Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-10-14
CHAPTER vII-contlnued.

ooh, that was as easy as pie; I'd
often explored them. Do you remem-
Der the row got into, Blanche. for
taking you with me once and simply
running your frock?"
81 remember the frock!" said
Blanche .....
II vas sher last contribution to the
conversation; immediate develop
ments not only put an end to the fur
Their exchange of ancient memories,
but rendered 1t presently impossible
by removing Cazalet from the scene
with the two detectives. Almost with.
out warning all three disappeared
down the makeshift trap-door cut by
one Of them as q schoolboy in his
fathers floor.
She hardly even knew how it hap
pened. The little place was so small
that she never saw the hole until it
had enguIfed two of the trio; the third
explorer. Mr.. Drinkwater himself, had
very courteously turned her out of the
library before following the others.
And he had said so very little before
band for her TO hear, and so quickly
prevented Cazalet from saying any
thing at all, that she simply could not
think what any Of them were doing
under the. floor.
Under her very feet she heard them
moving as she waited a bit in the hall;
then she left the house by way of the
servants quarters, of course without
holding any Communication with those
mutineers, and only Indignant that
Mr.. Drinkwater should have requested
her not TO do so.
It was long half-hour that followed
for Blanche Macnair. but she passed 1t
characteristically.
She turned her wholesome mind to
dogs, which in some ways she knew
better and trusted further than men.
There was e. dog at Uplands, and as
yet she had seen nothing of him; he
lived In a large kennel in the yard,
Tor he was large dog and rather
friendless, But Blanche knew him by
sight, and had felt always sorry for
him.
The large kennel was just outside
the back door, which was at the top
of the cellar steps and at the bot,
tom OF two or three leading into the
scullery: but Blanche. of course, went
round by the garden. She found the
poor old dog quite disconsolate in a
more canine kennel In a corner of the
one that was really worthy of the
more formidable carniVora. There was
every sign Of his being treated as the
dangerous dog that Blanche, indeed
Rad heard he was; the outer bars were
further protected by wire netting
which stretched like a canopy ovel
the whole cage; but Blanche let her
self In With as little hesitation as she
proceeded to beard the poor brute
an his inner lair. And he never ever
barted at her; he just lay whimperin,
with-his fearful nose between his tive
front paws. as though his dead maste
had NOT left him to the servants al
bis life.
Blanche coaxed and petted him un
I'll she almost wept herself; then sud
denly and without warning the do
showed his worst side Out he leape,
from wooden sanctuary. almost knock
ing her down. and barking horribly
but not at Blanche. She followed hi
Anfufiated eyes; and the back door
way framed dusty and grimy figure
9ust climbing into full length on tn
cellar stairs, which Blanche had som
dificuity in identifying with that O
CazaIet.
well, you really are a Sweep" sh
cried when she had slipped out jus
In time, and the now savage dog wa
still butting and clawing at his barr
How did you come out, and wher
are the enemy3"
THE old way" he answered. 81 LEI
them down there"
"And what did you find?'
-T'li tell you later. can't hear m
voice for that internal dog"
The dreadful barking followed theI
out into the yard. and round to til
right. past the tradesmen's door, I
the verge OF the drive. Here they me
an elderly man in a tremendous hurr
ian unstable dotard who Instant
abandoned whatever purpose he ha
formed. and came to anchor In iron
OF them with rheumy eyes and twitcl
ang wrinkles.
why, II that isn't Miss Blanche.