Charred Wood

e chair on the rectory veranda when Mark

ur noon meal-" Mark hesitated about saying "luncheon," not knowing the

paused. "Yes, I know that you are invited. Sit down and open

ed. "It's to ask a

. "I thought so," he said.

d kind, but especially so to anyone whom you suggest. You m

er Murray. "Very

He felt like blaming himself for having mentioned the subject. He feared he had lost ground with h

ncident she mentioned yesterday seemed a small one, but-well, I had to move pretty quick to keep that man from making himself obnoxious. H

e the effect of his words, sa

stable w

y. This morning I left some papers in the safety deposit vault at the First National, and as I passed the bank a little while ago I saw the constable talking to the cashier-about me, judging from their

self for the present to asking questions. Have you ever noticed the camp of Sl

sed it seve

her Murray went on, "whether th

hurried on-"an American." It was not necessary

an old parishioner of mine-a retired farmer who finds plenty of time to worry about everybody else, since he has no worries of his own. He thinks that these well-dressed 'bosses'

old parishioner is

n I told him that I usually voted the Republican ticket he became suspicious. Just before the election I preached on 'Citizenship'-careful always to avoid any reference to partisanship. Uncle Mac came in after Mas

"Wasn't that rather a complimen

books, 'The man who was here before you, Father, wasn't smart enough; but you're too dom smart. Now, I don't like a priest wh

ok returned and he spoke slowly as if he were

'he parted his whiskers in the middle, so he did,' and that 'he looked like a governor or somethin' of the sort.' I was just wondering if that detective of yours has anythin

ll you that while you don't know me, nevertheless I hope you will permit me to be of assistance if these people are annoyin

"I am satisfied with you, especially since Miss Atheson owes something to

do not ask for information tha

t whether there is any connection between that camp, the 'highfalutin' gintleman' of Uncle Mac, and the detective. I have reason to think there may be. This much I will say to you: You n

aid Mark. "Otherwise I shou

"suppose we go now to our

eat house whose towers looked out over the trees. Neither Mark nor the priest said a

I might be prejudiced-but still I think that you, too, will see it. She has not been here long, but she is already loved. She re

lied Mark, "even though I may not deserve

stared after the swiftly vanishing machine. He, too, had seen its passenger, a heavy, dark man with a short beard combed from the center to the sides. The flashing eyes had seemed to look everywhere at o

honored," Father Mu

u know

he is no stranger to America-nor to England, for that matt

lls at which some o

all one of that type?

t does

honor. He sat near me, and when I asked him where he had acquired such a mastery of English, he told me that he had been for five years m

t conceal his

should a foreign diplomat be mixed

e town constable has so much interest in your taking of tea at Killimaga. If you had turned around a