Evening journal., 1922-12-06

collateral ancestor Pendleton hat
been a Justice OF the Peace In Vir'
ginia, and a spinster daughter hac
written down some Of the straog'
cases with which, her father hac
been concerned. Monsieur JonquclI'
believed that these cases in thsii
tragic details, and their inspirations
deductive handling equaled any Of
modern times. The great library
overlooking the Faubourg st. Ger
main was curtained off from Paris
Monsieur Jonquelle read by the FIRE
and I listened. returned as by some
recession Of time to the Virginia OF
vanished decade. The narrative oi
the diary follows;
II was g 5.g sunny room The
long windows looked out on a formn
garden, great beech trees and the
bow of the river. Within II was o
sort of library. There were book
cases built into the wall. to the
height of man's head, and at in
tervals between them, rising from
the floor to the cornice OF the
shelves. were rows OF mahogany
drawers with glass knobs. There
was also fiat writing table.
II was the room OF a traveller. a
man OF letters. a dreamer. on the
table were an inspot of carved jade
a pnperknife Of worry with gold but
terfiies set in; three bronze storks,
with thier back together, held an ex-
quislte Japanese crystal.
The room was in disorder-the
drawers pulled out and the contests
ransacked.
Ny father stood leaning against
the easement OF the window, looking
out. The lawyer, Mr.. Lewis, sat In
chair beside the table. his eyes on
the violated room.
"Pendieton," he said. II don't Ike
this Englishman Gosford."
The words seemed to arouse my
father out OF the depts of some re-
aection. and he turned TO the lawyer
Mr. Lewis.
"Gosford!" he echoed.
eHe is behind this business, PEN
ileton." the lawyer, Mr.. Lewis, went
on. Mark my wordl He comes
here when Marshall is dying; I he
forces his way to. the mans bed; he
puts the servants out; he locks the
door. Now. what business had this
Englshman with Marshall on his
deathbed? What business OF Sc
Grey so close that Marshal's son is
barred out by locked door,"
He paused and twisted the seal
ring on his finger.
when you and I came TO. visit
The sick man, Gosford was always
here. as though he kept watch
Upon us. and when we left. he went
always to his room TO write his let'
ters as he said.
And more than this. Pendleton; (
Marshall is hardly in his grave be-
fore Gosrord writes me 10 inquire by
what legal process the dead mans
papers may be examined for Will
And II Is Gosford who sends a negro
riding. as IL the devil were on the
crupper, to summon me in the name
of the Commonwealth Of Virginia, to
appear and examine into the circum-
stances Of this burglary.
Il misirust the man. He used TO
hang about Marshall in his life, upon
some enterprise OF secrecy; and now
he takes possession and leadership
IN his affairs, and sets the mans son
aside. In what right, Pendleton'
does this adventurous Englishman
feel himself secure?|
My father did not reply 10 Lewis's
discourse. His comment was IN an
other quarter.
Here is young Marshall and
Gaeki," he said.
The lawyer rose and come over to
the window.
Two persons were advancing from
the direction Of the stables--a tall
delicate boy, and a strange old man.
The old man walked with a quick
ierky stride. II was the old coun-
trv doctor Gaeki. And, unlike any
other man OF his profession, he
would work as long and as carefully
on the body of horse as he would
on the body Of a man. swapping out
his quaint oaths and in stress OF
effort, as though he struggled with
some invisible creature for its prey.
The negroes used to say that the
devil was afraid OF Gaeki. and ne
might have been. II to disable a man
or his horse were the devils will
But think, rather. the negroes
imagined the devil to fear what they
feared themselves.
''Now, what could bring Gaeki
here?" said Lewis.
1T was the horse that Gosford
overheated in his race TO you,' re-
piled my father. II saw him stop in
the road where the Negro boy was
leading the horse about, and then
call young Marshall
1T was no fault of young Mar.
shall, Pendleton," said the lawyer.
But, also, he is no match for Cos
ford. He is a dilettante. He paints |
little pictures after the fashion he /
learned in Paris and he has no /
force or vigor in him. His father |
was a dreamer. a wanderer, one who /
loved the world and its frivolities, |
ana the son takes that temperament, |
softened by his mother. He ought to /
have a guardian.
.He has one" replied my father.
"A guardiani" repeated Lewis. |
What court has appointed guar
dian for young Marshall?"
"A court" replied my father, /
chat does not sit under the au-
hority of Virginia. The helpless,
Lewis, in their youth and inexperi-
snce, are not wholly given over TO
he spoiler."
The boy they talked about was
,ery young-under twenty, one
would say. He was blue-cyed and