The Daily Alaska Empire

"The Secret of Mohawk Pond"

Circumstances introduce Peggy Prescott to life at Yew Lodge where she is determined to live for a month to gain the fortune left by her uncle, Herbert Prescott. His will stipulates she must live at his Connecticut estate for a month with only a servant, never leaving it for more than an hour or forfeit the legacy. Suspecting Sundown, an Indian, of being the silent figure who greeted her at the lodge and then vanished, and of capsizing her canoe, Peggy calls at the Indian's camp but he is absent. Her suspicions are partly allayed when she learns of Sundown's reputed "night-blindness."

AN UNWELCOME VISITOR

The coupe came to an abrupt stop as Peggy pressed down on the brake and Julia, sitting behind her, pitched forward.

She had turned the car completely around before her maid had recovered sufficiently from her surprise to question her.

"Fo' why ain't yo' gwine to Atchfield, Miss Peggy?" she demanded.

"Because I find I can't get there back within an hour."

But Obadiah shook his head. "Haven't any vacant rooms," he announced. "Must you be going?"

Stanton took this dismissal with a tormenting smile.

He sprang into the saddle and sat looking down on Obadiah, the afternoon sun making his reddish hair appear more red.

"How many know of the two copperheads you put out to kill the frogs in Mohawk Pond?" he asked in a quiet tone and his eyes danced as the color drained from Obadiah's cheeks. "Old man Prescott died from snake bite."

Horse and rider disappeared down the road to East Cornwall in a cloud of dust. At Stone Tower gate he dismounted, opened and closed it, and not troubling to mount again, let the horse follow him to the round stone tower some distance away.

The wide wooden door that gave entrance to the tower stood open, and Stanton entered the home of Aquila Chase without ceremony.

His catlike tread on the stairs to the floor above had not disturbed Aquila, busily writing, and Stanton noiselessly swung himself up to the floor through the trapdoor and sat with his feet dangling down through the opening watching.

Peggy compared her watch and the speedometer.

"At least not in a new car. I'll phone the doctor and ask him to come to Yew Lodge instead."

"Taint necessary on my 'count," protested Julia.

"Miss Peggy, did yo' notice that gemman on hossback who we passed awhile ago?"

"Yes; why, Julia?"

"I dunno, 'cept he come after us a ways, an' den tu'ned off into de woods. Seems like he wanted to speak to yo' but yo' all went by so fas'."

"I'm sorry."

On their approach to Mohawk Lane Peggy slowed down and made the turn into it in second gear, her eyes the while scanning the Evans' homestead.

The neigh of a horse came from ahead and she saw a sorrel mare, saddled and bridled, standing by the spring house; its rider was not visible and she kept on her way.

Her progress up the lane, however, was closely watched by the owner of the horse who, having quenched his thirst, was comfortably seated on a bench partially concealed from the road by a clump of lilac bushes.

As Peggy drove out of sight, he got up and walked hurriedly through the woods skirting the lane. He was too late to intercept her at the first gate, Julia having opened it and gotten back to the car with unusual speed.

From down the lane came a hail and in another second Obadiah Evans was by the man's side.

"They told me up at the store you were back, Lieutenant Stanton."

"As cordial as ever," grinned Edgar Stanton, making no attempt to shake hands. Obadiah eyed him carefully.

"Where are you staying?"

Chase wrote steadily on, unconscious of his visitor's presence.

It was striking seven when Stanton broke the silence.

"Writing your life history?" he asked.

Chase's violent start overturned a small ink bottle.

Chase dropped a blotter over the stained papers before him and rose.

"No harm done," he declared.

"Where did you spring from, Ed?"

"Sharon," briefly. "I came up to look over the old place: Clark wants to go to the city, so I am hunting another caretaker. Can you put me up, Aquila, for a week, say?"

Chase looked at him dubiously.

"Oh, certainly," but his tone lacked warmth.

"I'll bring my duds," Stanton called, as he scurried down the steps.

Chase had dinner ready when his guest returned and they satisfied their hunger.

"Have you met Prescott's niece?"

"Yes." Chase eyed his companion steadily for a few minutes. "She is very charming and," as an afterthought, "very rich."

Stanton laid down the stub of his cigar.

"Is she?" he questioned softly.

"She has a month and a day to qualify under the terms of her uncle's will and the time is not up yet. If she is absent from Yew Lodge for over one hour in any 24, the money goes to Jamieson Sinclair."

Chase's mild blue eyes opened wide.

"Very curious," he commented.

"Jamieson is much interested in Miss Prescott and very much worried by her isolation at Yew Lodge. He has written to suggest that she engage a trained nurse as companion."

"But she has a maid."

"An ignorant colored girl." Chase's disapproval was obvious.

"My brother is right: Miss Prescott should not remain longer without proper companionship. Her nearest neighbor is Obadiah Evans."

Stanton ran his fingers through his hair until it stood upright.

"And Sundown," he pointed out, smiling significantly.

Chase stirred uneasily in his chair.

"The half-breed was devoted to her uncle."

"But suppose Sundown regards Miss Prescott as an interloper? He looks on the land around Mohawk Pond as his: I've heard him boast as much to Prescott when drunk."

Pushing back his chair, Chase rose, a troubled look in his eyes.

"You suggest pleasant possibilities," he said. "Do you know why Prescott did not wish his niece to be absent from Yew Lodge over an hour at a time?"

"I—" Stanton swallowed hard— "I haven't an idea." He gathered up the soiled pans and dishes. "I'll wash these at the brook," and he bolted from the tower.

For a long minute the botanist stood staring at the open door, his thoughts in a turmoil—that Edgar Stanton had lied in answering his question he had not the faintest doubt.

(Copyright, D. Appleton and Co.)

Tragedy enters Yew Lodge in tomorrow's installment to jeopardize Peggy's fortune and her future.