Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-04-24


from the cowardly assailanfs that the an
Rry shouts and curses seemed TO come.
1t is he, my friendf To the rescuel"
cried Mrs. Beane, in brave, man-like
tonos; and grssping from the ground .
fragment of rock she dashed forward un-
hesitatingly.
OF less heroic mind, Miss Winford did
not dream Of initiating her example, but
merely followed her with her eyes, as well
as the flashes would permit But Mrs.
Beane had hardly quilted her side before
the assaulted man was seen to stumble,
and fall forward on his face. Then
there came two shots from near at hand,
and another flash showed the assailants
in full flight, as though In sudden panic.
Miss Winford then hesitated no longer
about advancing. When she reached the
spot on which the struggle had taken
place, the man who had fallen had risen
to his feet, and Mrs. Beane was at his
side, together with q little boy, whom she
had never seen before.
Are you hurt, sir?" asked Miss VIM
ford, anxiously.
Theve was fresh fash Just at that mo-
ment, and the man, who was none other
than Jasper Marlove. looked quickly up
and eyed his questioner keenly.
Not q particle, as luck would have it,
he replied. i fell from trip, and with
out receiving blow of any consequence.
However, it would have gone hard with
me had it not been for this little fellow
with his pistol. Its reports were alone
sufficient to send them scampering OF.
Thank heaven for thatl Then the
villains did not succeed in robb1ng you,
as must have been their purpose2"
well, they didn't get what they were
! after, and perhaps they wouldn't have
got that even if they had robbed me,
replied Jasper, dryly. But see, the rain
| is coming at last, and you will both be
drenched. Is there not some cottage
near at hand in which you women can
seek shelter?"
Yes" said Dip, speaking for the first
time, Il passed one at the edge of this
| common q moment ago. There it is
nowi" he added, pointing away to the
right, as there came another fash.
| Jasper exchanged a few words apart
| with Mrs. Beane, and then, moving away
with the lad, indicated that both women
would do we'll to seek shelter at the in
| dicated cottage without delay.
| But will not you come alsoP" said Miss
Winford. See, it is already beginning
to pour"
There is now no necessity, and q
ducking will be of little consequence tc
! Dip and me-, said Jasper. -Come; We
viii see you to the cottage, and ther
leave you"
This he accordingly did, and then
| after cautioning the women to say moth.
! ing Of what had CHANGED, passed away
! into the rain and darkness with his little
companion.
He presently found place under {
neighboring hedge that afforded compar
ative shelter, and, drawing Dip into i
after him, requested to know everything
that had transpired at Jasmine Lodg'
during the day.
The boy complied, telling his stor.
without a break, and faithfully recount
ing as we'll everything that had come t.
his knowledge even by the remotest hear
$780," muttered Jasper, when the tai,
was finished, @Boncourt will go to tow
on Thursday, and Noel Marlowe will g
to town on Thursday, though on widel.
different errands. Well, my object viii
be to keep Noel in sight, and then, o
course, Croak's spy will follow with hi
object, which will be not to lose sight o
me. However, from the taste he and hi
followers have had of my cIdgel tonight
think he will be rather over-cautious il
openly attacking me again. This Roll
ingstone you speak of-you think he Cal
be made subservient to my plans?"
Il only know what have said, mas
ter" replied the boy in an earnestly af
fectionate tone that oddly contrastet
with his ordinary pertness of address
Il know that for some reason or othe
! Madame bonneville bitterly hates tn
fellow, and that by some time to-mor
row Rollingstone will hate both her an
Boncourt, and perhaps be willing to d
anything in order to ruin their schemes
sRollingstone had secret interview
with Mr.. Boncourt in the little wood ad
. joining the Lodge on Sunday night, whic
/ partly overheard. In this interview
! Boncourt threatened to have nothing
! do with the other, but allowed himsel
} to be softened little, it seemed to me
by Rollingstone begging off. But to-da.
: this very evening. Boncourt has sent hil
letter, coldly dismissing him from hi
employment, and saying that his place j
! London will be taken by a new perso
whom he has lately taken into his service
. That must mean me. Rollingstone WI
! get this letter tomorrow.
Being only drunkard, and misel
8 able gamblers assistant, the news Of hi
r livelihood being suddenly snatched frol
! him will naturally fill him with fury an
desire forrevenge. Don't you think 81
3 master?"
Yes; and shall probably have occs
sion to make use of his address, whic
you have obtained for me, : was the kind
Q reply. But the storm is now abatin
! and we must separate. How will you o.
!. cuse your absence from the house on sue
I an evening to your new master?"
Trust me to manage that, replied Il
: boy, laughing, as they came out fro
y under the hedge. Master, will you i
!, me ask.who that strange old woman
u who came running to your assistance
pluckily while ago2"
You shall know in good time, my DO
9 but the time is not yet, said Jaspe
n grasping his hand. @Now, goodnight
CHAPTER XVIII.
coNsPIRAToRs IN. COUNCIL.