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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1926-8-25, Page 7'l r THE BRUSSELS PO T 'WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, i.92G. Ikr!„„,e`tt lM1rtl'ta ✓.tgs+t , r<S ;l1' 1'g lett re'd ale. Th Red I am (Copyright) by MARY IIOL'I+I1tTS RINEHART ee'r: Tat x This morning I learn that Carro- way's boat was found by Greenough who had a fast launch with a search- light, at one o'clock this morning, drifting out wit the tide and about two miles from land. It was empty, and no sign of young Carroway was found. As it trailed no dory, our mystery has apparently become a tra- gedy. And I am under suspicion. I have pint that clown, and sitting back have stared at it. It is true, And suppose what I am expecting at any moment takes place, and Greenough comes into the drive, to confront me with the damnable mass of evidence he has put together, the circle enclosing the triangle; the fact that the shi p - killing did not commence until after our arrival at then Lodge; the night Morrison, driving his truck -load of produce, saw me on the road; and most of alt, with last night! Suppose I tell him the actual fact? That my wife has some' curious pow- er, and that in obedience to it she last night roused me :from a virtuous sleep, to tell me she had clairvoyant- ly seen a man taking a boat from our stoat, and that I must immedir'I .ly go down; that there was, slat felt, something terribly wrong? Suppose I told him that, which is exactly the fact? and also that, once there, I found that Edith had Left the canoe in the water, and that I had, ]ike•the careful individual I am, drawn it up out of harms way? Will he believe that? I wonder— Quite aside from my unwillingness to (hag Jane into this, particularly as the possessor of a faculty which she herself only reluctantly rev els even to me, i•: my conviction that' such a story, soberly told, would only increase Grennough's suspicion of my sanity. And as if to acrd to the precarious - nese of the situation, Halliday himself in all innocence had added another damning factor; gave it, indeed, to the detective last night. Yesterday, it appears, in repaieing the float, he found a new and razor- sharp knife between the top of one of the barrels and the planks which made the flooring, "I didn't tell you, Skipper,” he says, "because I was afraid of alarm- ing you. And, of course, there might have been some simple explanation. Starr might have dropped it during his carpentering,” He was 'first amused and then in- furiated by the web which seems to be closing aground me. ' "Of course they can't do any- thing," he says, "unless they catch -you in the act." But the unconscious humor of that statement set me laughing, and after a moment he saw it and grinned sheepishly. "You know what I mean," he said. "And in one way, if yon can stand it, it's not a bad thing,, Pressed for an explanation, it ap- pears that he had been thinking of going after the reward himself, and that this 'tatter of Carroway has de- cided hint. "Reward or no reward," he said, quietly, "I've had a bit of training: they put me in the Intelligence in Germany, during the 'occupation. And of ,course the way to catch a criminal is to keep him from know- ing who's after him. Then again, if: he learns the police are watching you —and he may—he's watching them, you know—it may snake him a bit reckless, You never can tell." But he has a third reason although 110 has not mentioned it. He is chiv- alrously} determined to protect me, and through me, Edith. • July 7th. Another day has gond by, and I urn still at large, Ic'r•ee, I suppose in order that -I may eventually again sally forth, some dark night, with nay piece of chalk and another knife Letterheads Envelopes Billheads And all kinds of Business Stationery printed at The Post Publishing House. We will do a job that will do credit toyour business. Look over your stock of Oifce Stationery and it it requires replentshtng call us by telephone 81. The Post Publishing Nance a,ti,°,ia,f6ea;«,, °"x30 it ri"rni'tirr'ft all' : l---for has not Greenough my orig- inal one? ---to kill more sheep; tl' in- ' deed there he any rear:tieing for I slaughter; oe to stab and throw over- ; board another hapless boatman. I To save my life, I cannot prevent 4- my absurd situation from eoloi in my aet,fons. I constantly remind myself of the .centipede which, on being .asked how it used its many legs, be- eaune suddenly conscious of hon and fall over into the ditch. For example, at bt•eak,tt.;t this horning I gravely pou•'vl semi eor- !'c•r, i' 1 1 ?m•Id', saucer, instead of the Lett -over err:nl from the bi,adcfast tablet. And Edith eaught m • in the not, "Nobody home," she announced "Poor old hear, so nip and once .o intelligent! "It is sad" h to , said ,lane, "to see his mind failing hien by inches. But his heart is alt right. If the worst comes to the worst-- -" "Don't talk about my mind," 1 snapped, and then was 0ilrry for it. "I don't feel humorous at breakfast, nay dear.,;" I said. "I'm -sorry." But the plain truth is khat T ant sadly upset. Even what before seem- ed a plain and obvious duty, to go to the other house to -night and tel' Mr. Bethel on his arrival the exact situa- tion, has been all day a matter for most anxious thought. It ,eetnod suite simple before. I would say to him: "Sir, I have rented you this house. True, I warned your secret- ary of certain unpleasant qualities it is supposed to have, but I mu.,t also warn you. The building• is report:1 to be haunted. I do not believe this, nor I daresay will you, but T feel that.I must tell you." Or again. "There is also a popular— or un- popular—idea that some recent sheep killings around the vicinity are some- how connected with this haunting.;. The police do not think so, but the store ignorant of the natives do. If this alarms you, I am prepared to pay back your money to you." Not quite in this fashion but with a similar candor, I have been pre- pared to clarify my relations with my new tenant. But now what hap- pens? Will Greenough, for instance, credit my entire clisinterestecintss? Will he not rather believe that I have given but ono more evidence of my essential lunacy? Would 1 not my- self, only a few weeks ago; have dis- trusted any individual who 5111110 to 111e with such a tale? ,, After all, I have told young Gor- don. At least I have that to my comfort if anything happens. But what am I writing? What can hap- pen? "It is sa(I," said Edith cheer- fully, "to see his mind failing 11101 by inches." Perhaps it is. I have seen Bethel, and I have not told him. He gives me every impres- sion, in spite of his infirmity, of be- ing able to look after himself, and after tonight's experience he is wel- come to do so. Let him have his raps and his footsteps; let hint find his tea -kettle on the floor. and 1)15 faces in the pantry. Let him freeze in cold airs or stew in his own juice. I have done my part. His car drove in at eight -thirty, and I followed it along the drivel. True to her agreement, Annie Cochran had only waited until seven and then had taken' a firm departure, and I dare- say this threw him into the execrable temper in which I found him. The secretary had assisted him into the house, and T found him in the library, with only one lamp going, huddled in a chair among a clutter of wraps, and introduced myself. He barely acknowledged it. "Where the devil's the rervnnt?" he blu•ked at me. "I thought there was a woman, or somebody," . "There is a very good woman,"' I said, "but she goes locale before dark. That le," I coi'reated nlysclf, "mho leaves early. I told your 511010tary that." "Do you sup„tesc she's left a fire? Gordon!" be called, "Go and see if there's a fire. I want 001/1e 110t Water." Be :fumbled in a pocket and brought out what I fancy was a beef cube or 001110 similar concoction, and sat with it in his hawed. "Which way does the house lace," he asked, suddenly. "East. Toward the bay." "Then I want a back room. Don't like the morning sun. Don't like anything. in the morning," he added, and peered up 11t tri• through his spectacles. YoungGordon returned o to med then with a cup of hot water and a spoon, and MrBethel favored me with Tittle oa No furthers attentioa. He lute but ohne usable Band, and the seel'Otxm;y hold the cups while he stirred the tablet in it, Only once dill lie favor me .:whit diroot , speech --(lariats - this proceeding, I.1eIptanood up es 1 steed --he had not asked me to Sit down - and sand. "Beenhaving eome ; ,, 1-cillm , :wound here lately, haven't von?" I may 'have flushed slightly, batt I doubt if he could see tt 'tltl+ou.9i hie +•yee were on me, "Yes," I admitted, "Saw it In the papers," it,. said, un,] went bade to his broth, .Then if ever 10315 Inr7 time to plunge, hut to gave my 1•i., 1 could not do it. '111111 Irucai •c1'", childish Old man, 0110 10g strctehed ant fore ]tint in the relaxation or T1.11' )1 paralysis, one hand instructed in his lisp with the tonic spa,ut of his con- dition, diking Soup undo,. the direct - am of 11 pasty -fared boy who grinned at Ise above his white head, was no recipient of 0001) information as I had to give. And he allowed me AO further opportunity; the cup empty, he indicated that he wished to go up - stair, and with a nod in my direction he shuffled out, Gordon supporting hint en the initt•m side, 1 had hall O'n'e notion of offering 11.7 a:<aistanre, but 1 felt that this ria- , .;_nation 01: ]ti, cotld tion, won]d only •'''ny hint; obvious as it wits, 11t had r,ot mentioned it to me„ma I guessed that it was a (Toss borne not only without fortitude, but with a continu- :ng resontmert. I followed them to tl:,. foot of the stairs however, and part way up, p111nsing for breath, he roust have suspected my presence there for he turned and looked clown. "What do you think is behind this sheep -killing?" be said, Just that Not good -night. Nothing whatever about the house; nothing about my presence or my approaching depart- ure. "Who's killed them?" he rasped. "Some maniac, probably." "A maniac!" he barked and steady- ing himself by Gordon, twisted a- round se he could see me the better. ".Religious tomfoolery, eh? The Blood of the Lamb!" i Ii, caviled drily, st r. m^ riewn 'it me. Then he turned, without an- other word, and went on up and out of my sight. July Sth 011 Halliday's advice I tun not leav- ing the property, and whenever it is humanly possible, I am in sight of Thomas. Thus to -day 1 have been weeding Jane's flower beds for her, and with the garage doors open have been ostentatiously oiling the car. Tonight, too, I have drawn .the table in my room to the window and am there making this day's entry, in full view of any observer who chances to take any interest in my movements. I am, I am convinced, under etsplo11 age. Old Thomas is too frequ.:ntly in view, as he patters around his day- light tasks, and to -night I have a dis- tinct impression that some observer who takes an interest in my move- ments is outside, watching my win - clow. Jack believes this also. He is restless, moping from the passage into nay roots and back again, and twice, standing' near me, the short Drug on his back of his neck has risen. Halliday brought 01e today further detail) about Carroway's disappear- ence. "The hotel clerk lean down to the- piers," hepiers," he says, "anti he heard the engine going• for some time. The boat didn't start up the beach, but out into the bay, as if Carroway felt the other man had a good start of hint, and was trying to cro?S the bay. Then he either lost the sound of the engine, or it stopped. "He waited on the slip for a half hour or so and then went back to the hotel. Greenough came In about tjlat time and called up Start, and they went together to the town ,lip. But Carroway hadn't shown up, and after a time Greenough decided to go out after ]tint. "They found the boat pretty well out hithe bay --the tide was going out—.ancl empty. They looked around n5 well as they could, then Starr got into it and brought it back. But Here's the part they're not tell- ing: Peter Geiss says Greenough got some waste and wiped something off the top of the engine box," "lie didn't see what it Was?" "They wouldn't let him near the boat, but he says it was the circle again." Of any other details there are ap- parently none. Bob Carroway has apparently gone the way of all flesh, poor lad, And while Greenough or some emissary of his watches me from my own drive, the murderer is perhaps coneoting some fut'ther devil- try. In the meantime a veritable panic has, according to Halliday, seised the countryside, and of this we tam ter - tails evidence ourselves 79x,, road beyond the Lodge gateo,• usually a procession of twin lights, is to -night (lark and silent, No motor boats. with returning picnic. partice rumble 00- rose the water, throwing 135 now and their a bit of song. The iishernlam, starting out at alma in, the morning, are goingar't0ed and in feat' of their lives, And each man sUslteets the other, Dray owls situation is as unpleasant a .spossible. To-day;lane said -to me: Te"Daddy a them an" says— Waterman's Ink adds to the efficiency of Water - man's Fountain Pens and Waterman's Pen adds to the efficiency of Waterman's Ink. To perfectly function, foun- tain pen ink must be free from sediment, it must flow freely and never clog. Water - man's Ink will do this. It's packed in neat boxes, so that you may keep one bottle at the office and one at home. We recommend Waterman's Ink for use in any fountain Pen. R� Wendt IO t1' �0ndt N Jeweler Wroxeter 'I wish you would ,01' a meat kn'fe in Oakville to -day, William." 'What do you mean by a meat len fe?" `Just a good sharp knife," she sail, "with a long,blade." My dear," 1 said, "anyone buying 50011 a knife in Oakville to -day would be put into jail at once. Per- sonally, I need razor blades, but 1 shall grow a beard like the sloop's before I purchase any." "You could send foe One in town" And 1 could are n „ • •'t , : a 't a proceeding would be even worse than the other. Jane's own attitude tiles:, clays is curious. She is quite convinced, for instance, that she had a premonition of Carroway's death the night she sent me to- the slip. As site has no idea that this premonition of hers may be most unpleasant in its con- sequences to me, to -day I get her to talk about it. "Just how did it come?" "I don't know, I had been asleep, T think, Yes, I know I had. I wak- ened, anyhow, and I seemed to be looking at the slip. There was some- body there, kneeling. "Kneeling? Saying his prayers, you mean?" with a recollection of the altar. "I think he was .feeling for some- thing under the float." There is a certain circumstantial quality to this, one Must admit. He had been seen and was being follow- ed, and his knife for some reason was still where he had left it. Or rather, if was not there, since Halli- day had that day found it and taken it away. Had it not been for that poor Carroway might have met his end there on our slip, and not later. But the knife, was gone, and there was nothing left but flight. Just where that flight began no one can say. It seems incredible that he had left his boat moored directly be- low our boat -]louse, with Halliday so close at hand. It seems more likely that he ran up the beach a way, and that—well, de mortuis nil nisi bon- um. Perhaps I am wrong, but it seems to me that Carroway could more easily have followed him by 0110 of the row -boats :from our slip, than :follow the method he ,lid, with the loss of time involved. Still, I myself would not have started out unarmed after a killer, even of sheep, unless I hacl first rais- ed the alarm and was fairly sure of assistance to follow, "But S don't see," I said to Jane, "why you felt that there was any- thing ominous in this dream of yours or whatever it was." "I never have the mwithot.tt a rea- son." "But that night when you so un- justly accused me of -bolding up the chapel wall—" 'There was a rea5oh there," she said, coldly. f 1 thongllt it quite like- ly 1 might have to go. and get you." There may be one comfort to the superstitious in all thin,; not once, since the night when 100 lighted the rod lamp in the pantry, has it—. Midnight: 1 have just had rather at curious experience, and 1 am still considerably shaken. T had no more than written the above words when 1 glanced out the window, and distinctly saw n small red light through the window of the den in the main ribose, My arst thought, so certain Was that the lamp was carefully hidden ih the lattice was of fur.. Long be- fore 1 had 310)11 Mr. Bethel's light 111 the room above go out, and 500(1 af- ter that young Gordon's had beets likewise extinguished. T Went quickly to my Whitlow ;sad leaned out., So dark is tine niglht that it hangs outaide like an opaque curtain, ams a, the light almost int - m dsatcly disappeared, I was left 11 doinginto this vocal when maidenly dolls o11 the stair(a.ee landing gave v, nt to an unearthly howl. Tli,• next moment 1 heard, under the trees and toward the house, the :horst dry rough of cardiac asthma, aril smelled tila steer un n1' t alcabl ' oder o1' recto Isoiacea: herbal (agar etre, 1 hay, reasoned with nlyeel1 for the last ten minutes or SO. All th:, evidence is against 0111 Greenough nye be watching rue, or having me watched, and some peer devil out un- der the tiers is off iau from the night air. Or old Mr, Bethel, unable `o sleep, 1108 somehow dragged lima gulf out for a midnight airing under the trees. But 1 saw the lamp. And it is lo,•k,d in the attic. 1 myself put it there, and at this moment have the key. July 9th, I macre an excuse tlti.e mend:1g to Annie Cochran, s 1'•r au, and she slipped me up the kitchen staircase of the other house and so to the attic, The lamp WIN as I had left it and the closet lacked, and to -day I am asking ray - ,elf whether, with that curious larc'k of perspective one finds at night, 1 did not see instead of the lamp far away, the, lighted end of a cigar close at hand. Annie's report an ray tenants is satisfactory on the whole. She does- n't much care for the secretary, but the old 'tan's "bark is Worse than his bite." He comes down in the morn- ing, or is helped down, to his break- fast, and she cuts his food for him— he seems to dislike the boy's doing it—reads the paper and then goes to work. "To work?" I asked, "What sort of work?" "He's writing a book," Bet it 1(0011" that 11 1 wraise it only .at the non -literal sense,. Ili is dictating a book. And it also ap- pears that he has chosen this place because of its isolation, and Annie's orders are that he receives no vise - tors:• But it also appeals that young Gordon is perhaps not as courageous as he made out to me when he came ! to look over the house, end that he ha:; been "hearing things." ;;What cert, of things?" "He dr 7 didn't .� t But 1 i' 1 ked ole thio morning i1 1'd been 1m the tlllt$+. hat. night. - '1f you find me here at night, it'll be h caU.:o I'm perelia,•d and can't 1)100'',' I said, 'ant! .`,1 ye„1 alp ml, <rdviee, you'll not go ,150lane 1 141ltitee if you hear 111370li,tg.' " "That must have ''he r, li him e.'un • ,adorably:" "1 don't know elems that. 1:I:• tea, leaked at me and said, 'W l,it'e the ane, arnyhovv? 1'11 bast at dollar au'1•,. 111 on Il " Edith has :elute a surer! 1• on us 1e11, I have waked for 0 day or two that sh,, hue been takina ht- tere..4t. in the nail; yet Edith's .011,11, with Halliday 11,1'0', is lareela 11 mat- ter of delicate paper and t1, . large square hand -writing of the moatrrn young woman, and hag '10113 1.13;s 41111111105 largely with r.:po''t. on }lour:•• parties, summer 1'. reetorts, alntl VIZIOu8 voting 31011 who seem le:coat:ie+able to her 013(1111' such COU110113''111 'a- (111, 1>, Bud and Curley. This morning: how yer h_, bail in- cluded 0 business—like env deer, and ale flung the white, r0s,• mat neauve heap aside • and pounced 0'! 11'. A moment later sle got up and con - in„ round the table to me, gravely kissed that portion of my land which is gradually emerging, like a shorn 011 an ebb tide, from my hair. "As one literary artist to another," she said, "I salute you." And placed before me a check for twenty dol- lars. She has written a feature article on our sheep -killing, and has solei it, "And it took mo only two hours;" she saga triumphantly. -after that she was rather silent, computing I dare say, how much she can earn, giving four hours a slay to it for six days a week. At the rate, then, of ten thousand a year! "Considerably more than T receive, .,.;:h" 1 ..•,L ;'. 7%11 I had been right by the way she sta.:- ed. She set off at once for the boat- house, .but oathouse,.but came back later, consider- ably crestfallen, and poured out her troubles to me. "If he had anything he would give it to me," she wailed. "If I can write and make mrOney—" "You can't fight the masculine in- stinct, my dear, to support its Vrola•- an; not be kept :by her'." "And wait for years and years to do t :he said. "The bast years of our lies going by, and -.nothing." c L, sides, have you tont ancrod this? You will out always find sulr awns as selahte as this one has been." ' $ubjeet"' she said, scornfully. "Why, this place 15 full of dean." (To Be (continued), BUSINESS CARDS �HE industrial Mortgage and Savines Company, of Sarnia Ontario, rare poured to advance money on :.14,x1 ['Rpm e,n g0,41. lards. Parties desiring min - e own, nt rtga Kew will. 3d«asp apgpty 00 Sam .wan, , a,dva th (ant., who wad fur 113•.1, rut t•, unci. of lo'r 1'm. tioulars. The Intl ustrial Mortgage and 6o:vInga Company esizxavy 61. Lamella, AGENT FOR fire, Automobile and Wind Ins. COMPANIES For Brussels and "vicinity Phone 64T JAMES M'FADZEAN ,Agent Howick Mutual fire Insurance Company Also Hartford Windstorm and Tornado Insurance' Phone 42 Box i Tnrnberry Street Brussels JNO. SUTHERLAND & SON p• LIMITED rvr/.rp D. M. SCOTT Zwwel ''s v army:fPln" . a PRICES MODERATE For referennos consult any person whose sales Shave officiated at. Phone 2828 T. T. An' RAE 8-, M. C. P„ & S. O, 11,1. n H„ VIllog, of Bt a.seit Physician, Surgeon, Acaouoltesr Office at residence, opposite Melville Church, William street. Ti ee'4+1. t °ve'4Z'Ja?U'i BARRISTER, SOLICITOR, CONVEYANCER. NOTARY PUBLIC LECKIE BLOCK - °BRUSSELS DR. WARDLAW Honor graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College. DEtheov anld night tails. Oftice opposite Floor l. )I(r itrl)e.) )t )1S"...ili" )iS r, )i(r'i ip,atif Tim as 98 ds9 Modern methods and appliances have set a new standard for a day's work. Time is one big factor. This is true in the factory, on the farm, in the home or what not. Time is money to -day. And anything that mul- tiplies the value of an hour is increasingly valuable, Advertising is an annihilator of time. It pro- vides a short cut between a manufacturer or mer- chant and you, It makes it possible to tell in a few minutes all you want to know about the services or articles you need, A quiche glance through THE BRUSSELS POST erl- ables you to sift the things that interest you, and in a min- ute yon can lcnow,inst where and when to go for what you waist. Figure out how much valuable time advertising sores you if you use it properly. '.Chink bow much deedless walk- ing and talking itasaves you and your neighbors.l Yes, Advertising: has a Big Value to You—Don't Fail to Read It !