Licking Valley courier., 1922-04-20

"In the end, think, man maybe
goes back to the place where he be-
gan. That's all, Alan"
"In the end What do you mean by
thati What do you think has become
Of Mr.. CorvetT
II think now-Ben's dead"
"What makes you think thatf"
Nothing makes me think; ! think 1t
myself" tr
II see. You mean you have no rea-
son more than others for thinking 1t;
but that Is what you believe"
"Yes." Wassaquam went away, and
Alan heard him on the back stairs, as
cending to his room.
When Alan went up to his own
room, after making the rounds to see
that the house was locked, a droning
chant came to him from the third floor.
He paused In the hall and listened,
then went up to the floor above. A
Pickering light came to him through
the half-open door Of room at the
front of the house; he went little
way toward It and looked in. Two
thick candles were burning before a
crucifx, below which the Indian knelt,
prayer book in hand and rocking to
and fro as he droned his supplica-
tions.
A word or two came to Alan, but
without them Wassaquam's occupation
was plain; he was praying for the re-
pose of the dead-the Catholic chant
taught to him, as 1t had been taught
undoubtedly to his fathers, by the
French Jesults Of the lakes. The in
toned chant for Corvet's soul, by the
man who had heard the Drum, fol.
lowed and still came to Alan. as he
returned to the second floor.
He had not been able to determine
during the evening, Wassaquam's atti'
tuds toward him. Having no one else
to trust, Alan had been obliged TO put
a certain amount Of trust In the in
dian; SO as he had explained to Was
saquam that morning that the desl
and the drawers in the little room Of
Corvet's had been forced, and had
warned him to see that no one, who
had not proper business there, entered
the house. Wassaquam had appeared
to accept this order; but now Wassa
guam had implied that It was not be-
cause Of Alan's order that he had re-
fused reporters admission to the
house.
Alan started and went quickly to the
open door Of his room, as he heard
voices now somewhere within the
house. One Of the voices he recog'
nized as Wassaquam's; the other in
distinct, thick, accusing-was un
known to him; It certainly was moi
Spearman's. he descended swiftly tC
the first floor. and found Wassaquan
standing In the front hall. alone.
"Who was here, Judah?' Alan de
manded.
"a man." the Indian answered stol
idly. HE was drunk; put him out
"What did he come forf"
"He came to see Ben. ! put hin
out; he is gone, Alan"
Alan flung open the front door an,
iooked out. but he saw no one.
| "What did he want Of Mr.. Corvei
Judahf"
II do not know. told him Ben wa
not here: he was angry, but he wen
awny."
/ "Has he ever come here .beforer
| "Yes: he comes twice"
"He has been here twiceY
"More than that; every year b
comes twice, Alan. Once he cam
ottener."
"How long has he been doing thati
| "Slnce l can remember"
SIS he a friend OF Mr.. Corvetf"
a ''No friend-noI"
''But Mr.. Corvet saw him when h
came hereT
always, Alan"
"And you don't know at all what b
came about"
"How should I know7 No; !
not"
Alan got his coat and hat IT
sudden disappearance Of the ma
might mean only that he had hurrlC
away. but II might mean, too, that
was still lurking near the house. Ala
had decided to make the circuit OF q
house and determine that. But us
came out on to the porch, u hguI
more than block away TO the soul
; strode with uncertain step out into q
light Of street lamp, halted al
faced about, and shook his fist bn'
! at the house. Alan dragged the i
dian out on to the porch.
p us that the man, JudahT he d
: handed.
- ayes, Alan"
Alan ran down the steps and at Il
N speed after the man. But when
reached the corner. he was nowhere
sight. Alan retraced his steps I
y several blocks, still looking; then
gave II up and returned east iowa
the Drive.
, The side street leading to the Dri
was not well lighted; dark entry wa
and alleys opened on it; hut the Mig
, was clear. Alan could see at the e.
I OF the street. beyond the yellow glt
. Of the distant boulevard lights, {
. lgm0Oth, chill surface OF the lake.