Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-07-24
CHAPTER III. CONTINUED

Look here, Richard, when he calls me
Richard know he Is fearfully in earnest
81 believe you have brought us down on a
fools Grand; but let us go TO some place
where we can talk together for few mill
uteS."
/ led them across the road to the Railway
Inn. We entered a room, and, having for
the sake of appearances ordered little light
refreshment, told the walter 10 shut the door
from the outside. Brand settled down with
the air OF cross-examining counsel. eX-
pected to see him pull out New Testament
and put me on my oath.
Nov, Richard" he said, ''before we go
further want to know your reasons for
thinking this man, about whom you tele:
graphed, is CaTrlstOn's man, as you call him."
Reasons! Why OF course he Is the man.
Carriston gave me his photograph. The like
ness is MISUNDERSTANDING the hnger-j0lnt
out OF the question"
Here CaTrist0n looked at my cross-examin-
er triumphantly. The meaning OF that look
/ have never to this hour understood. But
laughed because L knew old Brand had for
once made a mistake, and was going to be
called to account for it. Carriston was about
to speak, but the doctor waved him aside.
Now, Richard, think very carefully. You
speak OF the missing fnger-joint We doc
tors know how many people persuade them
selves into all sorts of things Tell me, did
you notice the likeness before you saw the
mutilated finger, or did the fact of the fin
gers mutilation bring the likeness to your
mind?'
BLESS the man." said; lone would think
had no eyes. ! tell you there is no doubt
this man being the original of the photo"
Never mind-answer my question"
well, then, l am ashamed to confess II,
but put the photo in my pocket and forgot
all about 1t until had recognized the man,
and pulled out the likeness TO make sure. L
didn't even know there was printed de-
scription at the foot, nor that any member
was wanting. Confound it, Brandt I'm
not such duffer as you think"
Brand did not retaliate He turned to his
friend and said grayely, TO me the matter
promised You should" Then he sat down,
looking deiciousy crest-fallen, and wearing
the Discontinued expression always natural
to him when worsted in argument
IL was now Carriston's turn. lie piled me
Th many hga Ses0fs In fact gave h@
kind of house is it?' he asked.
Better than a cottage-scarcely farm
house. A place, should think with few
miserable acres OF bad land belonging to it.
One of those wretched little holdings which
are simply curses TO the country"
He made lots OF other inquiries the purport
of which could not then divine. He SEEM
ed greatly impressed when l told him that
the man had never for moment left me
alone. He shot second glance of triumph
/ IL
IL ALI the wind had been taken out Of his
sails.
allow far is the placer asked Carriston.
"Could you drive me there after dark%'
| At this question the doctor returned to life.
"What do you mean TO do%' he asked his
friend "Let us have no nonsense Even
now feel sure that Fenton is misled by
| some chance resemblance"
Deuce bit, old chap" / said.
well, whether or not, we needn't do fool
IL. ;..f
ton, and get search-warrant and the assist
ance Of the police. The truth is, Richard"
| he continued, turning to me, tive have rea-
son to believe, or / should say GARRISON per-
sists in fancying, that friend of his has for
some time been kept in durance by the man
whom you say you recognized"
Likely enough" ! said. HE looked vii
| lain enough for anything up to murder"
Anyway" said Brand, 1--WE must do
everything according TO law"
Law! fwant no law" answered Caris-
ton. II have found her, as knew L should
find her. l shall simply fetch her, and ut
| once. You can come with me or stay here,
as you like, doctor; but am afraid must
trouble your friend TO drive me somewhere
near the place he speaks Of"
ForeSeeing an adventure and great fun
moreover, not unmoved by thoughts of re-
venge-I placed myself entirely at Carriston's
disposal. He expressed his gratitude, and
suggested that we should start at once. In a
| few minutes we were ready, and mounted the
dog-cart. Brand, after grlmbling loudly at
| the whole proceeding, finished up by follow
ing us, and installing himself in the back
| seat CarriSton placed parcel he carried in
side the cart, and away We went.
1t was now nearly dark, and raining cat
| and dogs. had my lamps lighted. so we got
along without much difficulty The roads
were deep with mud; but by this time the
| snow had been pretty nearly washed away
from everywhere. / don't make mistake
| In road twice, so In due course we reached
| TIE scene of my upset. Here drew up.
"The house lies about five hundred yards
up the lane" told Carriston; 1--WE had bet
ter get out here"
''What about the horse?- asked Brand
mo chance of any one passing this way
On such night as this; so let us put out the
| lamps and tie him up somewhere"
We did So then struggled on afoot until
we saw the CLEAN OF light which had been so
| welcomed by me two nights before.
II was Just about rs dark as pitch; but,
guided by the light, we went on until we
| stood in front of the house, where turf bank
and dry hedge hid us from sight, although on
| such night we had little fear OF our pres
| ence being discovered.
"What do you mean to do%' asked Brand
In discontinued whisper. You can't break
into the house."
GARRISON said nothing for minute; then
felt him place his hand on my shoulder.
AIC lIltIt any HOIScS, any COWS dDOut Ino
| placer? he asked.
told him / thought that my surly friend
rejoiced in the possession of a horse and a
cow.
VERY well Then we must wait. He'll
come out to see to them before he goes to
bed said Carriston, as decidedly as gener-
al giving orders just before battle.
/ could not see how Band expressed his
feelings upon hearing this order from our
commander-I know shrugged my Shout
ders and If l said nothing, thought deal.
The present situation was all very well for a
strongly-interested party like Carriston, but
he could scarcely expect others TO relish the
prospect of waiting, it might be for hours,
under that comfortless hedge. We were all
| wet TO the skin, and although / was extreme
ly anxious to see the end of the expedition,
and find poetical justice meted out to my
late host, CaTistOn's Fabian tactics lacked
the excitement longed for Brand, in spite
of his dsapproval of the whole course of ac-
ton. was better Off than | was As a doctor,
he must have felt sure that, proydedhe could
survive the exposure, he would secure two
fresh patients. However, we made no pro-
test, but waited for events TO develop them
selves.