The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-12-12

and shoulders emerging from the ton
neau. Then | saw that he was In dead
earnest, for he brought forth a bundle
Of steamer rugs. a large hamper and
a suit case from under the seat and
an ak
/ knew there was no use kicking
Harley had not prepared and brought
all that paraphernalia to be turned
from his purpose by any feeble argu
ments l might put up. 1t is a queer
thing that, no matter how strenuously
l may object to Harley's excursions
into matters Of mystery. in the end
become so interested in the solutions OF
the problems that l am really more
rabid than he and usually plume myself
when there is any credit to be distrh-
uted
How about the machine?" l asked.
hoping that his fertile mind had not
provided for that emergency.
Into the carriage house, Of course"
he said, smiling, and pointed down a
grass grown drive that ended in a de-
caying, open shed.
But the gate is impossible" OBJ
jected
That's what the ak is for" and so
he proved it by sending several power
full blows at portion of the fence, and
50 he severed the wistaria vine there
and cleared a rough path to the shed
After | had driven the car slowly
through the aperture he replaced the
broken section of fence and restored
1t outwardly to its former appearance
When the car was in the doubtful
protection Of the old building, which
on inspection had lost half its roof
| spread a canvas cover over the whole
thing and made a detour Of the house
From every point Of view it displayed
the same hopeless air Of neglect. 1t
was a large, rambling house with pro-
jecting wings and bore evidence Of hav-
ing been deserted for many years
Back of the house the ground sloped
down to an ancient apple orchard, and
here were broken and tangled grape
arbors bent under the rank growth Of
heavy vines.
Tramping back to the front Of the
house. found BARLEY sitting on the
broken porch with the traps scattered
around him. At my approach he arose
and led the way into the house.
The stout oaken floors seemed sound
and strong, especially those on the
drst floor, where they were better pro-
tected from the elements We did not
climb to the attic, which must have
been nothing save a pile Of debris
open to the summer sky and the rus
thing tops of the tall ems that sur
rounded it.
In enc of the breeze swept front
chambers we decided to make our
camp, SO We brought the paraphernalia
to break away from the wall under
our combined weight. II was O'clock
by the time we had completed our tour
Of inspection and returned to the camp
ing ground. and as yet l had heard
nothing about the mystery which we
had coms to solve.
Harley told 1t to me as we partook
Of bounteous meal produced from the
generously filled hamper. My com
panfon filed my cup with coffee hot
from the thermos bottle, and, | lighted
my pipe for further enjoyment of his
narration. We had found an empty
box in the kitchen. which served Har-
ley for a seat, while | sat on little
footstool which | discovered in closet
under the stairs.
Can you imagine an entire family
on bright summer day
and leaving no trace of their where
abouts?" asked Harley. ~,
shook my head negatively.
"Wee, that's what happened to the
Pulfords." he went on rapidly. There
we're FIVE in the family-father, moth
or, two sons and one daughter Oliver
Pulford was prosperous farmer, and
his children were grown and all I'M
They all lived happily to-
gether and were family Of quiet, re-
fined tastes and abundant means. 1t
was a pleasant summer day-to be ex-
act. the 9th of July. Friends who
called at the house in the afternoon
found tie place utterly deserted. A
half eaten dinner was On the table.
and indications showed that all the
family had circled the hospitable
board. At one plaee-that of the moth.
sr-the dinner was untouched, and the
half filed cups and saucers beside the
teapot showed that she might have
been interrupted Or called away from
he meal.
That's all the evidence there was
There were no traces of flight All the
,utdoor apparel was accounted for,
The horses were in the stables, the
.ows at pasture. the chickens In their
nciosura the family cat mewed around
he kitchen, and that was all that was
,ver learned about the disappearan
i the Pulford family" Harley lighted
lis own pipe and stared across the
moke into my wondering eyes.
"Man aliveT I muttered Surely
I've grown persons could not disappear
a broad daylight without leaving sorue
race in the world of their passing"