Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-10-14
CHAPTER xxIII-(Continued.,

CHAPTER XXIIT-( Continually
Lord Ki,donan left the house with the
tate Doctors papers clasped tightly in his
hand. He put off examining them until
he should have reached the solitude of his
own room. He parted from Armathwaite
after receiving the young mans assurance
that he would be present at the Dinner
party to be given at The Crags that even
Ing.
At seven o'clock Frank Armathwaite
found himself at the great house. tie
watched his host narrowly. and it seemed
to him scarcely credible that Lady kil-
DOMAIN, excited and prcoccupied as she
was. could fail to notice the great change
IN her husband, which, instead of wearing
of. seemed to have intensified since the
morning. The rest of his guests noticed
1t, and their surprise at meeting cold,
stern man. instead Of the kindly, genial
friend to whom they were accustomed.
caused hush to fall upon the party, now
grown larger by fresh arrivals. Tie Last
to enter was Ned Crosmont, his face Iowa
ing more drawn and harassed than ever;
his eyes were sunken and his sallow skin
looked sickly and pal,id.
At that moment dinner was announced.
To Armathwaite-who had talked me-
chanically to the lady by his side, the
meal was like Z banquet of Royalists dur
ing the Reign Of Terror. For, before the
second course was over, Lord kildonan
had uttered words which, bearing deep
Gignifcance to Armathwaite only. told
him that Lady Kildonan's doom was fixed
~ surely a. if, following out his fancy,
she had been summoned to the gulllotine.
This was all the old Scotchman had said,
= q quiet, almost Indifferent tone, that
bore no trace of suspicion:
II want you to 60 up to Liverpool again
.o-morrow, Crosmont, to see about come
business that forgot when you went up
the other day. You won't mind going,
will youg" he added, with his usual cour-
Assy.
II am quite at your service, your lord
ship" answered the agent, while Lady
Kildonan, from the other end of the table,
watched and listened with kindling eyes.
When the gentlemen followed the Ia
dies Into the drawing room, Lord Kildo-
nan, breaking through his usual custom,
went too. Armathwaite believed that this
was in order to shorten the solitary hours
when he would have nothing to do but to
brood over his purpose, and over the Sc
cret DIR. Peele's papers had divulged. Ar
mathwaitc waited for an opportunity of
speaking to him apart, and gas glad
when, few minutes after their return
20 the drawing room, his host came
straight to the corner where he was stand
ing By himself, watching Crosmcnt and
Lady Kildonan as they conversed under
cover Of brilliant" which young lady
was performing OH the piano. Under tArc
clever aftectation of trifiing conversation,
which Lady Kildonan knew we'll how to
assume, Frank thought he could detect
that she was urging Crosmont to some
course against which the agent was pro-
testing. Lord kildonan followed the di-
rection Of the doctor's eyes as he came up.
"Have you anything important to do
Ho-morrow EVENING"" he asked, laying his
hand with more of command than affec-
don ON tho young mans shoulder.
4'Notlling whatever, Lord Kildonan."
Then win you come up here some time
between elk and half-past? You need
not cay anything about it, l think, to any
body. Bring your ulster"
If you want me, your lordship, OF
course ! am 1t your service" he said,
simply.
And his host, instead Of letting him Oft,
repeated: Between six o'clock and half.
past, then" and left him.
soon after Armathwaite took his leave.