Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-07-15

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wrong. sir" she said. because I've my
orders the same as the rest. but II
| was you Id turn over some o. them
| packages in the cart, and see where
| they're going to-"
Dick turned quickly round to the
wagon. which was already half loaded.
| He examined package after package,
but all were unlabeled. The men were
coming out again with fresh load.
but that, too. had no direction upon It.
| In fact, as all the luggage was bound,
no doubt. for one and the same des-
tination, it was unnecessary that 1t
should be addressed.
Still there was one person-the driver
Of the wagon-to whom the secret must
have been confided. and Dick deter
mined to get 1t from him by bribery
or force.
| He resolved to make an attempt at
once. risking all on persuasion and the
power Of gold. He overlook the wagon
and asked the driver to give him lift
for mile or two.
The man readily assented. and Dick
was no sooner up beside him than the
horses doubled their pace. He was lit
tie surprised at this, but he would have
been much more so II he could have
known that the wagner had been hold
ing in his team all this time with the
express object of taking him up, and
would in few minutes more have been
driven to make the offer himself. II Dick
had not come forward.
The colonel had foreseen that this
man. who could alone give any clew to
the direction Of the De Montauts'
flight, must sooner or later be run down
and questioned by Dick. and he there
fore used him as the surest agent for
decoying the latter along the way he
wished him to take.
The man followed his instructions
well. and Dick found 1t impossible to
get more out Of him than an admission
that he was going that day as far as
Guildford. 1t was. at any rate. some
thing to know this, and Dick resolved
to go to Guildford too.
| With this object he patiently endured
some time the joltings of the wagon.
but when the coach passed he was glad
to STOP 1t and secure more comfort
able seat and quicker journey for the
remainder Of the way. He intended to
lie In wait for the wagner on his ar
rival IN Guildford, and, If necessary, to
travel with him again on the following
day.
The coach stopped in front of the
White Lion in Guildford High street.
Dick dismounted and began to ques-
| ton the hostler to find out II the De
Montauts had passed through or were
staying in the town. He was unsuc-
cessful in his inquiries. and was about
to turn away disappointed. when he
heard some one asking for him by
name.
He looked round and saw man on
horseback. with a small vause in front
of him upon the saddle.
did hear you inquire for me?" he
asked.
Captain Estcourt, sir?" said the
man, touching his cap.
That's right" said Dick: what is
it?"
The man dismounted from his horse,
which was covered with foam and
dust. He lifted the valise down. and
took letter from the saddle bag.
That Is for you. sir" he said, and
handed it to Dick, who opened 1t In as
leisurely fashion as II he knew its
contents already, and betrayed not a
sign Of the tempest Of wonder and ex-
element that was raging within him.
| ~~eS'~
clerks hand, dated from the Admiralty.
and signed with hieroglyph which was
no doubt the autograph of some high
official. It ran as follows:
Dear Sir: The Volunteer has
brought intelligence that his majestys
ship Niobe, seventy-four, mas put into
the Cape Of Good Hope to refit. She
has lost her captain and first lieutenant
overheard in a gale, and is reported Sc
verely damaged and short Of all stores.
The brig Speedwell has been loaded
with the necessary material, and will
take out an officer to bring the Niobe
home. Captain Truscott, to whom this
commission was offered, Is at the last
moment unable to sail. II you are IN
a position to take his place you will be
good enough to start Immediately Tor
Mounts Bay, where the speedwell was
to put in on Thursday next. You will
be carried as free passenger to the
Cape. where you will take over COM
mand Of the Niobe; and for this pur-
pose the present letter shall be good
and sufficient authority to the officer IN
charge to hand her over to you.
I'm the event of your being unavoid-
ably prevented from accepting you will
be good enough to Readiness and for
ward this letter to Captain Anderson
at Portsmouth without delay"
Dick read without understanding any
thing beyond the general purport of
the letter, but he grasped clearly
enough that Camilla was lost to him
for many months at least
He reused himself to consider ways
and means at once, and his eye fell up
on the valise, which the messenger was
still holding in his hand. ssft
To his surprise he recognized it as his
own.
Where did you get this?" he asked.
"From your house, SIR" replied the
man. There's a uniform and few
things in 1t his lordship thought you
might want. as you wouldn't have time
to go back to town."
His lordship? Whom do you
mean?"
"It was Lord Glamorgan, sir. that
gave me the letter."
"Ah that explains it," exclaimed Dick.
But how did Lord Glamorgan or you
know where I had gomez"
His lordship sent me to you house,