The Silver Bullet

e. Marsh had never before been inside it, and he was amazed at the luxury. His life had been so simple, so deprived of all beauty, that his artistic temperament had been starved from la

Herrick one day after his conversation with Mrs. M

have to marry some day," he said coolly. "If I were to

d a cousin?" said Herr

other who was turned out by his father. He went to America and married there. Then he died leaving a widow and a daughter. The widow died and the daughter

re the property by complying with the conditions of the will, it will be yours entir

Stephen in a careless tone. "It seems to me that he has the

you do not marry

mother to be sole mistress of this beautiful place for a time. She ha

then?" asked Herric

sent. I'll soon have this tower down and the house put to rights. Then my mother can come. I hope

was thinking of Ida. "I will remain until your

nds, but in spite of Herrick's lynx eye he could not learn if they understood one another. As a matter of fact they did; but neither of them wished to hurry matters. B

--perhaps had heard the Colonel speak of him. But whatever it was she kept her own counsel. There was no need that she should do otherwise. Perhaps if Frisco had made his appearance she might have been induced to speak out, but the ex-sailor (as Herrick learned he wa

tention of righting himself. No one entertained the idea of a duel having been fought. Only Mrs. Marsh gave Frisco that grace. Herrick considered her theory a feasible one, and felt that it was confirmed by the fact of the revolver found in the dead man's hand being loaded. If Frisco had fired first, the Colonel would have

ter by the last bus, somewhere about ten o'clock. It was characteristic of Stephen's simple habits that he still went to and fro by the public vehicle, although he could now have afforded a cart, a horse, a bicycle, or even (had he so chosen) a motor-car. But before taking full advantage of his new position and of his wealth, he wanted his mother to be well enough t

rt and vivacious, was accustomed to make fun of Ida's stately ways. "The Sacred White Cow," said Bess folding her hands, and when Ida remonstrated pointed out that the term meant no disrespect. "Juno was called ox-eyed, and I'm sure the cow is a most beautiful animal," said she inconseq

day," cried Ida helplessly, "please don't call me

s a scholar. However I won't call y

to be called by

that her beauty would raise the family into affluence once more. "My _brains_ may do s

ted Ida with a blush. "Do let me se

t Frank was rather like Ida in the matter of bovine simplicity. He was a big handsome fellow, never out of temper. When he was not looking after the farm he strolled in the fields, and searched into the secret workings of Nature. Sometimes he wrote articles for the papers and magazines. A Gilbert White of the Parish of Saxham, that is what Frank Endicotte was. Some

ny of the rest, and bubbled over with animal spirits. This was her last quarter at school, and now her hair was turned up and she had arrived at the dignity of lon

o glad you have come. Frank is writing, Bess is typing, a

angeling?" asked

The Pines.' You know how fond he is of going there. He wa

think B

I am rude not to have spoken to you before. Come inside, and wake us a

one of the rooms," suggested Stephen. "There is no food there

e kettles and tea-pots and all the rest of t

said Herrick laughing. "It is a good idea;

desired to act as fairly as possible. Besides he was growing fond of Bess. She was such a bright companion, and so clever. At first she was disinclined to speak of the Colonel and Frisco, but gradually became more outspoken. In his quiet way Herrick had

mean," said Jim. "I took to you imme

look, and wondered what it was for. Perhaps with a woman's quickness Bess divined that he admired Ida and did not approv

man and some of the things he told me he had done were really drea

the Colonel," said Ji

ng. "I was rather bold in introducing myself to him, an

it you

nd asked to see Colonel Carr? At first he refused, but I was so persistent that he let me come in. I told him frankly what I wanted and how hard up I was for an article. He was so taken back by my assurance that he said I could describe 'The Pines,' provided I did so under a fictitious name. Then he took me all over the house himself; gave me tea in th

but you must remember that he was treated very badly

ca was the plac

dventures and used to tell me about them. I made up

see the Colon

l reputation, but he was never rude to me. Poor man," said Bess letting her eyes rest pensive

nel and Frisco

who had saved his life. Both of them seem

wh

their whereabouts. That was what Frisco meant at the public-house, when he hinted about his mas

and then went away to e

also. I think myself that the enemy found out the Colonel a

ter. Did you hear if any stranger was seen in

aid with some hesitation. "I never heard of anyon

idea who ki

hould tell. There was somethi

it to

Dr. Jim, I intend to find out the truth about this mystery. From something the

outh Am

e musingly, "I am not quite clear. But I'll as

riosity. Tell me

ere for some time yet. If you go away I shall write to you. I am sure we shall fi

thing. How is it the Colonel was so anx

asking more tha

" said Jim lookin

In good time you shall know all that I

d Herrick grimly, "mind

considerably puzzled. How she could have got hold of information of which the police knew nothing was diff

e of débris round about its base. The visitors looked at it for some time, then went into the house. In the kitchen off the dining-room they found an old woman who agreed to b

ed. "How can you come here witho

h procured him the name of the Changeling. This was given to him in fun by Bess; but many people in the village really believed that he was half a fairy if not a whole one. This reputation rose from the fact that the lad possessed that gift which in Scotland is called the second sight. No one in Saxham who saw Mas

and he slept much in the day-time particularly in cold weather. Sometimes he would slip out of his bedroom by the window and remain away for hours. When questioned where he had been he used vaguely to answer "In the wood." The doctors who had seen him could make nothing of him. He was healthy in his own way, his head was cle

Sidney?" asked Jim sit

y. "I feel that I am not myself. I

ou want to

ay then. I always do w

quite beyond the comprehension of a sane person. Jim had never met anyone like him

understand," said Sidney. "Ple

d vaguely staring into nothingness. After a time his eyes closed and he looked as though he were fast asleep.

d suddenly," she said. "He will

ral sleep," said Jim anxiously. "H

better be left alone. He gets into these states at time

said Stephen gla

of Sidney, and even Jim's attention was distracted. The boy remained on the sofa, le

packing up to go. "Poor Sidney's tea is quite cold," said Ida. "I really think we might wake him now. Oh,

e had been when he fell asleep. For a moment he was silent. Then he looked slowly rou

tly, "you had better go h

fficient presence of mind to cross over to the boy and shake h

s. Marsh is dead. I have just seen her. Sh

prophecies, and dreaded lest this one should be true. He made f

!" said the old wom