The Pulaskian. (Pulaski Heights [Little Rock], Ark.) 1915-1929, 1920-09-30

% continue 10 lean on me for support
d thing that / perceived in ahasement
and with a sense of unworrhiness and
unreliahility. Isobel was as whole
some as the air In the most pleasant
circumstances life was resumed at
Hartley house.
Jed had not wholly lost his trucu-
lence and his occasional flashes OF
! malevolence. but he was subdued. ]
thought he seemed furtive.
l asked Mrs. Sidney if she had OBJ
served a change. She said it had not
occurred to her to think of it as a
change, but there had been a differ
ence for which she was grateful She
remembered that when they were mnk-
ing their visit TO Montevideo Jed had
gone down TO the docks and had come
back obviously disturbed. She had OBJ
served the fact without giving much
thought to it. She was not sure but
that there had been an amelioration of
jed since then. She had regarded the
event as insignificant ii might lave
had a meaning. but If so, it was OBJ
scured.
Our days were of pleasant routine,
but nevertheless, for reasons which
| have tried to make pereeptible il
not explicit. the expectation was
touched by dread. We had. for sew
eraI monthee no outstanding incdenl
or disturbing happening. Mr. Sid
ney's health remained exceptionally
good. He created new interest in
his life: he had not forgotten his visit
to the penitentiarT, and he was eager
to do what he coEhf for the conviets.
Evidently he thought of his restrict
ed life as something not wholly alien.
except for IT'S comforts to theirs. The
most that ne could do was to send
books and occasionally TO prepare a
Sunday afternoon program of music
to be given by a small orchestra which
he had brought out from the city lie
never went back TO the penitentiary
abut once Il week Jed or drove over.
and ne WAS interested in our accounts
Jed WAS beginning TO wear off the
fire aspects of his good behavior.
Some restless ambition tortured this
man. and some power lie had not com
pIeteIy used invited him to make full
use OF it.
I had imptored Mrs. Sidney to IN
form me instantly if he became OBJ
noxIous again | understood how i'm
portant it was 10 protect Mr.. Sidnev's
peace of mind, but thought I had the
upper hand Of Sotl-although not III
derstanding his case at aI-and could
manage him.
Isobel, knowing that she was pur-
sized by the ridiculous ambitions OF
the man. found amusement in It. !
found only moral nausea conld
see led's arrogance arising again ana
twice week I was awakened by his
singing in, the hallway as he came from
drinking in Nr. Sidney's room. was
expecting something to happen; and
something did, but it was certainty
not what l expected Il opened UP
a new phase Of the mystery.
One morning I was waiting for Jed
to bring my coffee TO the pleasant
room which he early in our acquainf-
ance had recommended Not the least
curious thing about Jed was the fact
chat he seldom in his sober moments
was anything but perfect servant
when service WAS demanded 1t did
not matter now serious and deadly Che
issue might be between Jed and me as
men; when the matter lay between
Jed and me rs servant and served. Jed
was The servant Therefore no mat
ter how things might stand with W.
when, in the morning al an early hour
vert to The room Jed originally shy.
gcste,l, expected him TO come with
MY coffee, aHl he always did.
II was my habit to arise at seven
O'Clock and he dressed and in fhis
room by half-paSt seven. usually
read book until Jed brought the cof-
fee and the morning paper. II WIS a
luxurious and restful experience to
have this hour each day.
This morning in question MIS- read
inS placidly when looking ont the WIN
dow. | was startled to see strange
figure of man on the lawn. FIe was
close 10 The house. almost under my
window. and / even could see Thar he
wore earrings. He had a handkerchief
around his ueet. lie was swaltly and
blacE-hared. thought he was Span
ish, and I thought he WIS sailor
These We're only Impressions. but they
identified him for me later. He was
passive and was looking up <at the
house ia an Interested but puzzled
fashion har3ufeSs'y one would have
said. if the wholly unexpected nature
of his presence had not been in Itself
significant.
Men wearing earrings we've not SO
common Of sight as 70 allow one wear
ing them 10 bf, unnotieed. Strangers
OF Any kind seldom came eur way.
Strangers of bis kind were extraordi-
nary. He was looking mp at the win
daw$ as ff he Sought the auswer TO