Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-21

Copyright. 1897. by Stanley ]. weypan.)
Written for The Evening Star.
Continued From Last Saturday.
That Smith discerned the chagrin which
This enforced companionship caused
though not the ground of twas plain
as That the fact gave him pleasure of no
common kind. / lad no longer such a
command of my features that / could trust
myself to look at him: but 1 was conscious.
using some other sense, that he frequently
looked at me and always after these in
spections smiled like a man who finds
something to his taste. And 1 hated him.
How long, with these feelings j could
have borne to go with him. or what I
should have done in the last resort had
he continued the same tactics, remains I'M
proved. for at the same corner half way
down Long lane. where / had first espied
him, he paused. II want 20 go in here
he said coolly. Il need only de,ain you a
moment, Mr.. Taylor
Il will wait for you" muttered tingling
all over with a sudden hope. While he was
inside | could run for it,
Very WELL he said This way.'
I fancied that he suspected nothing. and
mat perhaps L mad been wron, throughout;
and, overjoyed, / went with him to the
door of the house from which / had seen
MIN emerge. my intention being to be gone
hot-foot the. instant his back was turned
The house was three-storied high narrow
ana commonplace, one Ola row not long
built and but partially inhabited APP
parently he was at home there. for. taking
a key from his pocket he opened the door
and stood aside for me to enter.
Il Will wait. l muttered.
Very we'll You can wait inside he an
swered-
If 1 had been wise l should have turned
there and then. in the open street and,
taking to my heels, have run for my life
and stayed for nothing. But partly fool
and partly craven, clinging to a hope which
was scarcely a belief. that when he went
upstairs or into another room i might
steaithiiy unlatch the door and begone.
let myself be persuaded. and ] entered. The
moment had done SO he whipped out the
Key, and, thruSting the door to with his
shoulder. locked it on the inside
Then the man threw off all disguise. He
turned with laugh of triumph to where
stood trembling in the half-dark passage.
Now he said, we will have that letter,
If you please. Mr.. Taylor. l have a fancy
to see what is in it,
THE letter. l fa1tered.
Yes, the letter.
II have no letter." j said
Tut-tut. letter or no letter, out with it,
Do you think / could see you touching your
breast every half minute. to make sure
that you had IT safe. and not know what
was in the wind, You are a poor pIotter
Mr.. Taylor. and doubt if you will ever be
of any use to me. But come out with IL,
Unless you want me to be rough with you.
Out with whatever it is you have there
and trickSr'
He had way with him when he spoke in
that tone. not loudly, but between his
teeth. his eyes at the same time growing
toward one another. that was worse than
Ferguson's pistol. and / was alone with
him in an empty house. Some who would
have done what i did may blame me- but
in the main the world is sensible and
n mr. 1lnf -
1 confess that. after one attempt at evasion
which he met by wrenching my coat omen
and thrusting me against the wall so vio-
lently that my head spun again, / gave up
the letter.
Il warn you, I warn you,'' cried in a
paroxysm of rage and grief. 1T is for the
Duke of Berwick. and if you open it
For the Duke of Berwick" he answered
pausins and gazing at me with his finger
on the seal Why. you fool why did YOU
not tell me that before? From whom?
From that scum. Ferguson"
From the Duke of Shrewsbury" cried
rendered reckless by my rage.
WHAT he cried in voice of extra
ordinary surprise.
From the Duke Of Shrewsbury" 1 re-
peated. thinking that he had not Under
stood me.
My God,'' he said, with a deep breath.
And have 1 caught the fox at lastr'
soIe 1ou are more likely to be caught your
seh' l answered furiously. Neverthe-
less his words were a puzzle to me- hut
MS tone of slow growing. almost 'ncredu-
!ous triumph told something. Taking very
little heed of me and merely signing to me
to follow him he sprang up the stairs and
opening door led the way into back
room. bare and miserable, but lighted by
the last yellow glow of the western sky
III was possible to read here. and without a
me ments hesitation he broke the seal of
the letter and tearing the packet open read
the contents.
That the Derusal gave him immense sat
foo !,
cast by the window seemed to CLEAN vii n
unhoIy joy was witness no less than his
movements. Flourishing the letter in I'M
comfortable excitement he twice strobe the
hoor. muttering uniformed sentences Then
ne looked at the paper again and his Jaw
fell But 1t is not his handr' he cried
staring at II IN very plain dismay. And
ter. he said. it is his name and the
ver1est foo! would have used another hand
Is 1t yours? Did you write it, blockheadY'
No" i said.
mol But now / think of it-,housand
devils. how came you by it? By this-ehY'
he raped out. This letter? What ID
hocus is mere? What have you to do with
the Duke of Shrewsbury, that he makes you
his messenger
He bent his brows on me. and I knew
that / had never been in greater danger
in my life Yet something of wit came
10 me in this extremity. Comprehending
that If L said came from Kensington 1
might expect the worst. / lied to him. yet
used the truth where it suited me. The
duke came to Ferguson s. l said
TO Fergusons?" he answered. staring
at me.
Yes, and babe him get that to the duke.
Tor his lodging was known, and warrants
would be out"
Smith clapped his hands together softly.
what he cried rs he in II as deep as
that? o. the cunning, o. the cunning of
him. And to be going to all this trouble.
and close on despair, at that And-Fer-
guson gave you the letter.
They both did
That old fox. 100, And / was beginning
10 think him a bygone, Yet he beats us
all, He beats US ALL Or he would have
beaten us if he had not trusted this silly,
But / am forgetting. The duke must be