New Britain herald., 1922-07-25

Wells is an old fool," Andrew con- t'nued' T say, there is nothing any of us can do for Roger; he'll sleep like baby tonight and be all right in the morning. I'm going out and I shant be back until late but I'll take my key and won't disturb you if youil tell Carter not to put the chain on the door"
 He strode heavily from the room and In another moment Miss Drake and Hobart followed.
 It's work for nothing to set the table for them; they don't hardly touch thing!" Carter mourned, as he and Miles cleared away the final debris of the meal. I'm sure don't know what's come to this house, nor where it's going to end!"
 Whats there to be scared ofp' Miles asked stoutly five seen noth. ing barring that fainting spell of MT. Rogers today. Is he often took like that?"
 Carter shook his head.
 Only once before and that was just q day or two after-after the con- stable brought Mir. Hobart home when he'd been walking in his sleep.- That's what you heard, ain't 1t, Will liam?" He asked the question with almost pathetic eagerness.
 ''No," William replied bluntly. "If you want the truth I heard he was either drunk or crazy"
 Not thing had he touched that night, for I had the only set of keys to the wine cellar!" Carter asserted solemnly i've yet to see MT. Ho- bart in liquor but I can't say as much for MT. Andrew Mir. Andrew was trial to the rest of the family when he came back, though he's toned down consid erabe especially in his language. It was shocking to hear, William"
 T shouldn't be surprised" Miles observed. Did he bring those fits back with him, too. from Australia ?"
 You mean what happened last Monday" Carter lowered his voice.
 If you want to know my opinion from what could get out of Edward think MT. Andrew was shamming, though the Lord only knows why.
 Miles glanced sharply at the old man but his tone was casual as he re- marked:
 'He was playing a trick on Ed ward, maybe, but there was no fake about MT. Rogers faint today"
 No, and as for Mr. Hobart I'm glad he's given up the stock market hefore--before he lost everything, though sometimes I've wished that the money never came in the first place! It was that made all three of them act queer long ago, and though I almost forgot about 1t in the years between, perhaps they've been wrong in the head ever since.'
 How do you mean they acted queer when they came into their money?" asked Miles.
 II remember when the news came and though they were excited it struck me then that not one of them seemed really happy about it or even surprised. MT. Hobart seemed to think only of getting back at other folks for all the years of hardshlp they'd been through; getting rich by making other folks poor It gave me the shivers to hear him. You would have thought that there was death in the house!' continued Car ter. They didn't talk to each other any more'n they had to, didn't scarce lv look at each other and 1t seemed as though there was almost hatred be- tween them! Mir Andrew had ugly fits of temper that he'd never showed hefore and other times MT. Roger would break down and go all to pieces rieht out of clear sky; only MT. Hobart kept level head on his shoulders and all at once notlceo that the hair at each side of his fore head was turning gray--and him only .3, But quiet years came after' ana comfortable ones, and l forgot until this trouble now brought it all back to me-
 CHAPTER XIV.
 ,,Le tvo housebreakers, Sergeant Miles and Scottie stole up the oaIh stairs that night and halted before the door at the end of the hall.
 As he drew the skeleton Keys rom his nocket Miles indicated the traces of wax which still adhered to .ne tock. then whispered: Andrew. ne wanted to get in here mighty oad' didn't he?"
 scottie nodded, not trusting himself to sneak, and his companion oiled the lock and keyhole carefully before set ting to work He made no noise put the minutes dragged out interminaoly while the other watched and listened for a possible interruption. The Key clicked faintly in the lock ana the door swung slowly inward
 wait till l close the door, Miles commanded; then as tiny nght g,eomed out: Good. There's a bolt on the inside and we can't be sur nrised. Andrew may come home al any time and have hunch that hell try to finish then what he start ed this afternoon
 "It looks as though he'd made pretty thorough job of it if destruc- ton was ris object" Scottie com mented dryly as the rapier-like thrust of light played about the dence black