The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-08-19
XII.
A vALoRous COWARD.

The leader of the unsuccessful party
of searchers was just finishing his sup
per, in the intervals of which delayed
meal he had been giving his wife a de-
tailed narration of the events of the
day. "And now l 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 fin
ger. 81 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 turn!" he exclaimed, grasping the
apparition's hand and wringing it
heartily. 81 thought it was your
ghost--I did, for fact; and believe
the small madam thinks so yet.-lIelen,
dear, wake up and allow me to intro
duce Mr.. Ringbrand.'.
Mrs. Ludlow rose unstcadily and ;an
up, laughing and crying in the same
breath. "You foolish mani" she said,
pushing her husband aside irapetuous-
ly, "can't you see that IIugh's nearly
dead ?-and you stand there making
your miserable jokes! Why don't ycu
run for the doctor, quicl1?"
In spite of the dreadful secret which
was weighing him down like n night
mare, 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-"
he said, us soon as he could speak; 81
haven't laughed for three whole days,
and it sounds so good and homelilie
to hear you talk again. don't want
q doctor, Tom, was edging
toward the hatrack-"I need soap and
water and something to eat. Mrs.
Ludlow, Pm your guest, and I've lost
ten consecutive meals. Please hate
Aunt Nina put the whole ten of them
on the table, and I'll devour them when
I've washed off little of this war
paint"
Mrs. Ludlow vanished in the direc-
ton of the kitchen, and Ringbrand
rose and grasped his friends arm.
"Tom, you come upstairs with me while
l clean up bit, and 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 you?"
"No; there isn't time for that; but
YOU may open those yalises and get
me whole clean outft-the black suit
with the cutaway will do"
He got out of his soiled clothing hur-
riedly, throwing the different articles
all about the trim room and hastily re-
counting the story of his capture, i'm
prisonnient and escape, and concluded
by giving an outline Of the plot against
the Latimers as set forth In the con
versation between the two men in the
cave.
"Great heavensl but it's lucky you
overheard that talk" calculated Lud
low, pausing in his aimless searcf
among the contents Of the travelling
bags.
"It'ssomething more than luck, Tom,
replied Ringbrand, sluicing his fac'
In the basin; ats Providence, or els'
/ shouldn't be here to tell about it."
"Have you thought of any plan t
checkmate the scoundrels"
: IT have, and it needs your help. Al
soon as I've had something to eat wei
J drive up to The Laurels,' and then yol
can take the first opportunity tina
offers to get the colonel by himsel
while you tell him about it. He cal
tell Henry quietly, and there'll be NJ
, need Of alarming Miss Hester. Afte
, she has gone to bed we'll hold council
of war, put out the lights, and dispos
/ our forces SO as to give the Bynum
: warm welcome when they come
: they'll not make the attempt much be
| fore midnight, and we will have plent,
J Of time to get ready for them"