Show tsa mystery of by CLIFFORD S RAYMOND illustrated by irwin ayera copyright by crotte H 1 toran co ENGAGED synopsis dr john Ml chelson just beginning his career becomes resident physician and companion of homer sidney at hartley house mr sidney Is an american a semi old and rich and very de to live mrs sidney Is a spanish woman and cent jed the butler acts like a privilege member ol 01 the family hartley house Is a fine old isolated country place with a murder story a haunted pool and dogs and an atmosphere 0 mh cry the haunted pool Is chere richard dobson son of a former r of hartley house had killed his brother arthur dobson jed begins operations by locking the docco r in room the very farat night doctor john flea his door so he can t be lo kd in he meets leobel daughter of the house and falls in love at farst sight in tile night lie unda tha butler drunk end holding tire sidney by the wrist he interferes mis sidney ex plains john buys a revolver CHAPTER II 11 continued the gardeners name was son he had been on the almost from the time of mr sidney s purchase of it he was attached to it proud of his work and fond of it and its results he had a abit little cottage beyond the gardens ills te was very pleasant and thought too much of my services himself was a fine man and I 1 am interested in gardening consequently having to visit the family every day or every other day I 1 formed a habit of talking with him han by chance I 1 spoke of the ghost story to with no more purpose than I 1 ever had had la these inquiries I 1 noticed that he was a bit embarrassed 1 I take no in the stories about the pool he said id just as alet pass it at midnight as midday almost be honest I 1 suggested almost I 1 s ild he replied but I 1 did see something at the pool he was a straightforward sort onan I 1 was sure he was indulge in romance f know something of these stories he said I 1 ha e not gossiped mine about I 1 was coming from town late after midnight it was the second acir of our being here it was in the tall or late I 1 do not remember M I 1 came along the rood by the pool I 1 the egure of a man standi ing by the edge of the river it was light enough for me to see eliat the i figure was on a stick or cane i I 1 stopped and was going to call out I 1 but for some I 1 don t know just why 1 the figure did not moe I 1 began to feel creepy and i went on as gentle as I 1 could fifty feet farther I 1 heard a rustling in the brush and I 1 thought I 1 saw a face I 1 coulden couldn t be sure but I 1 thought I 1 did 1 know I 1 beard a rustling I 1 pot out in the open I 1 ran the rest of the win home on the turf there was nothing ery about that I 1 suggested sly romance needed more substance lou saw a man annl heane n noise was noling in seeing a man and hearing a noise said hlll itsou it was the effect that was due to he hour and the place 0 o 1111 not I 1 was not thill ilig of the place the man on he bank was from a man I 1 not see why 1 think he ua n man it wa not because I 1 was scared at firt I 1 hect line bored as I 1 looked at him not amov lie dut not seem to he ache I 1 felt shivers up ind dun my back I 1 I 1 was sc irod ihen iliin 1 heard alie rustling I 1 hogue as quickly and quietly as I 1 could CHAPTER lit bcd certainly was the most cant dl fact in taft house ind his influence the most significant malignancy he and been sobered by the discovery of his attack upon sir bedney but as he begin to recover froni hi discomfiture and as the sense of cautious bigan to lessen he again acred or suggested control particularly ticul arly when lie was drunk lie never allowed mr fc idney to know his in their strange association at llo feasta ted was tactful respectful considerate nad jovial to mi a bedney ho was at time cour leous and thoughtful nt other times disrespectful or c en brutal sometimes he seemed to frighten himself when I 1 baw that he was ngali begin to show disrespect for hilr I 1 was for putting an end to it mrs sidney was horrified when I 1 said that bcd i could be brought fo terms she held up her hands 10 lo tio she bild not in any event I 1 esever please speak to sir sidney please never think of it jed Is invaluable to ml sidney Us Is not 0 o discourteous to me as vou might think he Is gruff and drinking does not anke him better but it Is mr sid ahlm that he should drink it bould e unjust doat jou see it bould be unjust to make a point against him of that mr rid nev cau e ilease never mention it slie was very much in earnest and anns not until she had my promise that I 1 never would speak to mr sidney of jed until I 1 had coa sent he then showed relief and I 1 felt more distressed jed had some hold on this resolute ladi that I 1 should hae lit id to bleik I 1 lids toward me was n thing to drive distracted n ft ho tiel what it uns 1 did not he could be interesting und then I 1 atas in ailin tie could ho stupid and I 1 nold cri hlin he could be birb ami I 1 ignored him lie could be and I 1 fought him back i it seldom was n matter of sobriety or insobriety alth him lie is best natured to me at times when he was jingst lie mas surliest sur liest at j times when lie was perfectly sober at other times he quite reversed this one I 1 never 1 new from hl physical condl imon hat his disposition might be at the time i le bened nt dinner when mrs ald ney isobel ind I 1 more I 1 alinn e bared to dined certain do ased mr blacy and he liked to know in some re aspects the of his place as being maintained as would have maintained it if he hid been athe hen jed was in good nature he frequently sought me out for talks and hen he was la goad nature I 1 en I 1 might better have been a wax fig ure taken from a display window him I 1 did not want to open up any secrets the house might have merely to learn what they were but I 1 knew mrs sidney needed help and I 1 thought I 1 might ghe it ac I 1 knew how I 1 also thought that jed some evening when and good natu drunk and garrulous might say more than he intended there were many opportunities but he did one night this was in september was walking about the place with the mastiffs ma stiffs at my side I 1 stood n while at the adge of the woods looking at the house in its shadowy bulk it seemed fit container of mystery only a few windows were illuminated it was the side of the bouse eliat was bright at 5 I 1 walked slowly across alie lawn toward the side where mrs rooms were A small balcony opened oft her sitting room I 1 could hear her to some one on tills balcony hie person she was talking to as I 1 heard in moment was jed I 1 was allen almost under the balcony I 1 am a resolute man jed was say ins haie my own wa hate what I 1 want III mike you glad to come to terms I 1 m a reabon ible man too now adroit that I 1 ve been con I 1 started to get out of heiring as quietly and rapidly as I 1 could but I 1 heard airs sidney her vibrant ith indignation say 1 I ought to hae you wrapped that Is silly unreasonable passion eald awl 1 I hhall not hesitate to kill you said mrs sidne then I 1 went out of earshot the fact atiat jed could threaten mra sidney in this fashion was it could not be explained by hta serviceability ice ability to mr great as that was I 1 walked about tor a while dla and depressed then I 1 pitted the heads of the mastiffs ma stiffs went indoors and to cay room an hour later I 1 opened my door in response to a light rap mrs hadney was there may I 1 come in a moment she asked thank you I 1 have a request to make which ou cannot help but think Is extraordinary preposterous I 1 placed a chair or her she thanked me but remained standing I 1 thought she must be in an agony of roalnd but she smiled I 1 hope it Is to ask me to take jed in hand 1 said 0 o it Is to ask you to permit me to announce the of my daughter isobel to you don t be alarmed it shall not make any dif ference in your life it Is a desperito des expedient I 1 am lining out of u diab culta I 1 felt ns if I 1 were in a spiritual fog Is tint the only way I 1 cn help on out I 1 asked the only one he said 1 I haaf thought of eer thing has it to do with bcd again I 1 asked th things I 1 cannot PT plain I 1 there iny one who would be distressed by such an announcement not n soul I 1 said ace miss kidney I 1 would not cause pain feild mrs idney are jou ture there Is no one mrs sydne I 1 said ion are the oab lad who eer ins given me a thought slice I 1 knew mv mother I 1 i am wondering what miss bid j ney will think of me in auch a role slip understand why I 1 take it I 1 am not I 1 hope I 1 io not seem to be but I 1 1 now I 1 suspect that bour decision Is sudden af fiction for u Is gr grcar ctr alian hei demand for independency cf t ald mrs sidn it she k bows tint I 1 naked you to consent to this an i she will think of you as a praed friend I 1 had sug eted nil the that reasonable reason ible lou certainly kiy make any use of roe you want to I 1 said blie tl me and said night isobel s view of our engagement was purely comic she may have ha a second of spiritual revolt but comedy irad consideration tor her mother asserted themselves sirs sidney when she told isobel 0 the engagement had me present the mother was really embarrassed almost but she was determined isobel was greatly amused it may be that I 1 was not heroic I 1 might better have been n wax figure taken from a display window I 1 felt like one n thing with a wa smile did no it Is merely precautionary said mrs sidney uneasily it Is quite impossible to eclila you will have to accept mv judgment isobel dr john an odd halfway house toward intimacy she reached and stopped at dr john ins been kind enough to do as I 1 asked him I 1 need and want the support of my children in what I 1 am doing I 1 felt a touch of emotion at that unconsciously intent her enla point she had included vac at the fireside and had spoken of her children anything ou do or have done la all right mother isobel cring from her sense of humor dr john will not be unhappy I 1 am sure ft sou doctor and I 1 mother get an advant ge of you li l i this febe it I 1 don t I 1 ou austn t try to isobel bald mrs badner anxiously 1 I am doing the best I 1 can later in the evening I 1 saw isobel finding her alone in the library where she was reading I 1 went in to get n book before going to bed she was by a lamp near the fireplace nad she looked atry beautiful 1 I to hafk to you she said when she saw me do you anon the explanation of this jyo I 1 wid on ire not quite honest she A in in engaged to a girl he never asked to marry him might that something mas out of the ordinary of something Is nan I 1 slid do ou knoy what ft Is no I 1 don t she said hy don t TOU ailt down alth a soft witchery of he pervaded perv aued and glorified the room hut ho wa peremptory I 1 as not milieu but I 1 felt deflaun Ik cause I 1 dou t stant to sit down 1 eadd isobel smiled indulgently at rne oh sit down dr john she said 1 I tp talk to ou e are engaged ion know and engaged people ought to have a talk after the event if not before ion understand how this happened I 1 suggested I 1 do bhe said my mother la frightened jed has been trying to mairy me ahat can give him the privilege of such insolence I 1 I 1 exclaimed I 1 imagine be Is enamored she serenely it may seem impossible to you has this man you directly I 1 asked lie lias been gallant tender soulful n ale idling are I 1 hut 13 ail but onh in ner ln 1 I dont understand if 1 delther hel ther do I 1 the said i know just enough to know that I 1 diun not understand it I 1 do not like to find a romeo among the servants but r bavo learned to accept some conditions here among them youa don t disturb yourself about said me 1 A good deal of my hurt pride must I 1 have found expression in that remark 1 I am unjust she 1 l k that ou ure doing what ray mother wants done and that ou are not con yourself I 1 khall be reason able I 1 wint w int to mike my mothers life ns pleasant as it cin be made I 1 caa not understand everything that she needs of me but I 1 know thu you hate done everything that you could do for s her I 1 do not want to seem crate i id like to protect you and your mothr 1 said e are indebted mid isobel n chill and unkind restraint sha smiled and said good night doctor it I 1 am incon sl at any time put t down to naturally bad temper f bcd hid taken n small shotgun and paid that lie was going after rabbits which were numerous enil threatened to he to the s duiff brash about the place it asa an october afternoon with a warm s sun an hour or to niter jed had gone I 1 went out for a walk going down by the pool I 1 nus in the brush fw fifteen aln 1 utes and it happened hut while I 1 wu there I 1 siw from a little prominence the figure of jed on ahead falth his 1 shotgun he was some distance away but I 1 could see tint he was solas wilt lill from tree to tree in an odd fashion for one hunting for rabbits it rans ns if he were stalking something rather thin trying to kick rabbits cp lut of the I 1 went on toward the pool onee again I 1 saw bcd ahead me I 1 came out on the path and went on to theli link where I 1 sit down lic never I 1 saw a piece of drift la the pool and watched its movements I 1 thought of the body of the slain brother it hid been whirled out into 0 current and bad been carried down stream on the bank had acca found a few torn bits of clothing the sleeve of n coil 0 foliar spotted with blood a necktie and a piece of a white shirt there also biad been found a heavy walking stick bloodied and with hair in the blood not been sitting on the bank five minutes when I 1 was startled by a shot from he nearby thickets and a bullet lilt within two feet of where I 1 was sitting knocking off the bark ot n tree the report was not that of a shotgun such as jed had carried it was the report of a rifle or pistol the chipped bark showed tint a bul 3 let not shot had hit the tree and I 1 5 was unpleasantly conscious of what had happened bcd had shot at me probably with a large caliber revolver he could not have had a rifle unless he had one bidden la the brush I 1 had seen what he can led not malj M ne left the house but as he was doag ing through taft thickets it ely was a pistol or a revolver and that ani why he hid missed me I 1 was stupefied for an instant and I 1 did not jump or start I 1 was motionless not even looking around but I 1 was thinking rapidly A protective iaci formed almost instantly and when the next moment another shot came from behind roe I 1 fell for 3 ward on my face rolled a couple 01 feet to n bush turned my face la the direction from which the hot caiane got out my pistol annj lay still after a minute or two which seemed a very long time jed s face came la lew in tho bresli lie looked malevolent but seemed undetermined and cautious I 1 think he was uncertain whether to hae my body where it lay and have it discovered or throw it into the aher and have luy disappearance unexplained ills decision was him bv the noise of a farm wagon approaching pro aching on the road and he disappeared I 1 was ready to shoot him he came near me I 1 was young and had youths acao dence but nevertheless this eveah would have sent roe away from art ley if it had not been for isobel end amri sidney they needed even ay small help and I 1 had to remain ahad to remain but I 1 had also to protect myself another time jed might not miss on the way back to the house I 1 thought out n plan which I 1 believed would work I 1 inquired for jed u was told that he was with mr sidney I 1 found him there drinking and my en trance gave him a shock which ha plainly indicated ills fright him ho ugly that he was comic after all we are enci ged SO BC CONTINUED w vy by CLIFFORD S RAYMOND T illustrated by IRWIN MYERS copyright by george H doran co johnl synopsis dr john Ulc helfon just beginning his career become resident physician and companion ot homer sidney at hartley bouse mr sidney Is an american a bemi invalid old and rich and very de barous to live mrs sidney Is a spanish woman and ret cent jed |