They were queer actin' men,
I'll have to say that."
His eyes met Barnes' and there was a queer light in them.
"You don't happen to know anything about this, do you, Mr. Barnes?" he
demanded, suddenly.
CHAPTER V
THE FARM-BOY TELLS A GHASTLY STORY AND AN IRISHMAN ENTERS
Barnes stared. "What do you mean?" he demanded sharply.
"I mean just what I said. What do you know about this business?"
"How should I know ANYTHING about it?"
"Well, we don't know who you are, nor what you're doing up here, nor
what your real profession is. That's why I ask the question."
"I see," said Barnes, after a moment. He grasped the situation and he
admitted to himself that Jones had cause for his suspicions. "It has
occurred to you that I may be a detective or a secret service man,
isn't that the case? Well, I am neither. Moreover, this man and his
companion evidently had their doubts about me, if I am to judge by
your remark and your actions on the porch earlier in the evening."
"I only said that they were curious about you. The man named Roon
asked me a good many questions about you while you were in at supper.
Who knows but what he was justified in thinkin' you didn't mean any
good to him and his friend?"
"Did you know any more about these two men, Mr.
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