Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-05
By J.JEFFERsoN FARJEoN

ing. and dived suddenly into the
shed.
The car pulled up outside the gate.
The inmates alighted. Once more
the bloomy house awaited their in
spection. But this time 1t was to
reveal more.
AS they walked down the over
grown path. Rupert veered inStinc-
lively towards JoScelyn, and kept
close to her side. He noticed, with
qualification. that she did not draw
away from him. or appear to resent
his ~cloSeness. On the contrary, she
suddenly turned and smiled at him.
implying her a~ppreciative conscious
ness OF his action.
Keep your eyes open." he whis-
pered.
She nodded. almost imperceptibly.
They reached the house. There
was no need to make use Of the win
dow. for the front door was open.
Above them. the sky was ~darkening
before the slowly advancing storm,
and little puffs Of wind darted ire
Sponsibly around the garden. They
entered the dim interior
At first everything appeared to be
as IL had been. But all at once Simon
Brill, who had entered ahead and
had crossed Immediately to the
staircase. gave an exclamation.
"Quickl Come herei" he cried.
The cry was subdued. contrasting
markedly with his usual crisp ac-
cents or resonant drawl.
What is it?" asked Rupert. as he
ran forward.
There he. too. stared. The door
under the staircase was open.
For several seconds. while Josce-
Ign and Charlie joined them. they
gazed fascinated at the gaping aper-
ture. The door opened inwards.
Beyond was blackneSs.
We'll. now for It'll" muttered Brill.
suddenly. mo good waiting"
He plunged into the void. Rupert
heSitated for an instant: then. whis-
pering: Wait here. Miss Marlowe-
and you with her, Charlie" plunged
after him.
But Joscelyn did not obey orders.
She was through the door in a flash.
And the next moment a fist sent
Charlie Keeling. and the door was
slammed to.
The one-forty-seven train from
Newcastle drew into Byford Moor
station. deposited two passengers or
the modest platform, and then pro-
ceeded or its way.
One passenger alighted from the
rear portion OF the train, the other
from the front portion. The pas
Senger alighting from the rear wa,
an amiable, rather red-faced man
with a figure that would have pass
cd as adequate but for a slight ten.
dency towards StoutneSs. The ami
ability was reflected on his face q,
he glanced round the little waysidt
station. pust as. before he alighted
It had been reflected in his con.
versation with a tired family bound
from Newcastle to a seaside resori
farther up the line. This tired fam.
lily remembered him afterwards al
the jolly gentleman" and 30. I'll
we know him a little better, We may
deScrige him ourselves.
The other passenger, the passen.
ger who alighted from the from
portion Of the train, was our FRIEND
Mr.. Bones, the new caretaker.
When we last saw Mr.. Bones, hi
J only mark OF distinction was a red
dish mouStache. That alone hat
made him notable. But now his hail
was also reddish, and descended b,
each a with a Side-whiskered ef-
feet. His complexion. too. seemed Il
have taken on a ruddy glow. Evi.
IDENTIFY MI. Bones had been impress,
ed with the Importance OF the rol'
of caretaker. and had spent q 10
Of time in fixing himself for thu
part.
The pockets of his rather worr
suit had likewise undergone sons
Transformation. and had become en-.
riched since the junior clerk o
Messrs. 5priEgs and SprigEs hat
conversed with him at Newcastle
There we're now twenty-five dollar
in the pockets: and there was ais
a letter. which could be read b,
anybody whom IL might concern
testifying TO the fact that Mr.. Bone
was the duly authorized caretake