Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-28

Sir Charles, where is your mani"
Il would ask you that question, Sir 10th
IAN" answered my uncle. where is my
man."
A look of establishment passed over Sir
Lothian's features, which, if it were not real,
was most admirably affected.
What do you mean by asking me such a
question:
Because | wish to know"
But how can l tell, and what business Is
it of mine?'
Il have reason to believe that you have
made it your business"
If you would kindly put the matter a lit
tie more clearly there would be some posi-
bility of my understanding you"
They were both very white and cold, for
E2al and unimpassioned in their bearing, but
exchanging chances which crossed like rapier
blades. | thought of Sir Lothian's murder
Gus repute as a duelist, and ! trembled for
my uncle.
Nov. sir, if you imagine that you have a
grievance against me you will oblige me
vastly by putting it into words"
Il will" said my uncle. There has been
a conspiracy to main or kidnap my man,
and | have every reason to believe that you
are priyy to it,
An ugly sheer came over Sir Lothian's
saturnine face.
II see,' said he, your man has not come
on quite as well as you had expected in his
training, and you are hard put to it to
invent an excuse. Sill | SEOuIQ nave
thought you might have found a more
probable one. and one which would entail
less serious consequences"
Sir" answered my uncle, you are a
liar. but how great a liar nobody knowa
save yourself"
with passion, and | saw for an instant in
his deep-set eyes such a glare as comes
from the frenzied hound, rearing and ramp
ing at the end of its chain. Then with an
effort he became the same cold, hard, self
contained man as ever.
1T does not become our position to quar-
rel like two yokels at a fair" said he; I'VE
shall go further into the matter afterward."
Il promise you that we shall, " answered
my uncle grimly.
Meanwhile, | hold you to the terms of
your wager, Unless you produce your
nominee within five and twenty minutes l
claim the match"
Eight and twenty minutes said my
uncle, looking at his watch. You may
claim it then, but not an instant before"
He was admirable at that moment, for his
manner was that of a man with all sorts of
hidden resources, so that | could hardly
make myself realize as ! looked at him
that our position was really as desperate
as | knew it to be. In the meantime
Berkeley Craven, who had been exchanging
a few words with Sir Lothian Hume, came
back to our side.
q have been asked to be sole referee in
this natter said he. docs that meet
with your wishes, Sir Charles?'
Il should be vastly obliged to you, Craven,
if you will undertake the duties"
And Jackson has been suggested as time
keeper"
81 could not wish a better one"
Very good. That is settled"
In the meantime the last of the car
riages had come up, and the horses had all
been picketed upon the moor. The strag-
glers who had dotted the grass had closed
In until the huge crowd was one unit with
a single mighty voice, which was already
beginning to below its impatience. Look
ing around there was hardly a moving OBJ
ject upon the whole vast expanse of green
and purple down. A belated gig was COM
ing at fun gallop down the road which led
from the south, aud a few pedestrians Were
still trailing up from Crawley, but nowhere
was there a sign of the missing man.
The betting keeps up for all that" said
Belcher. I've just been to the ringside
and II is still even"
There's a better place for you at the
outer ropes, Sir Charles said Craven.
There is no sign of my man yet. !
won't come In until he arrives"
1T is my duty to tell you that only ten
minutes are left"
II make 1t five" cried Sir Lothian Hume,
That Is a question which lies with the
referee said Craven. firmly. my watch
makes 1t ten minutes and ten 1t must be-"
Here's Crab Wilson!' cried Belcher, and
at the same moment a shout like q thunder
clap burst from the crowd. The west cOun-
tryman had emerged from his dressing tent,
followed by Dutch Sam and Tom owen, who
were acting as his seconds. He was nude to
the waist, with a pair of white calico drawers.
white silk stockings and running shoes,
Round his middle was a canary-yellow sash,
and dainty little ribbons of the same color