Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-08-13
No. | 3
est and keeping the direction by the
red glow of the sunset.
XII.
A vALoROUs COWARD.

Inc lea0er OF the unsuccessful party
of searchers was just fhishing his sup
per, in the intervals OF which delayed
meal he had been giving his wife de.
tailed narration of the events of the
day. "And now suppose I've got to
20 and put in the night at the Nc
Nabb," he added. 'These raids have
got to be stopped, If"
Mrs. Ludlow held up warning I'm:
ger. II thought that was our gate
she said, and presently they both heard
the quick nervous tread of some one
coming up the graveled walk. Then
there was step on the veranda, and
before either of them could rise grimy
apparition appeared at the door of the
dining-room. Ludlow sprang to his
feet with an exclamation Of glad sur
prise.
"By Jove, old fellow. but you did give
me q turn!" he exclaimed. grasping the
apparition's hand and wringing it
heartily. II thought it was your
ghost-I did. for fact; and ] believe
the small madam thinks SO yet.-Helen;
dear, wake up and allow me to intro.
duce MIR. Ringbrand."
Mrs. Ludlow rose unsteadily and ran
UP, laughing and crying in the same
breath. "You foolish mani" she said.
pushing her husband aside impetuous-
ly, "can't you see that lTugh's nearly
ead?-and you stand there making
your miserable jokes! Why don't you
run for the doctor, quick"
In spite of the dreadful secret which
was weighing him down like a night
marc, Ringbrand dropped into the near
est chair and laughed till the tears cut
little channels through the CRIME on
his cheeks. "You mustn't mind me-"
lie suid, as soon rs he could speak; Il
haven't laughed for three whole days.
and It sounds so good and homelike
to hear you talk again. I don't want
O doctor. Tom,"-Ludlow was edging
toward the hatrack-"I need soap and
water and something to cat. Mrs.
Ludlow, I'm your guest, and I've lost
ten consecutive meals. Please have
Aunt Nina put the whole ten OF them
on the table, and III devour them when
I've washed of a little Of this war
paint"
Mrs. Ludlow vanished in the direc-
tion OF the kitchen, and Ringbrand
rose and grasped his friends arm.
TON, you come upstairs with me while
l clean up bit, anu III tell YOU what
! can. There's work cut out for both
Of us tonight, with not any too much
time to spare"
Ludlow followed him upstairs. ask-'
ing: "Shall turn on the water in the
bathroom for your"
mo; there isn't time for that; but
you may open those valises and get
me a whole clean outfit-the black suit
with the cutaway will do"
He got out Of his soiled clothing htr-
ricdly, throwing the different articles
oil about the trim room and hastily re-
counting the story OF his capture, i'm
prisonment and escape. and concluded
by giving an outline of the plot against
the Latiners as set forth in the con-
versation between the two men in the
cave.
"Great heavens! but it's lucky you
overheard that talk" calculated Lud-
low. pausing in his aimless search
among the contents Of the travellng-'
bags.
"It'ssomething more than luck, Tom,"
replied Ringbrand, sluicing his face
in the basin; "it's Providence, or else
l shouldn't Ike here to tell about it."
"Inve you thought of any plan to-
checkmatc the scoundrels?"
II have, and it needs your help. As
soon rs I've had something to cut We'll
drive up to The Laurels,' and then you
con take the first opportunity that
offers to get the colonel by himself
while you tell him about it. lie can
tell Henry quietly, and therell be no
need OF alarming Miss Hester. After
she has gone to bed we'll hold council
of war, put out the lights, and dispose
our forces SO as to give the Bynums
a warm welcome when they come;
they'll not make the attempt much be-
fore midnight. and we will have plenty
of time to get ready for them."
Hadn't we better take IA few Of the
men with us-the Bynum boys'll fight
like devils when they find themselves
cornered."
IL think it won't be necessary
can't you find that suit? You see,
thereu be four of us, and if you can
manage to capture the one who is to
hold the horses, I think the colonel
and Henry and myself will be good
for the other two. l had thought of
suggesting something like this: They
will leave the horses in the grove at the
left of the avenue, and you can post
yourself where you can slip up and sur
prise your man. Then the others will
proceed to fire the probably Mt
the front, retreating to the cover OF
the clump of laurels to await develop
nents. For the sake of having clear
case of arson against them, I thought it
would be best to wait until they hadact-
ually started the fire, and while they are
doing this l can get behind the laurels
and the colonel and Henry can prepare
to cover the men with their rifles as
they retreat. At the proper moment 1
can show myself and demand surren-
der, and We'll have them pretty we'll
Ludlow rose from his knees and pro-
ceeded to dump the contents of the
valises upon the bed, whistling softly
to himself as he did so. "The schemes
as clear as diluted daylight, and it's
worthy of q graduate of Scotland
Yard" he said. There's only one
point that's little misty; you've given
yourself part thatIl ask for a heap
of downright cold-bloodcd nerve, Hugh.
What have you done with your respect
ed traditions of inherent cowardice,
and the like?"