The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-07-21

CHAPTER III
Just after the dinner hour that eve
ming. Sergeant Miles, alias William
Brown. the new houseman, presented
himself at the kitchen door of the
square old colonial house in which so
many generations of the Drake fam
lily had lived.
An elderly butler made his appear
ance.
1.-THE new houseman? Miss Drake
viii see you In the servants sitting
room"
Almost Immediately a tan. gray
haired woman entered.
MY niece engaged you at our usual
agency" Her voice was deeply con-
tralto and it seemed to Miles thar her
bright, dark eyes beneath the strong
brows were attempting to bore him
through. did she explain tho duties
which would be requires OF your"
Everything Is quite satisfactory,
William, "sshe said. after he had an
swered the routine question. I'VE
Will give you a trial. Carter viii show
you to your room and Pierre viii have
some supper prepared for you In tho
servants dining room"
Miles wandered out through the en-
try and across the driveway.
The hour was growing late and II
was probable that he would have no
opportunity that night to encounter
tho three brothers. Miles turned just
as tho stumbling figure came saun-
"a
What you doin' here?" Tho no
gro's teeth were chattering In his
head.
who are your" Miles counrered
amiably. I'm William Brown, the
new houseman
Oats de truf? I'm Ripides Lunt-
Rip for short, night Waterman tin
midnight an most everything else
outdoors In de daytime"
why. what's the natter" Miles
laughed There can't be any dan
ger Of tramps or burglars"
Ripides chewed ruminatively for
moment
There's more dan tramps an
thieves can come sashayin' round
Some mighty funny things goin' on
IN dis here neighborhood lately an
when de next comes Off it's goin' to
be where Rip Lunt ANTI got to be
movin'!'
CHAPTER "
without encountering the reluctant
night Waterman again. Miles entered
the house and made his way up the
back stairs to his own room.
Drawing on o dark bathrobe and
slippers Niles opened his door noise
lessly and crept down one flight Of
stairs, making for the door which he
calculated as being directly under his
own. He had gone but a few steps
when a door across the hall opened
with a jerk, and a short, almost
burly figure with tousled brown hair
and heavy, sun-browned countenance
crossed to the other door and turned
the knob softly.
Miles was close enough to hear
the subdued, yet urgent tones or the
newcomer.
Roger, let me In! want to speak
to you"
what is it, Andrew? Am never
to have any peace?'
The door closed again behind the
two and Miles crept to 1t and laid
his ear close to the panel.
tits just this, Roger; you'll go to
pieces IL you're not careful" The
hearty, slightly aggressive tone Of
Andrew Drake were louder now, but
roughly anectionate. You gave your
self dead away tonight to that bug
hunting, weed-gathering nut, Grayle-
lie seems to be your best friend, but
even he'll begin to think and talk like
the rest OF the town If you don't help
to pass the whole thing Off as Joke"
"'Jokep" repeated Roger in trenn-
bling tones. rs there any Joke in
what has descended upon us?"
Look here!" Andrew spoke with the
patient, inclsive emphasis Of one i'm
parting a lesson. Hobart had drop
too much aboard when he went out.
and made that Julius Caesar speech.
and your lecture was an fl-advised
bit of pleasantly. while I was only
playing a trick this morning to scare
that fool Edward. Got that straight?"
A moan was Rogers only answer
and Andrew growled:
whats your idea, then? Do you
want the whole town to think that we
are-afflicted?" There had been a
palpable pause before the last word.
Aren't WEI" Rogers voice was
vibrant with sudden tragedy. Haven't
we been for years. even though we
three have managed until now to con-
ceal 1t from all the rest of the world?
What is the end going to be7
I can see the writing on the wall and
I tell you I am not going to endure
It until utter madness comesl There
is a quick way out. quick and sure"
Continued in Our Next Issue4