The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1920-09-17

elCe lot WuiNH she was 6latSiuls 0hS
remembered that when they we're max
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 II. She was not sure but
that there had been an ameliOration OF
Jed since then. She had regarded the
| event as insignificant. 1t might have
had a meaning, but II so, 1t was OBJ
scured.
Our days were of pleasant routine,
but nevertheless, for reasons which
| have tried to make perceptible II
not explicit, the expectation was
touched by dread We had, for sew
eral months, no outstanding incident
or disturbing happening, Mr.. Sid
ney's health remained exceptionally
good. He created a new interest In
his life: he had not forgotten his visit
to the penitentlary, and he was eager
to do what he could for the convicts.
Evidently he thought of his restrict
ed life as something not wholly alien,
except for Its comforts, to theirs. The
most that he could do was to send
books and occasionally to prepare a
Sunday afternoon program OF music
to be given by small orchestra which
he had brought out from the city. He
never went back to the penitentiary
but once a week Jed or drove over,
and he was interested In our accounts,
Jed was beginning to wear Off the
fine aspects of his good behavior.
Some restless ambition tortured this
man. and some power he had not COM
pletely used invited him to make full
use of ii.
had implored Mrs. Sidney to in
form me instantly If he became OBJ.
noxious again. l understood how i'm.
portant ii was to protect Mr.. Sidney''
peace of mind, but I thought had the
, upper hand of Jed-although not ur-
Outstanding his case at all-ana could
manage him.
Isobel, knowing that she was pur
sued by the ridiculous ambitions OF
the man, found amusement In it.
found only moral nausea. / could
see Jed's arrogance arising again, ant
twice week was awakened by his
singing in the hallway as he came from
drinking in Mr.. Sidney's room. wal
expecting something to happen; ant
something did, but II was certainl!
not what I expected. 1t opened VI
a new phase of the mystery.
One morning / was waiting for Je'
to bring my coffee to the pleasan
room which he early In our acquaini
ance had recommended. Not the leas
curious thing about Jed was the fac
that he seldom in his sober moment
was anything but perfect servan
when service was demanded. 1t di
: not matter how serious and deadly tn
issue might be between Jed and me a
men: when the matter lay betwee
Jed and me as servant and served, Je
was the servant. Therefore. no ma
z ter how things might stand with u
when, In the morning at an early hou
went to the room Jed originally SUI
gested, I expected him to come wit
:" nv coffee, and he always did.
II was my habit to arise at seve
fe O'Clock and be dressed and In tn
or room by half-past seven. ! usual
" read book until Jed brought the co
II fee and the morning paper. II was
luxurious and restful experience
AZ have this hour each day.
Al This morning In question was rea
nv Ing placidly when looking out the wi
.lv dow. was startled to see a stranj
figure of a man on the lawn. He wi
close to the house, almost under
window, and even could see that
wore earrings. He had handkerchl
around his neck. He was swarthy al
n black haired. / thought he was Spa
In. ish, and l thought he was a salt
a These were only impressions, but tn
I identified him for me later. He W
I'D passive and was looking up at Z
Sc house In an interested but puzzl
ON fashion. harmlessly. one would ha
70 said, If the wholly unexpected naru
OF his presence had not been In It's
gh significant.
In Men wearing earrings were not
re- common of sight as to allow one We
res ing them to be unnoticed Strange
me OF any Kind seldom came our WI
The Strangers Of his kind were extraor
cir nary. He was looking up at the W
do dows as II he sought the answer
so something that had Interested II
ras mystified him. knew, In every
md stinct, that he had not come u
I'D. chance but by design.
NV was looking. leaning forward
this strange phenomenon on The Ia
nile when a crash OF metal and break
lev china gave me shock. Jed-whor
ON had not heard entering-had seen o
: a ms shoulder the stranger on the Ia
and had dropnpg the coffee tray.