The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-03-16


in pevonshirs with excellent refer
enees. a simple minded ana almost
overinEenuous youth. These com.
prlsed tho little ooteris OF persons
with whom / was brought into con.
tact day by day, 10, one OF them
could possibly have horne mo any
ill.wiu. yet I lived among them.
waiting Tor DEATH
one morning u remember that II
was the first OF November act out
for a long tramp. accompanied only
by Adams. the keeper, aud couple
OF dogs. We were on tho boundary
OF my land. looking for stray pleas.
ants Ia a large rootfield on my
right was a preclpitoua gorge which
extended for about half a mile.
thickly planted with small fir trees.
1 was walking. by arrangement
about 20 yards ahead OF Adams.
when / was suddenly conscious OF a
familiar sensation. There was the
zip OF a bullet singing through the
air. a report from somewhere In the
gorge. a neat round hole through my
felt hat.
"dawd AmlghtyF yelled Adams.
"What be dolnE7"
showed him the hole IN my bad
He stood with his mouth open, loo6.
ing az n. There was no further
sound from the gorge except the
tumhllnk Of the stream down AZ the
bottom. II was an absolutely hope.
less place 10 search.
Adams complained sometimes OF
his rheumatism when | walked him
too fast. but on this occasion he was
100 yards ahead OF me when We
reached the lane. on our homo.
ward way he was volublc.
There be james Adams. my
nephew no said. "and William Gro.
oombe. who do farm them lands.
They DO harmless foiis. II ever such
were. Some lad. ! reckon. got hold
OF rifle
do either OF them take In tour
isfsf' l asked
Adams was doubtful. That after
noon motored over 20 mako In.
qulrles. Neither OF tho farmers nc.
oeptsd tourists: neither OF them had
seen a stranger about the place. and
as regards riflea tho only ono I
could discover had obviously not
been discharged for year. ! drove
on 20 the county police station and
left a message for the Inspector. Ho
came over 10 see me that evening.
solemn. ponderous ard unlmprcssed,
l dismissed him after the usual re.
Treatments had been preferred and
accepted A few further inquiries
which myself made In the neigh.
borhood led TO nothing,
took my littlo two.sea,sr out 10
cali on a friend. few afternoons
afterward. and found tho steering
gear fallen TO pieces before had
gone n mile. was thrown Into a
ditch. but escaped without serious
injury. scarcely needed SsArle's
assurance 10 convince me that he
knew nothing Of tho matter. but
even ia It's damaged state Il was
quito obvious that tho pins had been
wlllfully Withdrawn from tho pillar.
The fact that wa. compelled 20
be n prisoner In tho house for sov.
crni days from an injury ss my
knee. and worked at unRccustomsd
hours, was responsible for my Acci.
dental discovery OF Mas Simpsons
diary. eamo into tho room unsI.
peetediy and found her writing. II
never occurred TO me but that she
was engaged upon my work. and 30
] looked over her shoulder. She was
writing In q diary. completing her
entry for tho day before.
N. q, worked for two hours. prac.
tlced golf In park. iunehed In. took
out two-seater in afternoon. Met
with accident. but was able TO walk
homo. Said little about his injuries.
which were not serious. Accepted
invitation shoot woolhanKer Manor
next Tuesday at II o'clock. Proba,
bly, return across moor at dusk"
Miss Simpson was suddenly con.
tcious OF my presence. She placed
her hand over tho page.
This Il my private diary. Sir Nor.
man." she asserted.
so gathered" I replied. what
Il your interest in my doings. Mas
SIMPSON,"
"A personal one" che assured me.
II appeal TO you as gentleman to
let me have the volume"
confess that / was weak. An
alteration OF any sort whatever.
ending. without doubt. In a struggle
for the possession OF the dairy with
this auiot-iooking. elderly lady. wns
peculiarly repugnant 70 me. / rang
the bell.
Il shall order the car to talse you
70 Rarnstaplc for the s o'clock train.
Miss SIMPSON," | said.
She rose to her feet. grasping the
book firmly.
What Is your complaint against
me. Sir Norman sho asked.
During this last week." I told
her. two attempts have been made
upon my life. I am naturally suspl.
clous Of people who keep close &C.
count OF my personal movements"
She stood for moment looking
at me through her gold-rimmed spec.
tacles in a dazed, incredulous sort
OF way. Then she turned and lief,
the room. never saw her again.
II was that very same afternoon.
on my return from the village,
where | had gone to mall a letter
with my own hands. nat / found a
gray limousine touring car. covered
with mud. outside my front door.
and Adams announced that q gentle.
man was waiting to SEQ me In tho
study. To my surprise and Infinite
satisfaction, II was Huntington.
Il have this moment posted lot.
ter to YOU" l said. as wc shook
hands.
Anything doing down here?" he
asked quickly.
ifrrna Yn,,cb To- 49,. ttt,t..o