Courier Democrat., 1917-03-15
CHAPTER Kill.
The Tall Timbers of Old Harpeth.

~ WHO was aCtlfed IN very long
red flannel sleeping garment
with red cap, also of the flannel, tied
down upon the white wool of his head
DE governor is up in his room, and
you kin go right up. l never heard of
no such doings as Is going ON in his
house dis night with that there wild
man with a gun five feet long coming
and going like de wind!"
With which information Good Cato
started me up the st,lirs "First door
to the right front, and don't knock
he called in a whisper that might have
come from his tomb in death as he
slowly retired into the darkness below
with his candle.
rs that you, Roberto" came ques-
tion in Gouverneur Faulkners voice
from large table over by the window.
The room was entirely in shadow eX-
cept for the shaded light upon the
table, under whose rays l remarked
the head and shoulders of that Gouver-
neur Faulkner at whose bidding had
come out into the dead of the night.
Come over here, and walk softly. go
as not to stir up Jenkins" he COM
manded me, and l went Immediately
to his side, even if did experience q,
difficulty in the breath of Roberta.
marquise Of Gree and Bye.
''What is it that you wish my Gou-
Terneur Faulkner" l asked as looked
down upon him as he sat with a paper
in his hand regarding it intently.
"Sit down here under the light be-
side me-" was his next command to
me, and he reached out one Of his
slender and powerful hands and drew
me down into a chair very close beside
him.
"What is it," / asked as my head
came so close to his that l felt the
warmth of his breath OH my cold
check.
Hold these two fragments OF paper
together and translate the French
written upon them literally" he said
to ME as he handed me two small
pieces of paper upon which there was
writing.
And this is what | discovered to be
written:
Honored Madam-The one at the head OF
all has sent me to this place to Inspect
grazing lands and make report. l send in
a report of what is not here and the s.ssu-
ing Of the papers by your Gouverneur
Faulkner must be done quickly in blind
ness before a discovery Of what is not-
'It is written to woman l said
very quietly as | made IL finish of
reading.
"Yes, boy, to Il woman. have
made my last fight toto hold an Old
belief, which in some way seemed to
be-be one Of my foundation stones.
The general is right they are all alike,
the soft, beautiful, lying things. The
truth is not in them. and their own OF
mans honor is a playthinS. Ihas
piece Of paper was sent me by man
up in the mountains Of Old Harpeth,
who loves me with the same blood
bond that l love you, boy, all on ac-
count Of a gun struck up in the hands
Of his enemy. Here's the note he sent
with it:
Bill, we cotched furren man fer reve-
nue. UP ny the Stlll at IuFheE SuiSh' ailu
this was in his pocket. I made out to
read yo' name. 1 send it. The man is
kept tied. What Is mules worth? Send
price and what to do with this man crit
ter by son Jim. Believe me, they amt no
grazing fer 5000 mules on Paradise ridge.
but know a place. JIM TODD.
"What is the significance Of this pa
pcr, my Gouverneur Faulkner?' asked
after had made the attempt to trans
late to myself the very peculiar writ
ing he had given to me.
II do not know just exactly myself,
Robert" answered my Gouverneur
Faulkner as he dropped his head upon
his hands while he rested his elbows
on the polished table among Its scat
tered papers 81 am convinced now
that this mule contract business Is the
plot against my honor that the general
believes it to be and has been trying to
get to legal surface. In some way
Jim Todd has got hold OF one end OF
the conspiracy. 1t has been hard for
me to believe that woman would sell
ynn ont Tf tnI,a N IN her I'm thp morn,