The Washington times., 1918-06-25
Part One-(Continued)

through, however Enthusiastically it
might develop. I was rather ire
Gponsfble in those days; you may
dents In my life Of which I have
spoken So dressed myself in the
eonvices clothes and I put on q
1ong coat which was brought, one
reaching to my heels, and with a
fhfck fur collar, which, when turned
Up, practically hid my face from
view. should guess there was
nothing Of me to be seer but my
black hair Anyhow, was glad to
cover UP the convict's dress.
when was ready they led me
Gown the long corridor to the room
which I had entered when first
arrived at the house. Here by the
Are an old. sharp-featured man was
nttng-an ugly fellow, too.
He BIeets His GBest Man"
Here's your best man. said my
UUfde He Will be with you for the
ceremony and he Win see you safe
y on the premises when It is over.
You won't see me again, and I dare
say you will not be sorry. How
ever. you VIII ind that shall deal
fairly with you Here are notes for
$500, on account Of your first years
income, which in future you will
and regularly placed to your credit
= with Aessrs- Black-you know the
bankT
Il replied that knew the bank
ven OF course, I had to take the
assurance of an annual income on
trust, but I was glad enough at the
Ume to accept the $500 and the
prospect OF speedy release. How
ever, I may tell you at once that
have drawn the money regularly
ever since, though Messrs- Black
Will give me no information as to
who 1t was opened an account for
me or who pays the funds to my
credit.
"Don't start for about half an
hour said the old man to the one
who sat by the fire; then go by the
passage straight to the church. you
understand? TIL see that the doors
are left open, but be careful to shut
them behind you After it's all over
you'n take this gentleman to the
road by way Of the lodge. I've
ordered the carriage to be waiting
for him there The coachman has
his orders Is that all clear?
He spoke in a peremptory voice,
~ to a subordinate.
at suppose So grumbled the
other; but I don't like the way by
the passage Can't we go around%
GDO as You Are Bid
~No, certainly not. You will do
- you are bid Then he turned to
the younger mantle one with the
scar-and said: Come along,
there's your Job to be done Is he
rsadyT
"a nod was The answer, and pres
entity the two men went out with
out another word to me- advanced
10 the fire, for the night was cold.
/ tried to enter into conversation
With my new companion, but he
would only answer with surIy mono
GyI1ableA
suddenly, after about ten min
utes, I should say, I heard the
sound OF heavy footsteps outside,
queer, shambling footsteps, which
somehow gave the suggestion OF
being hardly human
AT the same time the noises
had SO frequently heard in the
house were repeated with peculiar
Intensity. A short, yapping bark,
q peculiar growl that yet had some
thing OF q mans voice in It, and
then a horrid roar OF anger. Then
came the swish OF whips and oaths
IN voices which recognized. The
sounds drew nearer. I glanced at i
my companion and saw that he was
trembling with fear.
L
turning angrfly upon the foxy-faced !
cid fellow who had been described
as my best man He covered over
the fire in such evident fear that |
I despised him thought, too, that
he glanced at me now and again as
n he were not sure how I might
behave to him It occurred to me
then that IN all probability he was
not in the secret, but took me for
my lunatic patient The thought
amused me, and I laughed aloud:
my laughter seemed TO terrify him
Strange Sounds BecOme Mufhed.
'In the meanwhile the noise out
side was subsiding: there came the
slam OF a heavy door, and the
growing and yapping came muf-
fed by distance
81 assumed a threatening atti-
tude. thinking that in this way
might learn something from my
What was that noise?
I repeated
%'You ought to know he an
Ewered in a voice as conciIiatory as
he could make IL. TIM new to all
this and I don't like II much. But
I should think you ought to know
your brothers voice without Ques-
tioning IT.
My brothers voice" So the
thing that made those awful sounds
was brother to the young man
whose place had taken temporar-
lly. a family OF lUnatics, indeed.
so you're the new keeper
hazarded-
Yes he replied. I've come to
take charge Of the house instead
Of But here he broke on.
glancing up at me nervousIy from
his narrow eyes. Z thought you
knew me- he added; I've been
here before and seen you. wish
The old chap hadn't died: the Job
suited him better than IL will ever
suit me-
Evidently this man was a new
conner, and did not like hts bust
ness. I felt very sorry for him,
'or IL could not have been an en-
liable position. He seemed startled
~ my manner; suppose did not
Lppear as mad as he expected, and
{ seemed to put him on his guard, !