The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-03


and vowed 20 punish them as they deserv-
%, without at all knowing how such a
thing could be done.
tered. I just believe they mean 70 do for
me as they did for Sir George-if they can.
l see Calders plan now. He wants money
70 clear the precious brother out OF the
way Is soon as ! am removed. Then he
viii produce the will he urged me TO make
in Isobel's favor. Poor Isobeli am glad
she does not know that did that. Oh,
the brute! If anything happened TO me
this Edward Earring is my next Of kin,
but the viii cuts him out in favor of his
''And That fend Calder to throw me in
her way as he has done, leading me to
think he didn't care. He never meant that
l should win. l was TO be plucked, and
then burkedi
Wen, I may be a greenhorn. a conhding.
inexperienced fool but shall know how
TO guard the woman I love-aye, guard her
with my fortune and my life II need be-
CHAPTER ".
When Mr.. Calder and his guest met in
the breakfast room they were Informed
that Findlay had left the house early in
the morning. He had, however, instructed
the butler to say that he would be at the
keepers lodge when they came there at
10 O'Clock as arranged previously.
Mrs Calder did not come down, so the
two had the meal by themselves.
They talked very little, and ate spar
ingly, evidently engrossed by thoughts
which absorbed every faculty. Shortly
after breakfast, having spent a few min
utes together in the smoking room, they
left the house carrying their guns and
game bags. When they reached the lodge
they found young Findlay there, and some
game flung on bench showed he had been
employed that morning; but he looked
grave, even stern, which was so different
from his usual appearance that Calder no
ticed 1t at once.
what has come over the spirit Of your
dream, Hume?" he asked playfully, to
which Hume replied, Il will tell you pres
emily. You had better send Capt Styles
with Grant, for / want to talk to you.
Calder stared in amazement and no
wonder; for the change from Humes
wonted careless, happy-g o-luclSy manner,
was startling in the extreme 1t was only
for moment that the astute man of the
world forgot himself, however; next min
ute he was turning the young mans words
aside with joke.
DO you hear, Styles? Hume has had
his shooting, and now he wants to pin
me down with business jabber while
you are to go and enjoy yourself with
Grant. Nice programme after all my an
ticipations of a good days sport! Eh2"
Il am very much IN earnest, and I
think you must take what I say in the
same Spirit" Hume said as gravely as
before, whereat the others exchanged a
glance OF, perplexed annoyance. Then Ed
ward spoke:
you can join me after your talk is over.
Arrange where we shall meet, and let's get
to work.
I'VE VIII JOIN you at the lar emu OF the
common. You will find good sport in that
direction, and we can take what we md
through the wood leading that way" said
Calder, and then, as he handed some
cartridges to Edward, he whispered TN
send him alone; look out for him by the
wood. Get rid of Grant shortly"
Capt. Styles and the keeper walked away
in one direction, Calder and F1ndlay IN
well" said Calder, when they had en-
tered the wood, What is this serious
business of yours, Humeg
Il have destroyed that will you advised
Calder concealed his annoyance very
ably, and replied in perfectly temperate
why, may ask?"
81 choose to keep my reasons for SO
doing to myself"
tone to me? You speak in what one might
call an insolent manner, If you were not
somewhat of boy that doesn' t
You needn't say more of that sort OF
thing. 1 am no boy to-day though per-
haps I was yesterday. Now, look here ]
am prepared to give YOU and-that man,
the money required to get you clear out
of this country and to keep you at the
worlds end. / will do this for the sake
of my cousin Isobel, and with the condi-
ton that you leave her to seek shelter
where she chooses away from you. Dom
say what is in your mind or l shall strike
YOU to the ground. Isobel has husband
and a brother; but she needs a protector
and She shall find one in me-though
shall never see her face again after to-day
Calder, / know the truth about that man
you brought here yesterday. l had seen
her brothers likeness, and recognized him.
/ can guess a part of your scheme, you
brute You have not told Earring that he
is my neXt-of-kin, nor that you suggested
that making of my will in Isobels favor
You brought the crack shot who murder
ed Sir George Barton to shoot me. You
double-dyed blackguardi Take that!
And in a sudden rage Hume stuck his
companion a powerful blow which SEM
him Keeling over among the brackens lie
had not meant to act so. He had intended
to speak boldly but calmly, and to drive a
bargain with Calder for lsobefs benefit
but as he spoke the diabolical GOODNESS OF
Calder the monstrOus horror of what had
been contemplated struck him so forcibly
and in all its reality and blackness, that
passion overmas tered him in a moment
with the result 1 have told.
Afraid to trust himself further Hume
turned away, leaving Calder to pick him
self up at his leisure; but as the young
man strobe off he called out: You had
better agree to my terms speedily and
clear out; for I swear If you don't I'll have
the pair of you in gaol before many days
are by.
He plunged into the wood and walked
rapidly away in a towering rage-angry
at himself for losing his temper as much
as angry al the treachery of Calder. But
as he cooled down he thought of 1sobel,
and turning round, walked more slowly
toward the house feeling that she ought
to be told in part what had occurred.
Meanwhile Calder picked himself up,
cursing Hume and Isobel. She has be-
trayed me-" he stormed to himself: "she
has told him. 1t is all a plan between
them. I'll have the young DEVILS life I
will! / must go and find Earring, / sup
pose, and tell him of this cursed mess
at least part of it. What on earth shall
we do nowY'
He went slowly through the wood, cog
itating in the utmost anger and perplex-
ity, altogether fOrgetful that Edward Ear
ling having sent Grant away on some pre-
tended message, was waiting near the belt
of wood for victim. AS Calder came in
to view between the trees, his head bent
and his cap pulled over his face. Earring
took aim, and before the assassin could
possibly discover who he was killing the
bullet had found its mark.
Hes down. It's DONE" muttered the
heartless villain, believing he had killed
Hume Findlay. CThey had been dressed
alike in sporting gear, and were about
the same size and hight. Now, ought I
to go to him, and discover my accidental
quarry; or shall l leave Grant to find h
out? 1t might look suspicious if l went
away without knowing what I had
shot"
Sc he went reluctantly forward and dis
covered what he had done. Calder law
dead upon the ferns with the blood ooz-
ing from a hole in his head; his face
white and stained, was turned to me
heavens he had defied all his life