Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16
.'Thank Won. whoeYer Won are!''

a NOu. w IlOCfO u dlC!
With that reply, he suddenly and swift
ly disappeared. Iris remembered the
culvert and turned towards it. There
was a hiding-place under the arch, if she
could only get down into the dry ditch in
time. She was feeling her way to the
slope of it with her feet, when a heavy
hand seized her by the arm; and a ~resolute
voice said: You are my prisoner"
She was led back into the road. The
man who had got her blew a whistle. Two
other men joined him.
'Show a light" he said, "and let's see
who the fellow is"
The shade was slipped aside from a lam
tern; the light fell full on the prisoners
face. Amusement petrifed the two at
tendant policemen. The pious Catholic
Sergeant burst into speech: "HOly Maryl
it's a WOman?"
Did the secret societies of Ireland enrol
women? Was this a modern judith, eX-
pressing herself by anonymous letters, and
bent on aSSaSSinating a financial Holofer-
mes who kept a bank? WHAT account
had she to give of herself? How came she
to be alon in a desolate field on a rainy
night? Instead of answering these ques-
tons, the inscrutable stranger preferred
a bold and brief request. '"Take me to
Sir Giles''-was all she said to the police?
The Sergeant had the handouts ready.
After looking at the prisoners delicate
wrists by the lantern-light, he put his fet-
tiers back in his pocket. "A lady-and no
dOubt about it," he said to one of his as
siStants.
The two men waited, with a mischiev-
Gus interest in seeing what he would do
next. The list of their pious officers viz
tues included a constitutional Partially
for women, which exhibited the merciful
side of justice when a criminal wore a
petticoat. I'VE Will take you to Sir Giles,
Miss" he said-and offered his arm, in
stead of offering his handouts. Iris I'M
derstood him, and took his arm.
She was silent-unaccOuntably silent as
the men th~ought-on the way to the town.
They heard her sigh; and, once, the sigh
n more like a sob; little did they
suspect what was in that silent woman's
mind at the time.
The one object which had absorbed the
attention E Iris had been the saving of
Lord Harry. This accomplished, the free
exercise of her memOr had now reminded
her of Arthur MountjOy.
1t was impossible to doubt that the OBJ
ject of the proposed meeting at the mile
stone had been to eemeasures for the
preservation of the young mans life. A
coward is always more or less cruel. The
proceedings equally treacherous and mer-
ciless) by which Sir Giles had provided
for his own safety, had delayed-perhaps
actually prevented-the execution of Lord
Harry'S humane design. 1t was possible.
horribly possible, that a prompt employ
ment of time might have been necessary
TO the rescue of Arthur from impending
death by murder. In the agitation that
o~verpowered her, Iris actually hurried the
police on their return to the town.
Sir Giles had arranged to wait for news
in his private room at the office-and there
he was. with Dennis Howmore in attend
ance to receive visitors.
The Sergeant went into the bankers
room alone, to make his report. He left
the door ajar; Iris could hear what passed.
Have you got your prisoner?" Sir Giles
began.
Yes, your honor"
rs the wretch securely handcuffed?'
81 beg you pardon, sir, it isn't a man."
Nonsense. Sergeant; it cannot be a
boyf"
The Sergeant confessed that it was not
a boy. Its a woman" he said.
"Whatl!!"
"a woman" the patient officer repeat
ed-"and a young one. She asked for
you"
Bring her in."
Iris was not the sort of person who waits
to be brought in. She walked in of her
OWN accord"