Grand Forks herald., 1917-02-08
went to the library to interview Sir

! went to the library to interview Sir
Marmaduke, thought 1t well to stick
my eye-glass In my eye. leave my
mouth open and look like an idiot. !
thought 1t probable that Sir Marina
duke would be quite open with me:
but 1t was Just as we'll to give him
every ENCOURAGEMENT. We should get
on % quicker. We would start the leg
pulling process without delay: and
should know what he was up to with
out wasting time.
round, gray man bounced up out Of a
chair. and bounced across the room
at me; just bounced.
MY dear Lord Garthoyle, I am
charmed to make your acquaintance
he squeaked in a high voice which
did not go with his round largeness
But I regret-I regret that it should
be under these painful circumstances
these extremely painful circum-
stances"
He seized my hand and waggled
IT habbily in hand uncommo only
like big uncooked sole.
How are you?" drawled. What
er-er-are they?"
He sat down slowly and solemnly:
and I sized UP his large oblong. fab
by face. and green eyes under thin
eyebrows at the bottom of a forehead
head, owing to the retiring hair.
These Observation-Disclosures men
acing hieroglyphics." he squeaked.
"Ah. er-yes; the scrawls on your
porch. drawled.
"Scrawls! No. no, Lord Garthoyle.
I wish could think it. tried to
think of it as freak of some idle
boy-even a hoax. They are hero
glyphics drawn with a deliberate in
tent"
Does it matter?" I drawled.
serious affair. But I see that you
don't appreciate its seriousness-its
public Importance. But perhaps you
do not follow public affairs-the at
fairs Of the great world-with close
INTEREST,""
They're not much in my line
don't you know" I drawled; and ]
opened my mouth a little wider.
mo. no. quite understand. II
is weakness of our order. have
always deplored that SO large a per.
other vocations. Why, II the whole
Of our order devoted itself to public
affairs. we could absorb them. We
should have monopoly. There would
be no room for those wretched mid.
die classes and the rest OF the lower
orders. Still. there are a few Of us
who devote ourselves to public at
fairs. ! myself have figured largely
In public life for many years, no,
only as president of the Landlords
Defense league. but in many other
ways as the staunch opponent of the
forces which threaten our order with
destruction. have made enemies
many dangerous enemies, by stem
ming the Hood Of anarchy and So.
cialism which is striving to sweep Us
away. I am q barrier, Lord Garth.
oyle-a, barrier, And he paused tc
look tremendously impressive.
"A barrier? Where they take
tickets" I drawled, looking al
ing. IT am a barrier to the advance
Of that food; am the lion in the
path" He looked more like a cod
fish in the path. ut can not move
on to Its task Of fell destruction till
it has overwhn med me! 1t has recog-
nized this; and it is gathering its en-
ergies to sweep me away
That's deucedly interesting" !
said. Are you backing yourself not
to be swept? I'm backing the food.
What odds will you take?" And l
pulled out my betting book and look
ed quite lively.
Sir Marmaduke was pulled up
short: he suffered:
This is not a matter for an idle
w-w-wager. I've n-n-never made a
b-b-bet in all my life."
ITS never too late to begin," said
cheerfully; and l drew out my pencil
and opened the betting-boo
No, no. no! I'm not going to bet
I won't bet!"he spluttered, pouting
exactly like spoilt child which ia
not getting its own way. "I've come
about these heiroglyphics. You don't
understand"
But this is such good bet for
you. don't you KNOW" 1. said, looking
quite lively. "Why, it's the chance OF
lifetime. II you lose, you don't pay.
Your executors pay"
mo. no, no." he spluttered,
Come. I'll lay you even money,
and we'll fix time limit-say q year"
said.
NO nor he squeaked.
We'll. I'll make It nine months. 1
lay you even money that they out you
in nine months"
pretended to be tremendously ex-
mo -. no." he almost
squealed.
but think what a. comfort 1t will
be to you when the bomb bursts. or
the knife ,tabs in your>back, to think
that your executors will have to pay"
l said as persuasively as I could.
II will not bet!" he squealed. "I
came to talk about these heirogly-
phics; and you won't listen!".
"on. an right fire away!'
He painted a little. and then he be-
gan: These hierogyphics are a
warning and threat. am sure Of
it. When first saw them I took no
notice of them beyond telling nv but
Ter to wipe them away. He did so:
Ny suspicious were awakened: thew
have been confirmed. The hierorly.
phics are not only renewed, when they
are wiped away; they change. Every
three or four days, Lord Garthoyle,
they change. They grow more threat
sning; en- aa ! To-Day S there is distinct cof-
'"That's-er-pretty thick, don't Won
know" said.
Thick? Thick? It would appal
the stoutest heart And we can't And
out who draws them. One Of the most
astute hrms Of private detectives in
London has been watching the house
night and day for fortnight. The
hierogiyphics are drawn under their
very eyes. They must be. The affair
has grown so sinister that the time
has come for me to decide whether
should retire from the fight or con-
tinue the conflict. There is a great
meeting Of the landowners league
shortly; II speak out, the forces Of
anarchy will dash themselves upon
me. But Il has been suggested that
might speak out, and then retire into
z prudent seclusion for few months.
That ID why have come to YOU. You
are 9 large owner Of property: I am