Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-21
CHAPTER XVII.
THE a or JAc1NTp

travel, horsemAi since his third year,
who was acc tomed to breaking
young colts before his sixteenth, had
been thrown 50 violently and awk-
wardly that he was carried uncon-
sctous back to Casa Noel. A doctor,
Summoned in haste from the city be-
low, pronounced his patients arm
broken. and a.slight conclusion of the
brain probably present. Nothing seri-
Gus. with rest and due care;
Corey Bruce, now the. supreme au-
thority in the villa, installed the doc
tor permanently and Immediately.
Pending the Marshal's recovery, the
household was commanded to; attend
upon the medical man al its first
duty. There were no risks to be
taken that Bruce could foresee or
prevent by care OF lavish expenditure.
He kneN what Noel would have done
Ccharge without stint. He notified DR..
Valdes of the accident. He himself
knew little Of Granados' family, ex-
cept that they were in a distant part
Of the country: rs
The physician was at breakfast and
Bruce sat watching beside Granados,
who lay in a slumber or stup6r, his
eagle-like face leather1brown, even in
illness, against the white pillow. A
nurse was established in the back
ground; q nun. now a sleepy figure
villa itself rested in Swallowed, scent
ed repose. Outside, the morning was
fresh and cool. Within, the sense Of
GOODNESS was aided by the ripple of
the mountain that filled the house
with a delicate murmur.
Bruce looked thinner--a and older
thar when he bade farewell to Noel
sone months before. His expression
had lost that student abstraction from
into considering him as unsophisticat-
ed. His cheek-bones were more
prominent and his brown eyes showed
weary behind the black-rimmed eye
glasses. He watched Granados with a
singular intensity. He expected a
visitor. And he would have given
everything that he hoped from life to
have Granados awake to conscious
ness before that visitor came.I The
doctor had said he might awaken at
any time. y 2
He did not awake. He looked like
a man who might sleep forever, Bruce
thought. He himself had scarcely
slept for three nights; not since he
had received a note from the visitor
he now awaited, announcing in suave
and harmless terms that the writer
would have the honor Of calling upon
1t was strange that Granados'
mount should have thrown his rider
that night: the night that Bruce had
meant to show the note to. the other
man ana c6nfde in him. 1t was as
strange As for Granados to fall lump
ishly, awkwardly Is a park rider, and
on the smooth driveway. suppose the
accident to Granados had not been an
accident? Suppose
"A servant appeared in the doorway.
THE Senior Jacinto Meyer" he
announced in a sibilant breath, ROLL
Ing his eye toward the sick man.
Bruce also looked toward Granados.
But neither voice nor entrance dis
turbed the sleeper's deep and false
tranquility. The mans hand project
ing from the splint rested on a breast
just stirred by rhythmic breathing.
Bruce stopped above him with a ling
ering hope that dice as he looked.
then reluctantly turned away and mo
toned the servan 10 20 before him
into the hall and Gown the stairs.
Jacinto Meyer was standing beside
the Eountain in the han. Languid,
An4"uric in appearance. he hid a cruef
N7altty like that of a reptile behind
his colorlcss exterior. There was
something reptilian in the Eyes he had
toward the door of the music
room where he had first encountered
Corey Bruce and fought for the> LETT
ter to the lady called Rose. TO the
man descending the stairs, Meyer look
ed triumphant; wicked sind tri-
umphant. Once the American had
seen the Eyes OF an alligator in a
river; as it drew q native child under
the yellow waters. He remembered
that incident now, and how he had
vainly emptied his rife after; the brute
In q frenzy of horror and. disgust. He
fancied that now he confronted q
similar thing;b but he was disarmed.
Jactnto Meyer turned around with
q military stiffness of movement and
bowed. His expressionle@ eyes were
not at all like the alligator's, after all,
they were more like the artificial eyes
Of a doll.
II hope our esteemed Marshal
granados is improved I" he inquired.
=! heard Of his accident with infinite
distress.
"Did you." asked Bruce. He Look
ed at the ether with listless specula-
ton. "He 10 we'll enough, the doc.
Not yet conscious
"saii We" suggested Meyer mildly,
shall we 70 in the beautiful garden
Of Senior Noel. lest we disturb the
III you like, bBruce assented.
They went forth together with
every outward sign Of accord. Meyer
led the way along a winding path to
. little pavilion that stood on . knoll,
beyond the possibility Of listaners app
%proachtnx 4 unseen. Instts shelter.
s:r...s -, escs,,..a... 49,.
er4 abriSf pause. Have you- been
thinking Of our last conversation, sem
Bruce slowly raised his head and
lookedAnto the pale Eyes Of the other
man. His thin hands clenched.
"You know very we'll that / thought
OF nothing else." he answered, with
btt4er repression OF his despair. Ever
since the day Senior Noel left. when
found me 81. you have left me no
sc much! Only hints, daBnnable
Is man Win ! past, and ! past not
has little .ann6yancess'S Meyer
smiled. ''ThesAi noyances may even
become great. u1less--he 10 sensible.''
3."YOu mean, fdishonest 49,
.,Hpnsstt. my dsar Mr.. Bruce, \
not alwAye poliey. nlfact, hcnesty
81 = Iuxuty, dgtxottsm. = sslk-indnl-
s .ae:;;n sns.sEs.seis = men Who have
.'vvhst q ~. vsnt q ms,. Bruce
Msysr llshEed i ctear,
"AIoo, there honesty to ones
Aelf." ne ignOrsA the chaiIenee WITH
bland, i~nsolencAs s"Honesty between
4 mas and III own ne. 6elf-preSsr-