The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-11-14


there's no use in denying the fact that she's
got Arthur Fairf.x on the brain dead
gone believe And, between you and me
and yon stream, I'm inclined to think, too,
the iceberg's beginning little TO thaw."
''Stop,n said his listener decsivoly, "this
is no time for nonsense. Relate the events;
not your beliefs
swell, my boy, shc left ut halfpast six.
Darby and Joan, otherwise Dimitri and
Catherine, Jagged behind. Your friend
again watered Medji at the pool, and re-
mounted from the self Same stone. Lydia
KEEP. her horse and before they rode off, l
heard her promise to come again to-mor-
row."
Hm-m-mln said Fairfax, rehectively,
shat young lady can easily be disposed of.
believe you CHANGED the other day to men,
ton the fact that Lady Blanche, now in
Paris, is her aunt, did you mott"
"Yes," replied Dick, wonderingly.
Fairfax took from his vest pocket tele-
graphic blank, on which was written the
simple word, "Send F."
Now, my fair charmer, Miss Lydia, I
think We have you out of the wny.n
Roger" continued ho, calling the valet,
'deliver this at the telegraph Office, and
then hire horse and buggy at some livery
stable. Be sure and secure o strong horse
and buggy with rubber apron for wet
weather"
| In perhaps half an hour the sound Of OPP
preaching wheels was heard, and Roger
quickly announced himself. Finding the
vehicle suited for the service which he de-
sired to impose upon it, Fairfax called the
three men together, saying:
"Go to some inn for the night. At eight
o'clock tomorrow morning take the dill
genee that leaves here, and passes X. cross
road-only short distance from our desti-
nation Roger, you know the way from
there to the village, and the point beyond
where you Went with Mr Oxford yesterday
near where the brool; crosses tho road at
the pool. You underestimate
II do SIR" said Roger, knowingly.
"Vcry well, then, you all understand Put
ell your bundles in the carriage and 60 of
for good sleep"
The three servants were quickly on their
way to the village, Roger proving himself
perfectly invulnerable when bombarded
with questions by the two excited and curl
GUS seamen.
Dick and Fairfax, meanwhile, were on
their way to the village Of Y, thirty miles
distant. AT half-past three o'clock in the
morning they were approaching the we'll
known town, and the east was beginning to
show faint signs Of light.
Fairfax urged to rapid pace the horse
that quickly carried them through the slum-
bering place. He made brief pause at the
Inn Of Landlord Baudray They drove d.
rectly toward the appointed rendezvous near
the fatcful pool and led the horse into the
midst of ncighboring grove, where it was
quite evident no one would stray, otherwise
than by the merest accident.
Turning to Dick, Fairfax heavcd Sigh,
with the after fomark
my friend, all 10 complete-eserv thing.
Only the Intervention Of Heaven, now, can
defeat my plans"
Then, for the first time, Oxfords curl
osity as to the schemes of his friend were
satisfied.
He had made up his mind, whatever nigh,
be their character, not to bctray the slight
est emotion on learning them; and to do him
justice, outwardly he evinced no sign Of the
dismay that overwhelmed him as he listened
to the outrageous project of his mad friend
Although his heart sank within him, he
. mduc uO MA db uIbL. alTlaA WauCucC
him keenly, to observe the effect'of his own
words.
Finally, with Q gravity wholly unwontei
and an impressive seriousness, all the more
effective because unusual, Oxford turned tc
Fairfax, and said:
~ promised to be with you in whatever
you undertook. I will keep my word II you
insist upon it. It is not too late, even yet, fol-
you to forego this unfortunate affair. l, my
self, think 1t unnecessary, extremely i'm
practicable and dangerous, and, frankly
idiotic as well as wicked"
Not line moved In his hearers impassivt
countenance.
That extraordinary individual had consid
cred the entire matter in oil its actual and
possible relations and contingencies; hai
become excited to an unnatural and ex
tremely unreasonable pitch Of mind, and
was resolved that nothing should deter hin
from his undertaking.
Although somewhat startled at the sound
advice and solemn words Of the hitherto
hght-hearted Richard, and realizing, for q
moment the folly Of his prospective deed
and the long list of misfortunes and evil
that might follow in its train, he immediate
ly steeled himself against tho weakness o,
the moment, and was once more the man o.
answering purpose and iron will
sThis man, Dick, must be won again.
am fast losing my hold upon him and mus
regain it and mako It stronger. No half
hearted work will suffice at this late date,
was his silent self-reasoning.
Beginning in that plausible, seductive ant
irresistibly attractive manner Of his, h,
gradually ovcrcame Dicks conscientious
scruplcs; dulled his common-sense, appealed
to his adventurous spirit, and thus began t.
arouse his Tagging interest in tho matter.
Oxford, poor fellow! although realizing
that his friend was about to embark upon I
very crazy and cowardly enterprise, wa
yet unable to resist tho extraordinary influ
encc which this strange man welded ovel
him, and, step by step, yielded to the might.
will of the latter; until, once more, Fairfa,
had most Jealous advocate in Richard
About noon, with "a lazy gape Fairfax re
marked;
Let US go ont and watch for thos,
heavy villains They must be near a
hand"
There soon appeared three strange men
carclcssly sauntering down tho road s.
completely had they disguised them
selves that tho two watchers were uncer
tain as to their identity. However, as the,
approached nearer, it was not difficult t,
recognize the tones Of each voice.
The arch-conspirator too; the two seamel
aside and enlightened them as to tho par
they were to play. They appeared to b.
Wldcayyalke charactprG. c1Olble Of n hazard