Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1912-11-28

bpOTteuluus Ou on tue buOiS, thciVs w
my right. And 90 resumed my tramp.
with cars keen for a repetition. Al
most Immediately | was rewarded. and
then knew that 1t was no rail bird
gunner. for the shot was Unmistakably
a rife shot. and It was fired In the
depth Of the wood. to the left Of me
Three times more heard II. in fair.
ly rapid succession and sounding al.
ways from about the same direction ]
cannot say that It gave me any un.
easiness, but II perplexed me In milo
way. arousing passing curiosity as
to rs object. And then, | came out
upon the well-kept, gravelled drive
which circles the close-cropped, vel
vety Cameron lawn. and catching
sight OF Cameron himself. In riding
breeches and puttees, romping with
one Of his picturesquely graceful Rus
stag wolf'hounds. promptly forgot oil
about II.
He came across the sward to meet
me, the great. gaunt white hound
pressing close to his side, and
thought ! saw that he, too, had ex-
pe.ienced the inspiriting influence OF
the morning.
Il have found an answer" I cried,
while he was still fifty yards away.
possibly the answer"
He raised his brows in question. and
the hound. with open jaws, fondled his
wrist
Il had horseback ride before
breakfast" he told me, as he shook
my hand Then | spent an hour at
the kennels. We've n fine new brood
Of collie puppies. You must see them "
81 want TO-" | returned.
What do you say to tennis?" he
suggested, irrelevantly. list set
It's fine morning for TENTS"
IF you can lend me pair Of shoes"
! consented glaring down al LILY boots.
"A dozen pairs" he smiled Come
NJ 20 my dressing room. lor will fit
you out"
was scarcely prepared for this
hange in my friends mood. nd far
from happy over it. He was evidently
determined to ignore the subject that
had SO eng-ossed us the night before,
hoping TO find surcease of harassing
bought IL a restless round OF activi-
lies The condition was a morbid one
which / believed should be disco r.
aged; the more so as possessed what
I fancied was perfectly practical Sc
luton Of that which hlherto had
seemed to us an inexplicable ph'-
nome IN. And was a little "nnoy"f.
100. that m, good tidings should be
thus disregarded.
When, therefore, We had entered
he hall and Cameron was leading to-
wards the broad, ascending staircase,
paused,
do you mind giving me Just a
minute?"
He stopped, turned, and stood in
qtes'ioning silence.
"A minute in your study" ! added.
in explanation
Reluctantly, 1t seemed to me, he
crossed to the study door. and thro v
ing II open. stood aside that / might
precede him.
The re ON appeared far less grim
and gloor'y than when had last en-.
tered It. Its windows faced the
south: and between the clive-green
tapestry curtains the sun poured In a
food lighting up the far corners, CLINT
ing on the 1t ornaments Of the writ
ing table, and bathing in dazzling
splendor the FURNISHED bronzes on the
crowded top of the book.shelves.
II see you are not disposed to re-
sumo our discussion Of last night"
began, when Cameron. having closed
the door behind him, halted just in
side, and with hands in pockets, await
cd my opening. "But want to show
YOU that we have been in very much
the same position as the w0ndeiin
children who watch the prestidigita
eur. We have imagined something
amazingly like miracle, which, IN
point OF fact, is capable Of very sim
pie, commonplace explanation"
You mean the cutting out OF the
head Of the portrait?" he asked. with
kind'ne interest.
81 DO"
You have discovered how II was
done. before my eyes. so to speak
and yet"
Il have discovered how It may have
been done" interrupted.
He moved his head just perceptibly
from side to side in skeptical gesture
"The door OF this room Is seldom
locked?" ! queried. ignoring the indi
Gated skepticism.
Never locked" he answered.
1T would be quite possible for any
one, knowing that you were absent
TO spend an hour or SO here. uninter