Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-07-09

but OF course he does not know when
or how"
Had you not better give information
to the police"
mo, | don't think | can do that
If there is any other way said Lance
lot. hesitating.
why not?"
Il think, consulting his mother with
his eyes, that we undertook not to
make the matter public for Madeline's
sake. Besides, we nave not much to
90 upon / did think, however, that
it might be as well to warn the Es-
lers and then, II they like to take
pre- cautions"
"Of course we must do that, said
Col. Vanbrugh, taking out his watch.
1t is quite early 1t would be better
if you went down tonight, Lance. You
could be back by IL o'clock"
Gould r." He shot wistful glance
at his mother, who smiled back reply.
Il have your father to care for me-
now, Lance, my dear one; you can
leave me quite safely. am better to-
night"
Then will go, said Lance, reso
Iutely.
He took a very tender leave Of his
mother, who was wonderfully we'll and
bright and whom he could leave with
confidence in Col. Vanbrugh's care. 1t
was strange even to him to feel how
strong was the bond between the three,
even after the lapse OF so many years
of separation. The colonel followed
him out into the hall before he left
the house.
Are you armed, Lance? De Marsae
always carries revolver"
II have a horse whip" said Lance,
grimly. Il should very much like an
opportunity of laying it about his
shoulders.
Yes. said the colonel. But fire
arms would be, perhaps. better"
"On the continent. you mean?"
"A duel, 10: certainly not. l only
don't want you to run into unnecessary
danger.
"Ill not do that BUT If can punish
THAT SGOHHuIGl 4 WILL vi Wphid ihAAS
to do it yourself, father
Yes, should; but my place is here
by your mothers bedside
Something in his tone touched the
young man. They We're standing in
the darkened hall and under cover of
that darkness their hands met; and
there, un-English us it might be. the
father turned and kissed his son. Then
Lancelot went out, took hanson and
drove to the railway station. 1t was
o'clock and the next train would take
him to the station nearest Hurst in
fifty-five minutes. He would reach
Hurst probably about $50 or S:45, see
Lady Esler and if nothing seemed like
ly to happen he would be able to catch
the 10 o'clock train back to town. But
he was inclined to hope, seeing that
his mother was so much better, that
there might he a reason for his remain
ing to meet and confront the expected
thief.
But his schemes were brought to
naught by one of those accidents which
It is impossible to foresee. The train
was delayed by some temporary block
on the line, and, much to Lance's chag-
rim. he did not reach the station
whittier he was bound until after 10
o'clock. Nevertheless, he thought that
he might as we'll push on 10 Hurst;
there was no reason to suppose that
the Eslers would be in bed before II
aro n+ hn EcInrc carly
people When Lance stood in front of
the great old bouse there was no glim-
mer of light to be seen in the whole
building and he was forced ITO the
conclusion that the occupants had gone
to bed and that it was doubtful whether
he would do any good by disturbing
them. Yet he did not like to go away
without doing anything. And there,
somebody was up and awake. A light
flashed through an uncurtained win
dow; shadow lowered on the blind
there was the sound of an opening
door Lance waited; he withdrew into
the shadow startled into watchfulness.
The door that had opened was the
one which Madeline had once watched
from her window, but on this occasion
no woman's figure appeared. The door
was simply thrust open from within
and left open "An aceomplice within
the house." thought Lancelot, begin
ming to suspect that the thing was
near But he did not in the least i'm
agine whom that accomplice might
turn out to be.
Presently he saw some one steal out
of the shrubbery and enter by the door.
Lancelot watched and waited with inn
patient anxiety. He was DESTROYS of
taking the thief redhanded, and in
order TO effect that he must wait until
his return He waited so long that he
began to ask himself whether he had
not erred in Judgment; whether he
ought not to have aroused the house at
once and cleared up the mystery. But
his doubts were presently set at rest
by the temperance at the door Of the
man who had previously entered He
started si1nytIy down the path then