Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-11-12
CHAPTER XXI.
rae rate Of John Grialey.


Ernest H~artrey, though he had little
doubt in his own mihd that John Grid
ley intended 10 drown him, had pur-
pcseiy pushed him OF tile quay into
the water with the Intention Of thus
Kidding himself Of a rival at the same
time that he obtained possession Of the
thousand pounds. bad only mentioned
his suspicion in his letter To May. keep
ing q dead silence on the subject of iis
business which had taken him 10 tiaf
0it-of-th way part OF Portsmouth
where he was seIzei by the pressgang.
In his letter 10 his father he had con-
Eacd himself TO The simple statement
that he bad been carried on board the
Osprey, was quite safe and world re-
turn to England with as little delay as
possible
TO Miss Henwo0d he had written
priucipaIly about the jewels. giving
the aecount Of the way in which he
Rad obtained q sum OF money upon
Them from the old jew.
10 May alone he had confided the
~uspicion which was almost a certain
~. that John Gridiey had contemplated
the p~erpetTation OF the worst OF ali
crimes.
But there was no proof. John Grid
ley. when accused, .ienled everything;
and. at all vents without the all-lin-
porfant witness. Ernest Harley him
self. Ii was impossible TO take any
steps for his punishment.
But Ernest Hartrey had resolved
that. as soon as be had found May.
and assured himself OF her unchanged
affection, he would not rest until he
had tracked down the man who bad
attempted TO deprive him of life, and
banded him over TO the authorities 10
be Dealt with by the law.
Little Lad he thought that he would
find on his return that his bitterest en-
envy. and she that ne loved more than
the whole world beside, were man and
wife.
The news when he heard it, had
filed him with double anger. Not
against May. He had doubted
her: but against the a whom; with
out knowing any particulars, he felt
sure had tricked and e~ntrapped poor
little May into a marriage which he
was positive must have been hateful
10 her.
Chance had thrown him, as. we have
seen. almost Immediately after his ar
rival, into the company OF John Grid
ley.
Under the circumstances. ne had de-
termined to allow no feelings Of anger
10 influence him TO take revenge into
his own hands.
In spite OF his resolution. however.
the act OF John Gridley, which he had
worcestershire cowardly firing of a
pistol Mt q loving. suppliant, kneeling
woman. whom he bad deceived and
betrayed-roused all his manly indlg-
nation.
Ii would have been the same whoey-
er had committed SO dastardly an act;
and what Englishman is there. worthy
OF the name who, II he had been pres
ent ut that dreadful scene described ia
the last chapter, would not have joined
with Ernest Hartrey In the pursuit.
lie had no time to form any plans
as to what was to be done when he
overlook him; sufficient it was for him
ms he galloped f~uriously after the fu-
gitive, that lie had to prevent his es-
cape.
Sir Harold Hartrey's anger was even
greater than his sons; for the revul-
sion OF feeling made 1t stronger.
In the guise of a friend he had intro
duced d c~rime-stained villain to the
house OF his sister-in-law; nay. had
even quarrelled with her because she
refused to give way to his opinion. and
do that which her conscience told her,
though 1t was legally right. was NOR
ally wrong
Some little delay took place necessa-
rily before horses fer Sir Harold and
the servants could be obtained; and
John Gridley, with Ernest close at his
heels, was almost out OF sight when
the baronet cantered UP to the summit
of The hill over the brow Of which they
and disappeared.
Yet far In the distance he saw them
riding straight across country. taking
leaps over intervening obstacles which
the hardest fox-hunter would have
ehunned, and the sIght gave him re-