The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-29
CHAPTER Iv-TRAPPED.

terence staggered luleE LNt A-SNuNEiA-
Fred Jellett in the dress Of a labOrer!
What did it mean? The strange words
Of accusation which the girl had address
ed TO himself were forgotten in his
amazement at her impulsive avowaL He
must follow her. get some explanation
In the few moments which had elapsed
since she left him, however, she had al
ready disappeared FROM his sight around
a bend Of the park wall. He began TO
run to overtake her. Before he reached
the bend. however. he in his turn was
waylaid by the man in laborers dress.
Prepared as he was. Terence scarcely
recognized Fred Jellett in the clean-shaven
fellow before him. Fred. however. reveal
ed himself without delay. He was look
ing much annoyed.
i saw you go off this afternoon" he
said. Il wanted to speak to you, so I've
been loafling about here. waiting for you
10 come back. And I showed up minute
too soon, and frightened that little fool
Of a Bessie nearly into fits"
But Terence was not cordial. He
thought that SIR Jellett-s eccentric CON
Duct needed explanation.
4 think it was enough to frighten
any girl, to come suddenly upon her broth
er in the dress you are wearing said
he
Perhaps you are right" said Fred,
easily But il couldn't be helped. you
see. You can guess the reason, l sup
pose?"
And he looked inquiringly straight into
the young artists eyes.
Indeed" replied Terence. stidly. u
am afraid any motive I could suggest
for such a proceeding would not be a very
fattering one"
Never mind that Well?"
Terence hesitated. But after all, what
ever words ne might utter would be no
more insulting than the suspicious gaze
he was now turning upon his compan-
ion.
well; there is a detective about here"
"A detective! Swarms Of 'em. The
place is alive with them. I'm one"'
Terence staggered again
"A detectivel YOU" he murmured. fee
"why not? It's mira dig. Of course;
end ] wouldn't have let you know if Il
could have been helped. But my only
choice was between that and driving a
Ransom. So / chose that. I'm not The
first broken-doWn gentleman that has
"Does-does your sister knows fall
tered Terence, still half-incredulous.
No, bless her heart; l daren't trust
Then what did she think when she rec
ognized your"
Goodness knows. That I was up to
some mischief suppose. She never viii
believe that I've sown all my wild oats.
Poor Bessier
why did you bring her down here,
when you were engaged on work like
u thought it would give her a cheap
holiday She has been shut up in town for
eight months, ever since our mother died
Unconsciousiy to himself, the artists
manner had grown more and more In
Quisitorial. 1t seemed to him that the
strange story had some still stranger gaps
What are YOU doing down here. then?..
ne asked. You and the swarm or otn-
Fred glanced around him, and lowered
his tone conhdentially.
Its about this picture, the Alassio Ru-
bens. Lord Copleston has got it into his
head that there will be an attempt made
precautions"
'Oh, oh. ! see." said Terence.
But his tone was doubtful
And and the picture in the gun-case?'s
Fred looked enthusiastically for mo-
you discovered that. did your" said he
the next minute with a laugh. ITS a KIM
OF decoy duck we've got, to lead them Off
well. don't think / care to have the
charge OF u i any longer. What should I
serence's face clouded.
No, said he, gravely. II won't do
that You don't want to drag your sister
into this business You can come for it.
or send for it. yourself"
lie turned abruptly away without any
sort of leave-taking, and went back to the
Blue Boar at a great pace; He was al
together miserable and dissatisfied. If
Fred Jellett had told the truth, he was a
mean scoundrel to bring his gentle, low
ing sister down TO the scene of his shady
WORK. IN ruth Fbr-
then his business at Ingatestowe was
shadier still.
At this point there flashed into his mind
another suspicion, so odious, so ugly, that
ne was ashamed to have conceived it a
suspicion of the good faith of Bessie her
sell Again and again, in spite of him
SELF, the hideous thought would obtrude
itself that the girl, being loving and sub
missiVe, had submitted 20 become her
brother accomplish in his schemes either
for the detection of crime-or for the com
mission of ii. He thought over all the in
cidents of his acQua intance with Fred
Jellett, and perceived at length that there
was danger in it. Already the change of
plan which his lively travelling companion
had persuaded him, had resulted in get
ting him looked upon as suspicious
character and was drawing him into the
meshes of a periious love affair
For Terence recognized, in the attrac-
ton which Bessie had had for him from
the first, something stronger and more
dangerous TO him than any of the numer-
Gus .tiirtations into which it had been his
ndDit TO 1ail.
If the day been sunny and bright, it is
probable that his suspicious would have
melted under the il fiUence of warmth and
love. Battling with rain and wind and
ploughing through mud. Terence was
strong enough to resolve to continue his
journey to Cornwall by the very next
train. Passing by Bessie's lodging he saw
that she was at the window, but he would
not look at her. or reaching the Blue
Boar, therefore, lie packed up, paid his
bill, left the sham gun-case in the hall
with the message that it belonged to a
person named Jellett who would call or
send for it. and trudged to the station 10
catch train which was due there a five
minutes past seven.
The rain had altogether ceased the
black clouds had rolled away, and beau
tiful sunset was glowing on village, field
and tree. Terence lit his pipe and tried
to imagine that ne was glad to be on
his way to the sea once more; but the
beauty of Bessie's face and the mystery
of her position overwhelmed every other
image in his mind. He was in love, and
he was miserable. Walking restlessly up
and down he suddenly saw, as he turned
at one end of the platform, Bessie stand
ing at the other. His heart seemed to
leap up. Nevertheless he approached her
not with the hurrying feet of a delighted
lover but slowly, oppressed by the feel
ing that every step brought him nearer
10 a crisis in his life which he would
have avoided if he could.
AS ne came up TO her, however. all other