The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-07-01
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10
Please bear In mind that no reference
Is to be made toto all this. / have
told her OF b drawing, Eric. She says
she has something to tell me when 1 go
back to her. III trust Il Is not some
thing she has felt necessary to hide
from me. II I were you i would not
go put on the streets this afternoon.
Wait until after nightfall."
He left them, and they heard him
slowly mount the stairs. Then the door
to his room was closed gently. They
did not see him again until dinner time.
BY that time, scores of people a
called up the house on tA@ telephone,
and at least four correspondents a
been turned AWAY from the door, only
70 take up positions across the street
with note books ready. Their cameras
got views OF the Giants Castle" from
all sides. One daring chap entered the
grounds and photographed the rose
bush that Chetwynd had planted On
his 7th birthday, to which some i'm
p~ortance was attached because up to
that season ii had borne white roses,
but had been prophetically barren this
year. .... '.. ..s4
No less than a dozen eminently vera
cious citizens la seen young Blagden
board a freight train late the previous
evening, bound for New York. An un-
happy controversy ensued over that
very point No two Of them saw him
board 1t at the same place, nor were
they all agreed that 1t was q freight
train. Some OF them said Ii was the
express train leaving at GIL, while 9TH
ers mentioned the local at $3.50. John
Halves conyersed with the young man
in front Of Goes drug store al z o'clock,
and he was impressed at the time with
Chetwynd's nervousness. Mrs. Sanford,
Of the Second Congregational church
choir, was positive she saw a very
blond young woman with him shortly
after 5. A strange young woman In
Corinth, h vas quite sure Of that.
Dinner at the Blagden home that
night was a dismal affair. Mrs. Blag-
den, very wan and red eyed, seldom
looked up from her plate. Mr.. Blagden
rarely looked down from the old fash
Toned crystal chandelier, except to in
spect the dishes set before him by the
solemn Martha
But four places had been laid. There
was no empty chair at the table. for
the simple reason that 1t stood back
against the val with others of its kind.
OF the four who sat there in perfume
tory obedience to custom, Eric Mid
thorne was the only one who was not
wondering what the missing member Of
the family was doing at the time. Two
OF them were tortured by the belief
NAA@N AS NNNS IA NAAS Il "a EAO OAla
who had dragged him put OF the sane
tuary they had built around him; the
third was not so sure that he would
10 creep back into the house when the
night was old and the town asleep.
Eric, alone, knew where C~hetwynd
Blagden was spending the night.
Shortly after the meal was over, he
excused himself and left the house, os-
tensiblY to take a short walk about the
grounds When he was out of sight
around the corner OF the house, he
broke into a run and was soon flying
across the garden in the direction OF
Jabez Cars cottage. Vaulting the high
brick wall at the lower end Of the
garden, he raced across the meadow
n up to the barred gates. There was
a light In the window of the gate keep
er's lodge. Eric shouted and ratified
the gates to attract attention.
Old Jabez opened the door and peered
forth over his s~pectacles. He was hold
ing a book in his hand.
Get away from there!" he roared
Dang We, you know it's against order
to let-Hello! Is that you, Eric? What's
w, my lad?" .
He hurried over to the gate, forget
ting his keys in his excitement. Sud
denly remembering them. he would
have hobble back for them but for
Eric's impatient cry.
Adam?"
He's gone to New York, hot on the
trail of that young scalawag," said ia
be-, lowering his voice as he came up
to the gate. And he'll get him, too,
Eric, sure as you're born. They never
slip away from Adam when he once
gets wind Of 'em. 1 don't mind tellin'
you, seems you don't love your cousin
any too well, that Adams never goin'
to rest until he lands him where he be-
longs. Say, wasn't you plumb laid over
on your beams end by the news? Gee
almighty, 1 bet there's wailin' and
gnashin' Of teeth up there in yonder
house."
The old mans laugh was almost a
cackle, he was so excited.
Hes gone to New York;" cried Eric,
blankly.
ION the 8 something" said Jabez.
Say, just you wait a minute till I get
the keys. I've been a-dyin' to talk it
over with YOU"
II can't STOP" said Eric shortly. Did
he say when he was coming back?"
II won't conn till he fetches Chef
wynd with him, you can bet on that"
said Adams father grimly. you amt
likely to see Adam again, my lad, until
you see hat fine cousin OF yours
They'll come back together one of these
days. Then, wen see how Master Hor-
ace likes Hey! What's your hurry L?
| Can't you stay awhile?"