The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-11-25
CHAPTER III.
THE DRAMA IN THE GARDEN.

I glanced at my watch, as soon as !
was out of bed. and saw that II was
hitter 10 o'clock. All the sleep 1 had
lost during the hot nights of the pre-.
sious week had been crowded INTO the
last nine hours; felt like a new man,
Ind when. half an hour later, 1 ran
downstairs II was with such an APP
bette for breakfast as had not known
Tor long time.
There was no one in the hall, and /
stepped out through the open door to
The porch beyond, and stood looking
about me. The house was built IN the
klidst of a grove OF beautiful old trees,
some distance back from tho road, OF
which / could catch only glimpse. II
was a small house, story and half
n height, evidently designed only as
summer residence.
Good morning. sir" said voice be-
hind me- and turned to find a pleas
INT faced gray haired woman standing
IN the doorway. .- #a-.. !.
Good morning" I responded. Il
suppose you are Mrs. Hargis?"r ,#..
Yes, sir; and your breakfasts
leady" s.~ tv
"Tias Mr.. Godfrey gomez"
YES, sir; he left about an hour ago,
He was afraid his machine would
Raien YOU"
1T didn't" said. as followed her
back along the hall Nothing short
Of an earthquake would have Weakened
me- An, this is ffnei'
She had shown me into a pleasant
room, where a little table was set near
IN open window. 1t made quite pic
ture. with it's white cloth and shining
dishes and plate OF yellow butter, and
bowl OF crimson berries. and--but l
didn't linger to admire it. don't know
when have enjoyed breakfast so
much Mrs. Hargis, after bringing I'm
the eggs and bacon and setting lit
tie pot OF steaming coffee at my ell
bow, sensibly left me alone &c the en-
boyment of 1t. Ever since that morn
ing, ! haye realized that. to start the
day exactly right, q man should break
fast by himself, amid Just such sur
roundings, leisurely and without dis
traction. A copy of the mornings Rec
ord was lying on the table, but did
not even open It. did not care what
had happened In the world the day
before! ......
At last, ineffably content, stepped
but upon the driveway at the side OF
the house. and strolled away among the
trees, At the end of few minutes,
came to the high stone wall which
bounded the estate of the myterious
Worthington Vaughan, and suddenly
the wish came to me to see what lay
behind it. Without much difficulty,
LOunQ the tree WIFI. the lduueT against
it. which we had mounted the night be-
fore. II was a long ladder, even in the
daytime. but at last reached the top
and settled myself on the limb against
which IL rested. Assuring myself that
the leaves hid me from any chance
observer. I looked down into the
grounds beyond the wall.
There was not much to see. The
grounds were extensive and had evil
IDENTIFY been laid out with care, but
there was an air OF neglect about them,
as though the attention they received
was careless and inadequate. The
bfrubbery was too dense, grass was
invading the walks, here and there a
tree showed q dead limb or broken
iue. Near the house was wide lawn,
lesiGned. perhaps. as tennis court or
trOquet ground. with rustic seats I'M
der the trees at the edge. .t- - 5,s
About the house itself was a screen
VI magnificent elms, which doubtless
rave the place 3ts name, and which
laut che house in completely. All /
eould see OF IL was one corner OF the
roof This, however, stood out clear
against the sky, and Ii was here. evil
Bently. that the mysterious midnight
iglires had been stationed. As looked
AZ 81. ! realized the truth OF
sodfrey's remark that prob
ibly from no other point or vantage
Tar just this would be visible.
1t did not take me many minutes 20
exhaust the interest OF this empty pros
beet. more especially since my perch
Was anythip2 but comfortable. and
HAS aboU. 10 descend. when two white
kobegl fls,iIres appeared at the edge of
lhe per space near the house and
walked slowly across, H. I settle back
lnte my place with a Tightening OF In
terest which made me forget its dis
knTnfort for that these were the two
itar Worshipers did not doubt
The distance was so great that their
faces were the merest blurs: but /
A8nid see that one leaned heavily upon
te arm Of the ether. as much. or 50
4 seemed to me. for moral as for phys
aaI ssipvort could see. too. that the