Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-21
My uncle gave a sigh of relic

My uncle gave a sigh of relief.
where is he?" he asked.
Hes gone to his room early, sir, seem
that he had some very particular business to-
morrow mornin',' said the landlord, grin
ming.
Where is Belcher?'
Here he is, sir, in the bar %parlor."
He opened the door as he spoke, and look
ing in we saw a score of well-dressed men,
some of whose faces had become familiar to
| me during my short West End career, seated
round a table, upon which stood a steam
ing soup tuTeen filled with punch. At the
further end, very much at his ease among the
i, artistocrats and eXquisites who surrounded
him. sat the champion of England, his
superb figure thrown back in his chair, a
flush upon his handsome face, and a loose
red handkerchief knotted carelessly round
his throat in the picturesque fashion which
was long known by his name. Half a
century has passed since then, and | have
seen my share of fine men. Perhaps it is
because | am a slight creature myself, but
it is my popularity, | had rather look upon
a splendid man than upon any work OF
nature. Yet during all that time l have
never seen a finer man than jim Belcher,
and If | wish to match him in my memory
| can only turn to that other Jim whose fate
and fortunes ! am trying to lay before you.
There was a shout of jovial greeting when
my uncle's face was seen in the doorway.
Come in, Tregellis. We were expecting
you. There's a devilled blade bone ordered.
What's the latest news from London? What
is the meaning of the long odds against your
man? Have the folk gone mad? What the
devil is it all about?' They were all talk
ing at once.
answered. Il shall be happy to give you
any information in my power a little later,
| have a matter of some slight Importance
to decide. Belcher, l would have a word
with you
The champion came out with us into the
passage.
Where is your man, Belcher?"
He has gone to his room, sir. 7 believe
that he should have a clear twelve-hour
sleep before lighting
What sort of a day has he had?"
Il did him lightly in the matter of
exercise. Clubs, dumbbells, walking, and a
half hour with the muffers. He'll do us all
proud, sir, or I'm a Dutchman. But what in
the worlds amiss with the betting? II |
didn't know that he was as straight as a
line, I'd "a thought he was planning a cross
and laying against himself"
IT'S about that I've hurried down. l
have good information, Belcher, that there
has been a plot to cripple him, and that the
rogue are so sure OF success that they are
prepared to lay anything against his appear
ance.'
Belcher whistlcd between his teeth.
I've seen no sign of anything of the kind,
sir. No one has been near him or had
speech with him except only your nephew
there and myself"
-Four villains, with Berks at their head,
got the start of us by several hours. 1t was
War; who told me-
What Bill War; says is straight, and
what Joe Berks does is crooked, Who were
the others, sir?"
Red Ike, Fighting Yussef. and Chris Nc
Carthy."
"A pretty gang, too! Well. sir, the lad is
safe, but it would be as well, perhaps, fol
one or other OF us to stay in his room with
him. For my own part, as long as he's
my charge I'm never very far away"
at is a pity to wake him"
"He can hardly be asleep with all this
racket in the house. This way, sir, and
down the passage
We passed along the low-roofed, devious
corridors of the old-fash.Uned inn to the back
of the house.
This is my room. sir" said Belcher. nod
ding to a door upon the right, This one
upon the left is his He threw it open as
he spoke. Here's SSir Charles Tregellis
come to see you, jim, " said he, and then,
Good Lord, what is the meaning of this"
The little chamber lay before usS brightly
illuminated by a brass lamp which stood
upon the table. The bed clothes had not
been turned down, but there was an in:
dentation upon the Counterpart which
showed that some one had lain there. One
half OF the lattice window was swinging on
its hinge, and a cloth cap, lying upon the
table, was the only sign OF the occupant
My uncle looked round him and shook his
head.
1T seems that we are too late" said he.
That's his cap, sir. Where in the world
can he have gone to with his head bare? |
he was safe in his bed an hour ago.
Jim! JIM" he shouted.
He has certainly gone through the win
cried my uncle. II believe these viii
lains have enticed him out by some devilish
device uf their own. Hold the lamp,
Ha. | thought so! Here are his
footmarks upon the flower bed outsider
The landlord and one or two OF the Corin-
thians from the bar psrlor had followed us
to the back OF the house. Some one had
opened the side door. and We. found our
selves in the kitchen garden, where. cluster
ing upon the gravel path. we were able TO
hold the lamp over the soft, newly-turned
earth which lay between us and the window.
That's his footmsrk!" cried Belcher.
He wore his running boots this evening.