Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-06-30

ordinary; they ere extraordinary oe-
yond belief, beyond endurance. You
are young yourself. You can sympa'
thize with me. If you permit me,
will tell you how 1 am situated.
"You may tell me with full assurance
of my sympathy and assistance, lsald'
"For twelve months, " he began, Il
have been engaged to Miss Folgate'
who is now twenty years of age, ana
en- only child. Her father, solicitor
is dead. Her mother was glad to take
the position of housekeeper at Sir Ar
thur Pennyfather's town house IN
Derby Square. Miss Folgate lives with
her mother, and now and then J. come
nm to Durham TO see her. Mrs. Fol-
gate is only nineteen years older than
her daughter. She is woman OF re-
markably youthful appearance and
great personal attractions, romantic
and painfully anxious to marry again.
"For some time, very stylish and
fascinating foreigner--a count he says
has been leading Mrs. Folgate to
think he wants to make her his wife.
Sir Arthur and his family are IN the
Riviera. The Derby Square house has
been used by this foreigner as postal
address. There have been meetings OF
foreigners in meetings of men con-
=, nected with some illegal scheme. Yes
terday I got this from Miss Folgate'
As he spoke he handed me ragged
piece of paper covered with taut pen
oil lines. crossed and recrossed.
"You can't make it out easily and
there isn't time to puzzle over It, lht
. substance is this: Miss Folgate has In
voluntarily overheard what passed a'
y one ofthose meetings. The conspIrator'
discovered her. and she is prisoner
in Derby Square. If she makes any
. disturbance, they will kill her. If they
!" are betrayed they will kill her mother
who is no longer in the house. 10
~ dav between and o'clock there vii
y he no one III the house but my dis
~ tracted girl. / an going to try t.
~ sno+ch her from the knives OF thOs
murderous rufians. !"
"And I will go with you, If may
He seized my hand and for a momen
could not speak.
= = 'If You will help me to-day you ma
. count on my devotion for life, " he SAL
:. at length.
, s'Will you go armedf"
> "Armed? No. fit comes to wear
p" ons We are lost we ere dead men an
" sbe-b but will not think of her.
~ ~ would paralyzed me, and the time 10
az action is almost at hand.
"How do you intend getting into tn
~ house,
y "I must break in. You now kno
- - how doubly dangerous is the enterprls'
:, 1t is not too late for you to draw back.
" 81 am with you heart and soul, sal
- l, taking his arm.
He set q rapid pace west.
'My poor girl" he said ''is locke
~ in an upper room, no doubt. inten
~ getting in through the fanlight. Lea
>, stand on your shoulders. Once ID,
will open the front door. This fog
>, all in our favor.
It was long walk, during which
10y never could see across the street. 1
seemed to find his way by instinct L
" never paused or hesitated
At last he drew up. eve are
III Derby Square," he whispered. 1T
!" house is on the south side, No. 81. '
l'- will cross the roadway and stand WI
'e" our backs against the railing OF the
closure. We have twenty minutes
ne.
wait.
o "Now, " whispered he, when he dr'
up. "we are directly opposite the hou'
.oo I know the spot by this dropping a
-. tree" He took off his hat and wip
;f his forehead.
tho Those were the longest twenty M
,o1 utes I ever endured. To him tn
red must nave oeen nooi'
whole time he never said word
IT leaned motionless against the railing
- watch in hand, his eyes fixed upon
G., dial. We could not see even the m
q @ die of the roadway.
doo At five minutes to one | heard dC
omen and shut softly, then cautlC
foe, footsteps stealing away. l looked
,,ao Crane. He didn't look at me. He {
not move. He kept his eyes fixed
.oid the dial like one hypnotized. I ga1
non at the watch myself; l found l co1
"a not now take my eyes off it. l saw
;rps hand pass the hour; saw itcreep O.
,;o two, three minutes beyond the no
Had he forgotten, or was he res