Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-09-30
hitting me full in the eyes.

hitting me full in the eyes.
A second later the flash was gone,
the face in the window was gone and
slight movement on the gravel below
showed me that my visitor was gone.
l got up and looked out. Although
the lawn was bright in the moonlight,
no one was tc be seen. The Spaniard
had disappeared into the woods.
To come to an understanding of the
sailors acts, not much reasoning was
needed; 1t was not my room he was
trying to enter, but Jeds. His fash
light had not only shown that was
awake but that he had the wrong
man. and he had climbed down and
run into the woods. One mystery was
how he had escaped the dogs.
That was explained the next day (;
they had not been loose the nignr
before; had not been released from
their kennels. They were found rest
less from an unexpected night Of con-
finement. They had not been out be-
cause the stableman who had charge
Of them had spent the afternoon and
night in the village of Hartley, drunk.
1t was an extraordinary and not an
ordinary proceeding for this stable
man, who had been dependable char
acter. 1t did not require much sus-
picion to conjecture that he had been
tempered with in deliberate purpose to
free the grounds Of the dogs for the
use the Spanish sailor made when
he climbed up to my room.
was so apparently contrite and inno-
cent that it would have been an injus-
tice to punish or discharge him. He
had gone to the village in the early
afternoon on an assigned mission for
the house. He had used the oppor-
tunity to drink few glasses of beer,
for which proceeding no one would
blame him in Hartley house. It seems
that he drank two or three glasses
more than he intended to and. even
beer being In fashion Intoxicating,
got into a condition which made him
amiable to the approach Of a stranger
who succeeded in interesting him In
the Immediate prospects Of life. which
then to him were chiefly alcoholic.
He and the stranger had much talk
and many drinks. The stableman lost
all sense of responsibility, which was
not strange, and proceeded from beer
to strong liquor. forgetting all hts
duties to the house. In consequence
he did not get home that night. and
the dogs were not loose.
Naturally one. drew direct line
from this performance to the appear
ance of the Spaniard at my window.
and there was natural wonder a. to
what kind Of confederate the Span.
lard could have so effectually to pre-.
pare the way for him.
The Spaniard had a confederate
who was ingenious and reseurceful ;
that was evident. He had made q
deliberate play to get the dogs out
of the way the night the sailor made
his attempt to get into Jed's room,
and had succeeded In almost getting
into mine.
Two days after the strange appear.
ances Of the Spaniard, I was asked for
and was told that gentleman desired
to see me. l went to the office Of the
house and saw man who instantly
suggested the one who had entertained
the stableman so. successfully.
He was so easily described that It
was a crime for even a drunken sta
bleman to have missed his distinguish
ing characteristics. but at that, the
stableman had made Identification pos
sible. The moment l saw the fellow
thought we were nearer the solu-
ton Of the mystery Of Hartley house.
He was significantly insignificant.
looking man; that was his identifying
mark. He seemed timid and insecure
Of himself, apologize for his intrusion
upon me and withal determined to do
whatever it was that was in his pro-
gram. wondered how so shrinking
an individual had played a jovial part
in village tavern with yokels at
drink. His card indicated him to be
a lawyer and gave his name as Phil.
his subject-for which l thanked him
AS soon as he had made a brief pre-.
liminary Of commonplaces Of introduc.
ton and greeting.
II have asked for you. doctor, be.
cause I know Of no one else here who
will serve. l do not wish to approach
Mr.. Sidney directly and cannot trust
the factotum you know as Jed.
would not impose upon Mrs. Sidney
or her daughter except in extremity
You are here, a rational human being
and interested, I am informed, in the
fortunes Of this family. Therefore
have come to you" 4
"For what purpose?'' I asked.
He smiled as II to apologize fol
having any purpose. and pulled at the
cuffs of his coat.
"Tn be frank" he said. II hardy
know the purpose clearly myself. My
client is a sailor, My practice lies
considerably along the water front in
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