Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-28

eco, MAN. HE SAID, "YOU A
entered. followed by a woman, and with a
quick glance took in the room and It's oc-
cupants.
"Gocdr' said Cassel with an oath. IT
If they had been, curse me, but I would
have sent this old Judas to his place before
mer'
Smith looked with grim smile from the
speaker to Ferguson. and. raising his eye
brows, 'Judasr' said he, with ironical po-
likeness. as he laid his cloak and cane on a
table. rs it possible that you refer to my
friend. Mr. Ferguson"
strange your friend" Cassel answered
cCarsely. do you know that his man
there has blown on the thing and sold us?'
Smiths eye had already found me where
leaned against the wall, my hands tied
Il see,' he said, coolly. II knew before
that the game was up; and 1 have been
somewhere-and warned some one," he
added, with a glance at Charnock, who
nodded. But 1 did not know how they
had the Office"
He gave it! That is how they had itr'
Cassel retorted. And 1t Is my belief that
Ike man like master! And that that poor
piece there would no more have dared to
inform without his patrons leave than"
He left the end of his sentence to be I'M
derstood: but Charnock. taking up the tale
ard disregardfng Ferguson's mutterings.
described in few words what had hap
pened When he came to the girls inter-
vention in my behalf, the woman who had
entered with Smith. and who, though she
seemed to be known to the conSpirators--
for her appearance caused no remark-had
hitherto remained fidgeting in the back
ground, moved forward into the room; and
approaching the; girl who was sitting
me oddly at table by the fire, touched her
cheek with her fingers, and slipping her
hand under her chin. turned up her face.
To this the girl made no resistance, and
I'm, fvun NJ m la
anoeher's eyes for a long minute. Then the
elder, Tho was the same woman had seen
with Smith at the lady's house in the out
skirts let the girls face drop again, with
little fiirt Of her fingers.
Doris and Strephon, ! see? she said.
with a sneer.
Chapter xxx.
What the girl answered 1 did not catch,
fer. as she raised her head again to reply,
my ear caught the sound of rising danger.
Ferguson was speaking; his words. no
longer incoherent, mere frothing of oaths
and calling of hideous fates on his head If
he had ever betrayed. II he had ever sold.
If he had ever deceived, now ran in a
steady current Of wrathful denunciation.
And the men listened; he had their ears
again. he was no longer on his trial. After
ward / learned that while my attention
was astray with the woman, Smith, by
stating what / had stated to him-namely.
that the secretary had used Ferguson as
Berwick-had confirmed the plotter's story
and at a stroke had restored his position.
Wherein, full Of spite, and desperately GER
tain that, however exposed he lay on other
Sides I at any rate knew enough to hang
him, the wretched man had set himself
anew to compass my destruction. Deter
red neither by the check he had received,
nor by the gloomy looks of the conspiratcrs
urb glnQQiShlV An
peal, he drove home again and again. and
with wild words and wilder oaths the one
point on which he relied, the one point that
was so dear to him that he could not un-
derstand their hesitation
Waste of time?" he cried. I'VE would
be better employed looking to ourselves
and slipping away to Romney. would we?
But you are fools! You are babes. There
is evidence that can swear to you all!
There is the evidence. keen to do it! There
Is the evidence in your hands! And you
will let him escape?"
There is evidence without him." said
King sulkily. Where is Prendergast?"-
'Oh, he is honest
But where Is he? And where is, Por-
terY'
Where is Sir John Fenwick. for that
matter?'' replied the man who had an
swered for Prendergast. He is too high
and mighty to mix with US. and will only
eat the chestnut when we have got it out
of the fire! For that matter, where are
Friend and Parkyns. They are not here -
"Pshaw" Ferguson cried, in a rage at
the depression. why will you be thinking
of them? Cannot you see that they are
tainted, they in it? They cannot if
they will! And they are gentlemen besides,
and not dirty knaves like this felowr'
For the matter Of that said Cassel,
bluntly, Preston was lord. But he sold
Ashton"
That word brought kind of cold breath
of suspicion into the room, at the chill
touch of which each looked stealthily at
his neighbor. as If he said. rs it he? Or
he?" Ferguson seeing on this that he
made little progress, and that the men,
though they looked at me vengefulIy. were
not to be kindled. grew furious and more
furious: and began to storm and rave But
Charnock in moment cut him short
Mr.. Ferguson Is so far right" said he
that II We let this person go to perfect
| his evidence against us we shall be very
treason"
Then let Mr.. Ferguson deal with him. -
Cassel answered CURLY. He Is his man
and 1t is his business. I don't lay hand
on him, and that is nat"
Nor 1! Nor l!cried several with eager
ness God knows IL they thought in their
| hearts to curry favor with me.
| You are all madr' Ferguson cried. beat
ing the air.
| And you are a cowardr' Cassel retorted
I'D as soon trust him as you. II you are
taken you'll peach, Ferguson! G. d. you
i know you will You will peach. You are
| as white-livered a cur as ever lived!"
Then seeing them divided and the mos,
| bloody minded of them-for such Case
had been a short time before-taking uT
my cause. thought that for certain the
| bitterness of death was past, and tool
| courage, discerning for the first time soid
land beyond the deep and black suffocatine
| fears through which had passed. For the
| first time / allowed my thoughts to dwell
| on the future and myself to hope and plan
i But the warm current OF returning life
| had scarcely coursed through my veins
and set my heart beating before Charnock'i