
not in the best OF tempers; certainly
/ did not feel SO.
/ You insisted ON coming down with
me-" he suggested
Il know all about that" ] told him.
II haven't complained, have IL IL you
want me TO shut myself up for week
/ I'll do It; but | should prefer TO have
some idea Of the reason why"
Il don't wish to create mysteries,
Mr.. Phillips he said kindly; but, be
lieye me, there is nothing 10 be gained
in vague discussions"
knew that settled 1t as far as he
! was concerned so | nodded my head
and filed a pipe. At eleven he walked
across the room and switched on the
light.
III nothing happens, YOU can take
your turn IN four hours from now" he
/ said In the meanwhile get 10 sleep
| will keep the first watch"
shut my eyes. but there was no
rest in me that night. | lay listening
70 the silence Of the old house with a
dull speculation Somewhere far down
I'm the lower floor great gong.like
clock chimed the hours and quarters
| heard them every one from twelve
TO one from one to two. Peace had
stopped smoking lie sat as silent az
cat at a mousehole.
IL must have been some fifteen min
utes after two that / heard the faint
| faint creak OF board I'm the corridor
outside. sat M, every nerve strung
/ 10 tense alertness. And then there
came a sound | knew we'll the soft
drawing touch OF hand cropping In
1 the darkness as some one felt his way
along the panelled walls. II passed
us and was gone Yet Peace never
moved. Could he have fallen asleep
/ / whispered his name
"Hushl"
The answer came TO me like a gen.
tie sigh
One minute. two minutes more and
4 the room sprang into sight under the
\ glow OF an electric hand lamp. The in
spector rose from his seat and slid
4 through the door. with me upon his
4 heels. The light he carried searched
/ the clustered shadows but the corri
4 dor was empty. nor Was there any
i place where a mshi might hide.
You waited TOO long" ! whispered
impaiiently
The man Is no fool. Mr.. Phillips
DO YOU imagine that he was not listen.
ing and staring like hunted beast
! A noisy board. stumble, or flash OF
I light. and We should have wasted a tir-
i ing day"
Nevertheless he has got clear
away"
/ II think not
As we crept forward saw that a
strip of the oak flooring along the
walls was gray with dust. II II bad
been III such neglected state In the
afternoon ! should surely have noticed
e. In some curiosity | stopped 10 ex-
anime the phenomenon.
Flour, whispered the little man.
| touching my shoulder.