The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-11

thoso unf<o was on or ABOUT the
twenty-first of August. He was equal
ly at loss concerning the fourteenth
OF August and the fourteenth of Sep
tember.
What do you know Of this artist.
Murphy. who employs John?'
asked.
Not much. sir" was his answer.
They do say as he Is rather eccen.
trio. sir. He and the Chink lives alone
there In the bungalow, summer and
! winter. He's a big red-headed and
bearded fellow, sir. did hear a story
as to him gettin' into a fight up at
Garrison's hotel in Greenwich village,
and nearly killin' three young water
men near as big as himself"
HAS he lived here long?"
Coin on two years, now, SIR"
"IIe paints and sells pictures. I sup
pose?"
Maybe, sir. never sees any.
though. But they calls him an artist,
sir"
/ determined to visit Murphy on
the pretext OF purchasing some Of his
IL III
possible. something more Of his ce.
lestial servitor.
"Of course you didn't see any one
else with rife. today" asked, in
conclusion. "The man with life up
load didn't materialize?"
mo, sir. Not another soul, sir. I
asked some Of the boys--them as has
charge Of the deer in the preserve,
over the way the shootin' sounded.
But they hadn't seen no one, either,
sir. Though they did hear the shots"
thanked Romney for his interest
-he knew / was one Of the state
garie wardens-and admonished him
to keep his own counsel as to my
Visit, leaving the impression with him
THAT l wished to round up the culprit,
and feared II my activity In the mat.
ter were scented my prey would be
put on his guard and thus escape
me.
It still lacked twenty minutes of
the hour Of my appointment with
Evelyn when issued from the Lodge,
and to occupy the time I entered the
stone pillars with their heraldic
shields. and sauntered leisurely along
the smooth macadam drive. bordered
by sentinel elms.
My thoughts were busy with the
new line Of conjecture which Romney
had unconsciously opened up for me-
l wondered whether by any possibil.
ity this eccentric painter, Murphy
could be personally involved. Was
Cameron acquainted with him? Had
they ever Quarreiled? From what
Romney had told me Of the affair at
Garrisod's the artist was evidently OF
a beilicose disposition. He had come
here two years ago. Cameron had
owned Cragholt less than year
Perhaps at the time he was preparing
the mansion for occupancy he had
offended the too sensitive Murphy.
who-I was letting my Imagination
run free-may have wished to take
hand at the new decoration. II
would probably be well for me to see
Cameron before seeing the artist. The
involutions OF my hypothetical train
led me. fear. into many monstrous.
ly preposterous conoeits: yet. as sub.
sequent events proved. the cogitation
In which INDUCED on that afternoon
walk was not wholly idle. Although
the working out was along lines
which ! was then far from foresee-
Ing. 1t was curious, in looking back,
to observe how very closely. collater.
ally. even at that stage. / came to the
truth.
In the midst Of my revery, the
rhythm OF horses hoofs on the drive
awoke me to time and place. And as
I raised my eyes, saw, still some
distance away, but bearing down
upon me at swift single-foot, the
girlish figure Of Evelyn Grayson, In
white waist and gray habit. mounted
on Prince Charley. buckskin cayuse,
which for saddle purposes she pre-
ferred to all the thoroughbreds In the
Cameron stables.
Am ! late9" she cried, refining the
wiry little animal to a stand beside
me. Cecilia Ainslee just left. She
was expecting the Lentilhons to stop
for her In their motor boat, but they
broke down and were delayed, and
instead OF coming at three o'clock, 1t
was half-past four before they land
ed"
II fancy you are just on the min.
ute" was my response, as consult
ed my timepiece.
"But I'm still mile from the
Lodge" she argued.
And all the nearer to the trail
condoned 1T must be somoW ere
about here. isn't it?"
You've passed 1t. It's just bey nd
that next bend" And she pointed
over my shoulder.
"Uhy Jiap't no., k.l.u