Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-07-09

don't want you to run into unnecessary
danger"
I'll not do that. But if 1 can punish
that scoundrel I will You would like
to do it yourself, faIher?"
Yes, I should; but my place is here
by your mothers bedside"
Something in his tone touched the
young man. They were standing in
the darkened hall and under cover of
that darkness their hands met: and
there, un-English as it might be. the
father turned aud kissed his son. Then
LancelOt went out, took a hanson and
drove to the railway station. 1t was
I o'clock and the next train would take
him to the station nearest Hurst in
ffty-fve minutes. He would reach
Hurst probably about $50 or S:45. see
Lady Esler and if nothing seemed like
Iy to happen he would be able to catch
the 10 o'clock train back to town. But
he was inclined to hope, seeing that
his mother was so much better. that
there might be reason for his remain
ing to meet and confront the expected
thief.
But his schemes were brought to
raught by one of those accidents which
it is impossible to foresee. The train
was delayed by some temporary block
on the line, and, much to Lance's chag-
rim, he did not reach the station
whittier he was bound until after 10
n'c100lT NnJ-nr.fh class ho
he might as we'll push on ITO Hurst:
there was no reason to suppose that
the Eslers would be in bed before II
o'clock. But the Eslers were early
people. When Lance stood in front of
the great old house there was no glim-
mer of light to be seen in the whole
building and he was forced to the
conclusion that the occupants had gone
to bed and that it was doubtful whether
he would do any good by disturbing
them. Yet he did not like to go away
without doing anything And there. .
somebody was up and awake. A light
flashed through an uncurtained win
dow; shadow lowered on the blind
there was the sound of an opening
door. Lance waited; he withdrew into
the shadow, startled into watchfulness.
The door that had opened was the
one which Madeline had once watched
from her window, but on this occasion
no woman's figure appeared. The door
was simply thrust open from within
and left open. can accompIice within
he house." thought Lancelot. begin
ming to suspect that the thing was
near. But he did not in the least i'm
agine whom that accomplice might
urn out to be.
Presently he saw some one steal out
IF the shrubbery and enter by the door.
LancelOt watched and waited with i'm
patient anxiety He was DESTROYS of
aking the thief redhanded and in
order to effect that he must wait until
lis return. He waited so long that he
began to ask himself whether he had
lot erred in judgment; whether he
ought not to have aroused the house at
)nce and cleared UP the mystery, But
lis doubts were presently set at rest
~ the temperance at the door of the
nan who had previously entered. He
started silently down the path, then
urned and beckoned to some lone else
within the door, as if to give notice
hat the coast was clear. AS he turned,
4ancelot saw his face. 1t was. as he
lad expected, that of Rene de s1arsac.
No thought of his own foolhardiness
rossed Lancelot's mind For all he
NEW DE Marsac might have half a
IoZen allies behind him, but LanceIot
lid not care. Besides, he was close to
he house and help, if he wanted it.
Ould very quickly be procured.
(To Be Continued)