The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1922-06-24
cHAPTE W.
~Arrlvsd safe; WE'LL"

ARRIVED Safe; WE'LL"
As the door closed behind Sheriff.,
Alan went over to the dresser and
picked up the key which Sheriff. had
left. He put II, after moment, on
the ring with two or three other keys
he had. and dropped them Into his
pocket; then he crossed to \ chair and
sat down.
Sheriff. had spoken Of the possible
lty that something might have hap
pened" to Corvet; but 1t was plain No
did not believe he had met with actual
violence. He had left 1t to Alan to az
anime Corvet's house but he had not
urged Alan TO examine 1t at once; he
had left the time Of the examination
to be determined By Alan. This
showed clearly that Sheriff. believed
perhaps had sufiicient reason for b.
lieving-thst COrvet had simply gone
away" Corvet. Sheriff. had said. had
married In 1889. But Sheriff. In long
knowledge Of his friend. had shown
firm conviction that tAsrs had been
no mere vulgar liaison In Corvet's LIE.
Did this mean that there might have
been some previous marriage Of Alsn's
father-some marriage which had
strangely overlapped and nullifed his
public marriage? In that case, Alan
could be, not only In fact but legally.
COrvet's son: and such things as this,
Alan knew. had sometimes happened,
aud had happened by strange combi-
nation Of events. innocently for all
parties. COrvet's public separation
from his wife. Sheriff. had said. had
taken place In 1897. but the actual
separation between them might, pos
sIbly, hive taken place long before
that.
The afternoon had changed swiftly
into night; dusk had been gathering
during Ills last talk with Sheriff.. 20
that he hardly had been able TO SEQ
SherriIl's face, md just after Sheriff.
had left him, full dark had come. Alan
did not know how long he had been
sitting In the darkness thinking out
these things; but now little clock
which had been ticking steadily ip the
blackness tinkied Slx. Alan hesrd q
Ut IIAb uptt, ~ NA8
peuted. he called. "Come In"
The light which came In from the
hull. as the door was opened. showed
III man servant. The man, after u re-
spectful inquiry. switched on the light,
He crossed into the adjoining ROOM
a bedroom; the room where Alan was.
NE thought, must be \ dressing room,
ind there was u bath between. Pres
entity the man rcappeared, and moved
softly about the room. unpacking
.Alun's suitcase. He hung Alan's other
suit In the closet on hangers; he put
The linen. except for one shirt, In the
dresser drawers. and lie put Alan's
few toilet things with the ivory
backed brushes and comb and other
articles on the dressing stand.
Alan wondered, with 4 sort of trepl.
dalton. whether the man would expect
to stay and help aiim dress; but he
only put the buttons in the clean shirt
aud reopencd the dresser drawers and
lgid out II change Of things.
t'I was to tell you. SIR, Mr.. Sheriff.
ID sorry lie cannot be at home TO din
MIR tonight. Mrs. Sheriff. and Miss
S,errIll will be here. Dinner IL Vt
stven. sir"
Alan dressed slowly. after the nun
hid gone; and ut one minute before
seEcn he went downstairs.
trhere was no one In the lower hall
nd after All instant Of irresOlutiOn
nd glance into the empty drawing
rUpm, he turned Into the small room
ats the opposite side OF the hull. A
h,t,dso,ne. stately, rather large wom-
ui3 whom he found there. introduced
hefsslf to him formally us Mrs. Shsr-
rIll. Her reserved. yet almost too
cn4ual acceptance Of Alan's presence,
toiSi him that she knew nll the par
tlcSlars about himself which Sherrul
hnd been able to give; and us Con-
stl4ice came down the stairs ana
jolaed them hnlf minute. later. Alan
was certain that she also knew.
Ulnner was announced, ind they
welt into the great dining room.
why're the table with Its linen, silver.
and china CLEANED under shaded
lIgil It's. The oldest and most digniticd
Of the three men servants who waited
upotl them In the dining room Aim
thoIght must be butler-a species Of
creature OF whom Alan Ind heard but
never had seen; the other servants. at
leasA received and handed things
through him. and took their orders
from him.