The Glenwood post., 1923-02-08

evening before entered.
"Your bath, sir; hot or cold in the
morning, sir?'
"Hot," Eaton answered.
"Of course sir; I'd forgotten you'd
just come from the Orient, sir. shall
tell them to bring breakfast up, sir;
or will you go DOWN." the man asked.
Eaton considered. The manners of
servants are modelled on the feelings
of their masters, and the mans defer
! ence told plainly that, although Eaton
might be prisoner, he was not to
be treated openly as such.
81 think l can go down." Eaton re-
Piled He found the hall and the
rooms below bright and open but un-
| occupied; servant showed him to
II blue Delft breakfast room to the
east. He had half finished his bacon
and greens before anyone else ap-
peared.
This was a tall, carefully dressed
man of more than fifty, with hand
some, well-bred features-plainly a
man of position and wealth but with
out experience in affairs, and with
out power. He was dark haired and
wore mustache which, like his hair,
was beginning to gray. AS he ap-
peared In the hall without hat or over
coat. Eaton understood that he lived
the breakfast room and evidently had
not breakfasted.
~ am Wallace Blatchford," the
| stranger volunteered as Eaton looked
up. He gave the name in manner
| which seemed to assume that he now
must be recalled; Eaton therefore
| felgned recognition as he gave him
| his name in return.
Basil Santoine is better this morn
ing" Blatchford announced
81 understood he was very comfort.
able last evening" Eaton said. II
have not seen either Miss Santoine
or Mr.. Avery, this morning"
81 saw Basil Santoine the last thing
last night" the other boasted. "He
was very tired; but when he was
hona. II eorr7e he wished me to be
beside him FOR time"
"Of course" Eaton replied, as the
other halted. There was humility
In the boast of this mans friendship
for Santoina which stirred sympathy,
almost pity
Eaton finished his breakfast but re-
NAMED at the table while Blatchford,
who scarcely touched his food, con-
tinued to boast, in his queer humility,
Of the blind man and of the blind
mans friendship for him. He checked
himself only when Harriet Santoine
appeared In the doorway. He and
Eaton at once were on their feet.
MY dear! He wants to see me
nowT" the tall man almost pleaded.
"He wants me to be with him this
morning?'
"Of course, Cousin Wallace" the
girl said gently, almost with COM
passion.
you will excuse me then, SIR"
Blatchford said hastily to Eaton and
hurried off. The girl gazed after
him, and when she turned the next
instant to Eaton her eyes were wet.
Good morning, Miss Santoine- You
are coming to breakfastY'
"Oh, no; I've had my breakfast;
was going out to see that things out
side the house have been going on
well since we have been away"
May l go with You while you do
that?" Eaton tried to ask casually.
Important to him as was the plan Of
the house, 1t was scarcely less es-
sential for him to know the grounds.
She hesitated.
81 understand it's my duty Mt pres
ent to stay wherever I may be put
but I'll hardly run sway from you
while inside your OWN grounds"
This did not seem to be the ques-
ton troubling her. "Very we'll" she
said at last. She was abstracted as
they passed through the hall and
man brought Eaton's Overcoat and
hat and maid her coat. Harriet
led the way out to the terrace The
day was crisp. but the breeze had
lost the chill it had had earlier In the
morning; the lake was free from iee;
only along the little projecting break
waters which guarded the bluff against
the washing of the waves, some ice
still clung, and this was rapidly meit.
ing. A graveled path led them around
the south end of the house.
Eaton saw at little distance q
powerful, strapping man, half-con-
cealed-though he did not seem to
be hiding-behind some bushes. The
man might have passed for an under
gardener; but he was not working !;
and once before during their walk
Eaton had seen another man, power
! fully built as this one, who had looked
I keenly at him and then away quick
ly. Harriet flushed slightly as she
saw that Eaton observed the man
Eaton understood then that the man
was guard, one of several, probably,
who had been put about the house
to keep watch of him.
Had Harriet SantOine understood
his interest in the grounds as pre-.