The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-10-29
The VIII and the Way


sionately eager, save in his love for herelf.
1t was the middle OF the second day be-
fore Tack saw Beyert0n Lee. Even then
he was footsore, pale and exhausted. But
he had reached the place. And ten miles
away he had known that the sight Of it
would be familiar. He had begun failtly
and vaguely to recognize the turns Of the
lanes, the contours Of the land. At one
viewpoint he had looked sharply west as if
for a Landmark known to him; and had
walked so fast from that spot that when
he arrived at the village he was in a per-
spiratiOn.
And here the excitement that had brought
him so far upon IN unknown quest was
so great that on the village green, under a
big elm tree that was surrounded by a
rough seat, he sank down, incapable Of
going farther. He trembled violently. All
the scents and sounds Of this village stir
red him profoundly. Never had the strain
ing Of his mind after memory been so
vehement. Whatever his life before the
war might have been, Jack knew that it
was in some way linked with BevertOn
Lee.
And there was no hesitation at all in his
knowledge of the whereabouts of ReVett'S
Mead. Here, all about him, was a lovely
green space, with trees sparsely scattered
about its surface; and all round the green
there were cottages that must be now sub
~stantially as they had been a hundred years
earlier. The cottage doors stood open, and
in the small gardens before them were
masses Of summer flowers in bloom. From
a chimney here and there smoke laZily
curled up into the blue.
The time had come. Jack must rise, stag
ering, and proceed to his goal. He was in
a dream. Over there, beyond a small
pond in which geese swan at ease, was a
narrow lane, the entrance to which was be-
side a black wooden building rooted with
moss covered red tiles. And up this lane
about half a mile was a gate leading into
the grassy gardens Of Revett's Mead, all
dazzling with brilliance in summer sun
shine.
He must go. Steadying himself, uncon-
sciOus of his uncouth, travel worn, unshav-
en- state, Jack began the last stage of his
He reached the old wooden gate, which
swung easily upon it's hinges, and walked
quickly along the broad pathway that
wound between edges Of turf n archtng
trees. Within a omen he was in sight
Of the house, and it's beauty took his
breath away. There, warm and glowing
in the sunshine, with diamond paned win
dOws sparkling, and pasmine seeming the
air, was that picture he had created IRON
a cold photograph printed in grayish brown
ink upon en- auctiOneer's poster! 1t was
entrancingS The cOlOrs, whether Of stone
beautiful. The lawn before the house was
brilliant. All about It was superbly greer
and gratifying to the eye.
At the door Jack was for the first time
checked. He had turned the old iron
handle expecting the door to open as o.
old; but instead he found 1t fast. A bel
rams somewhere within. At last some
body slowly drew a bolt and unchecked Z
chain. A face appeared in the doorway
the face of a middle aged, coarse looking
man. An ugly face, liverish and disagree
able, dark, with small eyes and heavy
creases. in the cheeks. The man was re
specially but shabbily dressed. He was
EVIDENTLY a professional ~caretaker. JacI
stared at the face, at the clothes, at the
heavy shoulders Of this man. A chill seized
"Hullo." he said, What does this mean? 2
The man had looked Jack up and doWI
in the same instant-had seen his broker
:bboOts, his shabby suit, his unshaYen chin
"I got nOthink for you" he said, grOwl
And with that he began to close the dOol
81 sayr' cried Jack, desperately. "Is Mr.
Revett not here?"
an. ReVett's dead"
The man checked himself in the act o.
shutting the door.
"Dead?" Jacks hand went to his face
His heart seemed to stop beating for al
instant. He felt suffOcated.
THE 'Ouse and contents are Tor sale
Now you just make yourself scarce, youni
man. We got nothink for tramps ere.
I'm not a trampT' 1t was a cry OF des
pair. dead! He must think quickly.
"WeIl, you got no business here any
way. Be Off"
Look here: is there anybody in tn
house who knew Mr.. Revett? Can 20
give me the address Of his solicitor
"NO. 1 can't. I'm hactin' for the estat