Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-08-13
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
cat last" muttered Lord Harbor-
ough, to himself, with little sigh of
relief. | began to think that the
whole thing must have been dream.
1t was nearly 3 o'clock in the after
noon and since early in the morning
he had been searching among the maze
of eastern London for that block of
houses and narrow little bit of street.
Its proximity to the river and its sobri-
quet "Hellside" had been all the clew
he had held, and for hours he had been
making inquiries and starting off on a
fresh scent, only to find himself dissa-
pointed Strange to say, the length
and tediousness of his search had not
in any way discouraged him. II any
thing, he was more bent upon his en-
terprise than when he started,
He crossed the road and walked
down the gloomy little street. BY day
its appearance was even less prepos-
sessing than by night The houses
were incrusted with filth and there
was scarcely a window that was not
liddled with stones. He hurried along,
picking his way among the black pud-
dies and refuse of all sorts until he
came to an ash heap. Exactly oppo-
site was the window at which the girl
had appeared. He stopped short and
looked around.
The bottom of the place was evident
~ public house. Upstairs there was
not sign of habitation. The windows
were all blank and uncurtained. Yet
he had made no mistakehe was sure
of that. 1t was at the fourth window
tina the girl had appeared
He crossed the road and pushed open
swing door. There were two deep
steps down and he found himself in a
sort of drinking cellar. Two men were
sitting on stools drinking, and another
with dark countenance, leaning over
the counter All three gazed at Lord
Marlborough. who had forgotten in the
hurry of starting to make any change
in his ordinary style of dress, in blank
amazement.
Lord Marlborough crossed the sanded
floor and addressed the man at the bar.
DO you let lodgings?' he in
quired
The mans jaws came to with snap.
No" he answered, shortly Il
dontr What if l did,"
May ask then whom you have liv-
ing upon the fourth floor? | saw a wo-
mans face there the night before last.
| want to speak to her | shall not
trouble you for nothing"
Lord Marlborough put his hand in his
! pocket, but instead Of drawing out the
money he had intended, his hand
closed upon the butt end Of his revolt
yer. curious vivid color had stolen
into the brown. swarthy face Of the
an whom he had addressed, and he
had seen a sign pass to the two men
behind him. He stood a little on one
side so as not to be taken unawares,
and waited.
you must have been drunk" the
man growled There's no one but
rats upstairs here. The floors are rot
ten and the houses are coming down.
No one could get to the fourth floor.
The stair case has fallen through.
Il was not drunk and | am deter
mined to see the girl, Lord Harbor-
ough announced firmly. She seemed
to be in distress and tried to attract
my notice. II you tell me any more
lies about IL shall be obliged to have
the place searched"
stealthy sign passed from the man
behind the bar to the two who were
drinking Just in time Lord Harbor-
ough leaped back toward the door and
the shining barrel of his revolver
flashed out upon the gloom OF the
place. One Of the men whose hand
had been extended to pass round his
neck from behind leaped back with an
oath. The other got up and came for
ward growing
Not an inch further" Numbered
Lord Marlborough. Now, then! Are
you going to-
The rest Of the sentence was lost in
a general uproar. The landlord lean
ing all his weight upon brown. naked
arm, had leaped over the counter
Spring al him, you fools!' he
yelled. Don't let him gol'
Lord Marlborough raised his revolver
end fired harmlessly at the wall. IN
the momentarv confusion and hidden
by the smoke, he dashed his fist into
the face Of the man nearest to him,
knocking him backward and leaped
through the door into the street.
No one followed him He reached
the corner Of the street and ran almost
into the arms Of policeman.
Quick he cried You're wanted