The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-08-28
CHAPTER Continued

'hAI
Lord KiIdonan left the house with the
late doctors papers clasped tightly IN his
hand. He put off examining them until
he should have reached the solitude of ms
own room. He parted from Armathwalte
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. lie
watched his host narrowly, and II seemed
10 him scarcely credible that Lady Xii
DOMAIN, excited and preoccupied as she
was, cSuld fail to notice the great change
in her husband, which, instead of wearing
off seemed to have intensified since the
morning. The rest of his guests noticed
It. and their surprise at meeting a 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. The last
10 enter was Ned Crosmont, his face loon
ing more drawn and harassed than ever;
his eyes We're sunken and his sallow skin
looked sickly and pallid.
At that moment dinner was announced.
To ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS had talked me
meal was like banquet of Royalists dur
ing the Reign of Terror. For, before the
second course was over, Lord Kildonan
had uttered words which, bearing 4 deep
significance to Arnathwaite only, told
him that Lady kiIdonan's doom was fixed
as surely as if, following out his fancy,
she had been summoned to the gulllotlne.
This was all the old Scotchman had said.
in oil, ind
bore no trace of suspicion:
Il want you to go up to Liverpool again
tomorrow. Crosmont, to see about some
business that | forgot when you went up
the other day. You wont mind going,
will YOU" he added, with his usual cour
teSy.
Il am quite at your service. your lord
ship" answered the agent, while Lady
Kiidonan, from the other end of the table,
watched and listened with kindling eyes.
When the gentlemen followed the la
dies into the drawing room, Lord Kildo-
man, 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 DR.. Pee!e's papers had diyulged. Ar
speaking to him apart, and was glad
when, Il few minutes after their return
to the drawing room, his host came
straight to the corner where he was stand
ing by himself. watching Crosmont and
Lady Kildonan as they conver>ed under
cover of a ''brillant' which young lady
was performing on the piano nder the
clever affectation of tritiing conversation,
which Lady Kldonan knew well 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 doctors eyes as he came up.
Have You anything important To do
tomorrow evening" he asked, laying his
hand with more of command than afec-
ton ON the young mans shoulder.
Nothing whatever. Lord kldonan."
Then will you come up here some time
between six ana half-past? You need
not say anything about it, | think, to any
body. Bring your ulster"
If YOU want me. your lordship. of
course | am at your SERVICE he said,
simply.
And his host, instead of letting him off.
repeated: Between SIX o'clock and half
past. then and left him.
Soon after Armathwaite took his leave.
CHAPTER NNIN.
ON the following afternoon, nj quar-
tor past six, Frank Armathwaitc came
back 10 The CraGS. and was shown
straight into the study where Lord Xii
DOMAIN. with a long. dark travelling cloak
on the table beSid. him, was waiting. He
greeted the young man with Il warm grip
Of the hand and a rather grim smile.
"Ah, so You have not decided TO desert
me. after all. he said i'll a subdued voice,
with a sort of cherries satisfaction. Are
You prepared to take journey with me-"
Il am prepared to do whatever You
please. Lord Kildonan."
At that moment Il servant appeared and
informed his master that the pha eton was
at the door. He rose. and signed to Ar
mathwaite to pass out before him.
They went along the gallery. crossed the
hall. and got into the phaetcn in perfect
silence Il came into Armathwaite's mind
IS they drove along rapidly in the dark
ness that this moGrnful and mysterious
Journey was ike a pilgrimage to fetch
home the dead They skirted the head Of
the lake and went fast along the other
side
II was a cold night hut very clear
Franks eyesight was good enough for
him 10 make cut that a vehicle some dis
lance ahead % them. and going in the
same direction. was troSmont Norfolk
cart. Ii stopped. with 4 very sudden
pull MP. to allow figure that seemed to
spring suddenly from the waySide To- get
in. Frank told Lord kildouan in a low
voice what he saw. and obeyed his dire,.-
ton To drive more slowly. The pause
made by the vehicle in front was the short
est possible; still, acting under Lord Xii
domains instructions. Frank allowed the
distance between them to increase until
The Norfolk cart was undiStinguiShable in
the gloom. On the outskirts Of Drank
some. just where the first few struggling
houses began. there was bend in the
road. round which the cart disappeared al
together. When the phaeton had passed
the bend in it> turn. il was much closer To-
the cart. which had apparently stopped to
allow the temporary passenger 10 dr>ccud.
for the driver was again alone. Slackru-
ing pace. Frank drove on. following the
cart. which stopped At a LITTLE. inn Here
The driver got out and went indoors. while
another man took his place, and turned
the cart round To drive back to Nercsidc:
Is the phaetou drove past. Frank saw
that il was Cro>mout'> groom
Always acting in accordance with Lord
kildonau's suggestions. the young doctor
whipped up the horses. drove past the sta
ton and stopped. The two gentlemen
then aIichrcd: and after having given Ill
rectionS To the groom. 4 fellow Northern
or. in whose discretion his master had con
fdeuce. II drive straight back ~ The
tracs without any Stoppase. Lord k5l-