The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-16

CHAPTER "
II was nearly midnight when Rode.
rick Briton drove the car back into
The stable.yard OF the big dark
house.
The groom came 10 meet him.
sleepy eyed and yawning. lie looked
at his young master wonderlngiy. his
face was 40 flushed. his eyes so
bright In tho morning he in
formed the head groom that Mr..
Rorie had come home from Aiperton
drunk.
The head groom cuffed hts ear.
YOU'D come ono drunk. vcriik..
II you'd got ali Mr. Rorie's trouble.
he said. 'raint every day a young
gentleman loses a fortune. and don't
you forget it,
But II WAS only excitement and
misery that had made Rorie's eyes
10 bright. his face so flushed: he felt
as II he were In a sort OF night
mare dcllrium an he walked away
from the stabic-yard and up to the
big alien, house.
All tho servants had long since
gone to bed; a shaded lamp burned In
the hail: a gray. curly haired sheep
dog on mat at the foot Of the
stairs lifted his head and growied
apprehensiveiy as young Briion
opened tho front door. then rose 10
hts feet wagging his stumpy tail. and
came forward.
Rodcrick patfcd the shaggy head
absentiy--he loved all animals. and
they seemed TO know II. Scott stood
beside him uttcring little low whincs
81 pleasure as young Briton pulled
of his boots ard threw aside his big
the young mans ssnd. as II asking
for n little attention.
when Eoric walked 20 tho stairs.
tho dog followed: he stood with
clumsy paws resting on the bottom
stair. looking after him with wistful
eyes.
Roderick looked back at him.
Good boyl lie down. Scott" He
felt somehow oddly grateful for the
animals fr4endliness - he. who had
hitherto boasted more friends than
he wanted
At the top Of the stairs hung a lifc-
like picture Of hts dead father. II had
recently been added to the gallery OF
portraits. the gold Of It's frame looked
conspicuously new beside the others.
Roderick stopped. He held up the
candle he carried. 40 that the little
squirt OF flame fiiekercd over the
grim. painted face.
As he stood there. the likeness be-
tween tho two men. father and son.
which old F'eresrson had noticed WINS
strongly in evidence: fierce eyes
looked into fierce eyes--both hard.
bitter. and unforgiving
Then Roderlck laughed reckiessly.
lie felt somehow az II the dead man
knew OF the thing he had done dur.
ing the past few hours. and he was
gladz-gisd that he had been able to
strike a blow at the family pride.
He felt as II they all kncw--thc rows
OF prim ancestors who seemed TO
stare down at him. the last OF the
race. with such grim disapprovai.
He laughed rccklessly as he low
cred the candle: he blew out the little
squirting flame. ana went on up the
wide staircase In the darkness.
Blunt, the pompous butler. served
the coffee. and stood back against
the sideboard. with a sphinxlike ex.
precision on his face.
Rorie had not slept wink an
night; his head was splitting: he felt
like "A man who wakes on a spring
morning with golden sunshine
streaming on his face. 10 the remefn.
brance that It Is the day OF his execu-
ton.
He drank the coffee nj single
gulp. He glanced at Blunt. Blunt
was staring out Of the window with
n curiously alert expression on his
usually sphinx-like face.
what the devil are you staring
at7' asked Rorie. irritably.
Blunt drew himself up. He an.
swered with a sort OF injured dig.
nifty.
There's been n man hanging
around since daylight, Mr. Roric. /
warned him off once. but | Just see
fsAib htNh ny wv ilFHh' AEU3fif DttFr
ing thru. I don't like the looks of
him. Mr.. Roric."
Begging. I daresay-
mo. ! don't think so. sir. He
don't seem like the usual run OF beg.
CARS we get round these parts. He's
a hupchback. too. Mr.. Rorie."
"A--hunchback" Rorie echoed the
words In startled voice. He turned
sharply in his chair and stared out
thru the window with a sort Of eager
ness. II can't see him. Which side
of the gate was her"
Hes gone now, Mr.. Roric, I think
he saw me looking lie went off
down the road
Rorie rose 10 his feet. pushing
back his chair. his young face looked
angry.
Turn Scott on him II he comes
again. I won't have loafcrs hanging
about here. And--I want the car