The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-02-21
Continued from page g.,

aJar. The minutes slipped by without
sound, and presently began to won.
der why Corap had not returned. His
room was not far from mine. l must
have heard his foot upon the stairs.
lie had disobeyed his orders, that was
evident. However, 1t was not my at
fair, and l crept back to my point OF
observation.
Twelve! l heard the clock tap OUT
the news from the room below. I was
nodding In my chair, barely awake.
After all, 1t was trivial matter, this
trumpery blackmail. Half an hour
more. thought /. pulling out my watch,
and will get to bed.
The affair was becoming extremely
lmonotonous. ! dared not light a Gig
arctic, for I felt certain that Peace
would notice the glow from outside,
land that I should hear OF 1t in the
morning. Ten minutes, a quarter or
an hour-what was that moving under
the trees by the edge OF the drive? 1t
was a man-two men. l crouched for
ward with every nerve in me suddenly
awakened.
They were good thirty yards
apart, the one following the other with
stealthy strides-not the sort OF walk
with which honest men go about hon.
est business.
When the leader came to the path
which led towards the summer house
he turned down it, leaving the drive to
his right. He avoided the gravel,
keeping to the silent turf which
'fringed it. His companion followed
him step by step.
1t was a curious spectacle, these
lslow-moving shadows that drifted for.
ward through the night, now almost
obscured beneath the branches, now
showing in black silhouette against a
patch Of moonlight
AS the first man melted amongst
the trees about the summer house, the
other moved forward swiftly for a
score Of steps and then halted for a
moment, crouching behind a clump of
laurel. Suddenly he sprang up again
and ran straight forward, cutting a
corner across the lower edge OF the
lawn.
There was no shouting, but I could
hear the faint tramping of a scuffle
and the thud of falling bodies. Then
all was still again.
Peace had told me to remain in the
house. But Peace had never expected
two men; I was sure of that crept
down the stairs, out through the
French windows of the drawing room,
and SO across the lawn to the trees
about the summer house.
AS ! passed through them l saw
little group standing In whispered con-
versation. They turned sharply upon
me. One was stranger, but his COM
panions were Peace and, to my vast
surprise, old Coran himself.
We'll, Mr.. Phillips" said the detec.
tive, ''and what do you want?"
81 thought" began.
"Oh, you've been thinking, too, have
you," he snapped. "Here is a young
man who was thinking he would like
to look at this extremely commonplace
summer house; here is Mr.. Coran who
was thinking he might help me by
lurking about his garden instead OF
going to bed; and here are you with
heaven knows what ideas in your
head. Perhaps you and Mr.. Coran will
do what you are told another time"
II saw two men," l explained hum.
bly,. Il was afraid they might get the
better OF you. How was to know
that 1t was Mr. Coran who had diso-
beyed orders?"
you are both pleased to be humor.
ous." said our host, and l could see he
was trembling with rage. But the
fact remains that caught this young
man entering the summer house for
"a purpose We can well imagine In
spector Arlington Peace, l charge
this person, Thomas Appleton. with
blackmail."
Can you explain your presence,
Mr.. Appleton" asked the detective.
kindly.
He did not look a criminal, for he
stood very straight and square, re-
garding the three OF us with an
amused smile.
"Of course, had no right to be
here" he said. Though why 1 should
find a. detective waiting to arrest me
for blackmail, or why Mr.. Coran
should spring upon my back and roll
me over, cannot imagine"
This is much as I expected"
snarled his accuser. "Effrontery and
impudence are ever the associates or
crime. Inspector, you will oblige me
by producing the handouts"
II should like word in private. Mr..
Coran."
They walked off together, leaving
me alone with Mr.. Thomas Appleton,
who offered cigarette.
"Has there been an epidemic OF
lunacy in the neighbo-hood?" he in
CURED politely.
No." said. laughing in spite OF
myself. "But how, in heavens name,
do you explain your visit to the sum-
mer house at this hour OF the night?"
II am afraid I must decline to an
swer you," he said, and quietly turned
the subject.
Coran returned, with a face OF vim.