The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-03-13
COPYRIGHT ACrpcLURs & CO. 1911

Ing at me with sphinx-llke stupidity.
! arose to my feet, gripping the back
OF a chair, but the utter vacancy In
that face seemed to numb action.
There was nc positive expression. no
dim glimmer of interest in his fea-
lures; the shining bald head alone
gave him a grotesque appearance, re-
straining me from violence. l could
as easily have warred with a baby.
Il trust, sir, you slept WELL" he said
soothingly, "and that the service is
satisfactory"
! choked back my indignation, the
quiet Difference OF his manner causing
me to feel like O brute.
Nothing could be added to my hap
piness," ] answered. unless 1t nigh.
be a little information which you seem
disincllned to furnish"
He waved one hand, as though
brushing calmly aside some imagined
insect.
"Disinclined? Oh, no. sir; there is
nothing to conceal. sir, / assure you"
Then, for Gods sake, let 1t out OF
your system, mani" l burst forth i'm
patiently. Whom am / a prisoner to?
What am ! held for? What sort of
treatment Is this / am ~receiving?"
Peter bowed, without the tremor OF
an eyelash.
DO not mention II, SIR" he muir
INJURED smoothly; I'VE are only too
proud to have you as our guest at
Elmhurst. 1t has been very quiet here
now for some weeks, sir, and your
coming was welcome to us ALL"
could only stare at the fellow with
open mouth, so dumbfounded as to be
~speechless. or all the idiots / had
ever met he was the worst, or else
his acting was magnificent. To save
me l was not certain which might be
the correct guess. He continued in
stately solemnity:
Il trust there remains nothing more
you desire to learn sir? II not, | am
requested to conduct you to the IL
brary. All, thank you sir-this way,
please"
He stood aside, statue-like, his eyes
looking directly past me. and pointed
with dignity to the open door. / obeyed
the calm movement Of that hand as
though II had been a military order,
but. as ] stepped into the twilight OF
the outer basement. l suddenly per-
ceived the presence there of the at
tendant grayheard. He moved in nd.
vance, and / followed, aware that
Peter was closely at my heels. A
glance told me here was a library. no
only in name, but In fact, a large
square room, we'll lighted, the furni-
ture mahogany, shining like glass,
three of the walls lined with books.
mostly In sombre bindings. A green
topped table occupied the center Of
the apartment, a massive affair, fianked
by a leather upholstered reading chair.
while before the front windows were
cushioned hedges. My rapid glimpse
about ended In Peter standing In dig
nified silence barely within the door.
his hand upon the knob.
Il am authorized, sir" he said i'm.
pressively, gazing directly across my
shoulder. not a feature expressing
emotion, ito permit you to remain
here on parole"
Parole! What do you mean?"
Parole was. ! believe. the word
used. SIR" In calm explanation. ut is.
as ! understand. sir, a military term
signifying pledge"
"Oh, know that. Kindly concede
that ! possess some small intelligence,
Peter. But to whom is this parole
gifen. and what does it impfy?"
TO myself. sir. This may seem
slightly unconventional. sir, but l trust
you will repose sufficient confidence In
me not to object. The sole require
.ents are that you remain In this
room until sent for"
THAT will not be long?"
Il think not. SIR"
"And who will send for me?"
Peters eyes surveyed me, but with
but expression.
Il am quite unable to answer that.
He was enough to provoke a saint.
but | had already butted my head
that stone wall sufficiently 10
the uselessness Of any further
Peter was Peter, and
crushed back my first impatient excla-
to say humbly:
All right. my man. III wait here"
| sank back into the upholstered
chair, and for a moment after he had
closed the door did not move. Then,
knowing whether to laugh or
swear over the situation, | crossed the
DOM, and gazed out through the win
Far down the winding driveway,
lalf concealed behind the trees, a
'ody OF British troops was tramping
oward the house.