The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-11-21

Ing at me with sphinx.lIke stupidity
! 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 gl!mmer OF interest in his fea.
lures; the shining bald head alone
gave him grotesque appearance. re.
strainlng me from violence could
ms easily have warred with a baby.
Il trust, sir. you slept we'll" he said
soothtngly. land that the service Is
satisfactory"
chokcd back my indignation, the
quiet difference Of his manner causing
me TO feel Ike n brute
Nothing could be added to my hap
piness," answered. unless # nigh.
be a little information which you seem
disincincd TO furnish"
He waved one hand, as though
brushing calmly aside some imagined
insect
"DisInclinod' Oh, no, sir; there is
nothing 70 conceal. sir, assure you. >"
Then, for Gods sake, let It out Of
your system, mani" ! burst forth i'm.
patiently. whom am prisoner to?
What am | held for? What sort OF
treatment is this am receivng?"
Peter bowed, without the trcmor OF
an oyclash.
do not mention It. sir he muir
INJURED smoothly; we are only too
proud to have you ns our guest at
Elmhurst. /, has been very quiet here
no" for some weeks, sir, and your
coming was welcome to ua all"
could only stare at the fellow with
open mouth, 50 dumbfounded as to be
spo"chless OF all the idiots 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 Rolcmnlty:
! trust there remains nothing more
you desire to learn sir? II not, | am
requested TO conduct you to the II.
brary. All, thank you, sir-thls way,
please"
lie stood aside, statue.ikc, his eyes
looking directly past me. and pointed
with dignity TO the open door. ! obcycd
the calm movement OF that hand as
though It had been a military order.
but, as ! stepped into the twilight of
the outer basement, | suddenly per.
coiYcd tn" presence there of the at
i"udaut Eraybcard. He moved i'm nd.
vance, and / followed. aware that
Peter was closely at my heels. A
EIan"" told me here was library. not
only in name. but in fact. large /.
square room. well lighted. the furui- |
tur" mahogany, shining like glass. |
three OF the walls lined with hooks |
mostly IN sombrc bindings. A green.
!nppcd table occupied the center Of |
the apartment, massive affair. hankod |
by leather upholstered reading chair,
while before tho front windows we're
lodges, My rapid glimpse
ahou ended in Peter standing in dig
niliod silence barely within the door.
his hand upon tho knob.
~ am authorized, sir" he said i'm
gazing directly across my
not a feature expressing
emotion, TO permit you to remain
here on parole"
Parole! What do you mean?"
Parole was. | believe, the word
used. sir," in calm explanation. 1T Is,
AZ | understand. sir. military term
'ignlfyng pledge"
"Oh, ! know that. Kindly concede
hat ! possess some small intelligence.
Peter But 20 whom is this parole
given, and what does 1t imply?"
To myself. sir. This may seem
slightly unconventional, sir, but trust
you will repose sufficient confidence in
ne not to object The sole REQUIRE.
nents are that you remain in this
Dom until sent for"
THAT viii not be long?"
81 think not. sir"
And who will send for mc?"
Peters eyes surveyed me. but with.
'ut expression.
y am quite unable to answer that.
ir."
~ '''' 'hNNhh " IluNbht Il SAINT,
'ut | had already buttcd my head |
sainst that stone wall sufficiently TO :
earn the usclossness OF any further
ttempt. Peter was Peter. and | I
rushed back my first impatient excla. !
nation TO say humbly:
"All right my man. III wait here" h
l sank back into the upholstered S
hair, and for moment after he had y
loscd the door | did not move. Then. h
carccly knowing whether to laugh or
wear over the situation, crossed the n
Dom, and gazed out through the win.
ow. Far down the winding driveway. 7
ali concealed behind tho trees. a u
ody Of British, troops was tramping n
Jward the house. =