The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-02

h1ho was SHreNu ana CRAFTY, eXperlenC0u
doubled ealing. She saw her own danger, and
she was prompt to face the situation.
Il know of an old barn where he could be
comfortable enough for the day." she said.
You could get him away from there after
dark"
Yes, of course could do that could get a
trap from distance" said the Colonel How
far is your barnl"
"Ten minutes walk"
Good. Then we must try and get him to GO
there quietly-and of his own accord shall
look to you to help me. To whom does this
barn belong, by the way, and how can you be
sure that no one will go there before nightl'
1T belongs to Mr.. Sommerton, who rents the
next farm" answered Mrs. Jaker. "He uses ii
in summer for some of Squire Colchesters hun
tiers, but it's empty all the winter, and no one
goes near it for weeks at a stretch. l don't
think there's any fear Of anybody going there
to-day"
I'VE must risk it, at any rate" said the
Colonel you had better stay down here. and
be ready to 60 with me when bring the young
man down stairs"
II don't think you'll get him to bulge" Mrs.
Jaker said doubtfully.
But the Colonel had faith in himself. He had
been called upon to deal with this species of
lunacy before to-day. He had sublime patience,
and he knew that if anybody could manage a
maniac he could do it.
He went up stairs again. The young man who
called himself Camillac was lying in lstless
attitude, with his eyes half closed. The Colonel
stood in the doorway for some minutes obser
wing him. The face was handsome even in its
ruin. Pale, cadaverous, thin and wasted as 1t
was, there were traces of exceptional beauty in
the delicately- chisellod features, the perfect
proportions of chin, and cheek and brow, the
rich mass of wavy black hair, the silken lashes
and finely penciled eyebrows-just the kind of
face to catch schoolgirls fancy, to dazzle as
the countenance of demi- god Nor was there
any doubt that the man looked like gentleman,
Those slender white hands lying on the patch
work coverlet were hands that had never tOiled.
They had shaken the dice box often enough.
and handled the billiard cue, but they had never
labored for bread
Colonel Stukely shut the door sharply and the
sick man started up, looking at him scared and
Hurried and eager.
"Are they there2" he asked.
Yes" answered the Colonel at a venture,
they have hunted you down Get up and put
on your boots I'll get you out of their way if
can"
The young man got up and staggered across
the room. He was too weak to move steadily.
And then he sank into broken-down chair, and
sat looking about him vaguely. The boots were
in a corner-dilapdated worn down dress poets.
The mud had been roughly wiped off with wsp
them up and looked at them before he handed
them to their owner. Yes, they would have
made just those prints which the detective had
shown him on the flower beds. There the
small heel, worn to the quick upon one side, the
straight narrow sole and pointed toe--a French
bOot-makers masterpiece.
Camlllac put on the boots looking up at the
Colonel with a suspicious air as he did so.
How do | know that you arc not one of
them?' he said.
"Do look like policeman9'
''You don't. But that doesn't matter. You
may nave something to do with them all the
same
II am Grace Darnels godfather, and am here
to save you"
Grace! She sent you, then, and she does care
for me still. Her letters have been devilish cold
for the last six months. / began to think she
wanted to throw me over"
There is no time to talk of that now. If those
men get hold of you -"
Yes are they down stairs? How am to get
away without their seeing me!'
Mrs. Jaker will keep them talking in the
back room while you and | slip out by the front
door,
Where are you going to take met"
The Colonel explained his plan He would
get trap at Darnel Park and pick Camillac up
at the barn a little after dusk. 1t should be a
trap that he could drive himself, and he would
take the young man to the station, and thence
slip him off for London under the charge of his
own valet, a man who mi ght be trusted.
What the valet was to do with the young man
when he got him to London was point which the
Colonel had not yet bad time to consider. But
it was question which must be answered before
the evening.
Camillac was not easily managed. At one mo-
ment he was white with terror at the thought
of those men below, believing in them firmly,
and in the next moment he doubted their exis-
tence, and was afraid of the Colonel He knet
down by the pallet presently. and took the pack
ct of notes from under his pillow, and thrust it
inside his ragged shirt. Ho did this in secret
way, glancing furtively at the Colonel all the
time.
How DO know that you don't mean to rob
meH he muttered. II have missed some money
already in this house. l believe it is a den Of
thieves
III you suspect NE | had better wish you
good morning" said the Colonel
This threw the wretch into panic of fear and
establishment. He flung his arms around the
Coloners neck; he entreated him to keep off
those devils, who wanted to drag him away and
hang him.
II didn't mean to kill him" he said II shot
him without thinking. The pistol was there,
ready to my hand, as if Satan himself had put it
in my way. Save me, save me-hide me- | am
not murderer"
'Be quick, them" said the Colonel, decsively,
there is no time for fooing If you want to
escape those men you must not lose an instant "
He went down stairs, and Camillac followed
him like beaten hound.
You've got the policemen out of the way
said the Colonel, winking at Mrs. Jaker That
was clever of you And now come and show US
the way to this barn.
he put the young mans arm through his, and
led him out into the garden Camilac was in a
pitiable state of weakness and could not have
gone three steps without help. But the fresh
morning air revived him little and he was able
to get over the ground, supported and helped by
the Colonel. The barn was in sight, across a
couple of fields. They skirted these open fields,
keeping close to the hedgerows, where there was
hard, we'll beaten track, and where their feet
would leave no perceptible traces. The barn
was never locked. 1t was large, airy building
old, but substantially built, with great, heavy
raftecs. and patches of open sky showing here
and there through the great dark roof
why, this is Noahs ark" cried Camillac.
What rotten old hulk We shall be wrecked
in the first storm"
There was some straw in corner Camilac
flung himself down upon it. The Colonel took off
his heavy ulster and spread it over the shivering
wretch.
"Get through the day quietly here-sleep if
you can; and I'll come to fetch you at dusk, said
the Colonel.
II can't get on without brandy" answered the