It was a very quiet-looking place, a two-story double brick house, rough cast, with white stucco, and having four dormer windows in the front roof, nine long windows in the upper floor and eight on the lower--that is, four on each side of the entrance door. On the right hand side was the public parlor; on the left hand side the bar. A buggy and two saddle horses before the door were the only signs of business about the place. Roland went into the bar, and inquired if Col. Anglesea was in the house. "No; he has not been in since morning," was the answer. "When is he expected?" inquired Roland. "Don't know; he said he might not return to-night." Roland borrowed a newspaper, and sat down to while away a tedious evening. People came in and went out, but as early as ten o'clock the barroom was nearly deserted. "Do you think the colonel will be likely to return during the night--after the house is closed, for instance?" inquired Roland. "Don't know at all. But, even if he should come in after we have shut up, there'll be somebody to let him in. Is the colonel a friend of yours?" "Do you want to insult me?" demanded young Roland, firing up. "Oh, no, not at all--no offense! I only asked because you seemed so anxious to see him," mildly pleaded the bartender. "One may be anxious to see a fellow from other motives than friendship," said Roland, sulkily. "So they may," conceded the barkeeper. "And ever since that rumpus in the church that broke up the wedding there's a good many people who are anxious to see the colonel out of curiosity." "Ah, they want to see what the monster looks like who, having a living wife, tries to marry an heiress!" "Yes; and I reckon that is why the colonel keeps pretty much out of the way. He came here the afternoon of the wedding day, before we had heard of the fuss at the church, and, though we wondered much to see the bridegroom here alone, we couldn't ask any questions. He engaged a room, and then hired a horse and buggy and went off. He hadn't been gone an hour before people began to come in and talk of the broken-up wedding. We took in a great deal of money all the afternoon on account of people gathering here to talk and to hear about the affair. And toward night comes a cart from Mondreer, loaded with all the colonel's trunks, pistol cases, hat boxes, fowling pieces and what not. They were all taken up to his room, but the colonel did not come in until near midnight, and he went away again this morning before sunrise, leaving word that he might not be back to-night." "Well, it is half-past ten, and he has not returned. I am waiting to see him on very important business, so I think I must take a bed here, and see my gentleman in the morning," Roland decided. "All right," the barkeeper replied, and he rang a bell that brought a negro waiter to the counter. "Show this gentleman into the front room over the parlor, and make him comfortable. Would you like a fire, sir?"