The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-04-01
NO. 80

VallSeS upon tne PED, WnlStllnS softly
to himself as he did so. 'The schemes
rs clear as diluted daylight, and it's
worthy of a graduate of Scotland
Yard" he said. "There's only one
point that's little misty; you've given
yourself u part that'll ask for a heap
of downright cold-blooded nerve, Hugh.
What have you done with your respect
ed traditions of inherent cowardice,
and the lile?"
left them in the hole up on the
mountain, | hope" replied Ringbrand,
struggling into the clothing handed
him by LC;,Iow. anyway, that's just
what l want to find out. On two oc-
casions within the last three days I
have managed to scare up courage
enough to stand up to danger like
man, but the conditions were such as
would have made a rabbit turn and
fight. What | want to know now is if
the inspiration were merely an ex-
aggeration of the instinct of self-de-
fense, or if l really did gain victory"
"Well, you're certainly in a fair way
to settle the question if you carry out
your programme. Has it occurred to
you that your calm demand will prob
ably be answered with couple of rifle
balls?'
"I've thought of that, but 1 mean
to take the chances-if don't weaken
and make a failure of the whole af-
fair"
Ringbrand completed his hasty toi-
let, and they went down to the din
ingroom, where Mrs. Ludlow was wait
ing to serve the returned wanderer.
He took his accustomed place and made
a ravenous onslaught upon the hastily
prepared supper that astonished and
gratitied the sympathizing hostess.
GLOW dreadfully hungry you were!"
she said, calling Aunt Nina to rcplen-
ish the empty bread-plate. Haven't
you had anything to eat all these days?"
"Not very much. I'll tell you all
about it the first chance 1 GET
"Are you going away tonight" she
asked, when Ludlow went out to hitch
up the horse.
"Yes; we are going up to The Lau-
rels,' and it may be late before we get
back"
I'm SO glad! If you're going there,
I'll be good and not ask single ques-
tion-until tomorrow"
"Why are you glad?"
Because Hester is worried, and I
want her to know you are alive and
WELL"
They heard Ludlow drive out to the
gate, and Ringbrand pushed back his
chair. "Have you anything else to tell
me?" he asked.
She shook her head with precise en-
ergy. "Not single, solitary word
except that you're to give my love to
Hester"
"I'll certainly do that" he promised.
'Good night" And he ran down the
walk and sprang into the phaeton be-
side Ludlow, who drove off rapidly up
the mountain road.
The colonel and his son were sitting
on the veranda when the phaeton
turned into the avenue, and Hester,
grieving silently in the darkness of her
ing the hearty welcome of her father.
She ran to the stairway, stopped a mo-
ment to regain her self-control, and
then went down to meet him. They
had all gone into the parlor, and when
she followed them Hester felt for q
swift instant that the whole world
might read her secret III her face.
Ringbrand rose to meet her, and took
her extended hand in both of his. 81
told you good-by for some purpose aft
er all, didn't 1, Miss Hester?" he said,
smiling.
81 should think you did," she an
swered, reproachfully. "Where in the
world have you been? And what makes
you look so thin and pale?"
81 tumbled into hole on the noun
tain," he explained, and, leading her to
chair, he seated himself beside her
and recounted his adventures, careful
IY suppressing all mention of the
Bynums, and leaving her to suppose
that he had simply met with an acci-
dent.
81 should think you would have been
starved almost to DEATH" she said, pity
iugly. 'How was it that some of the
men didn't find you?"
Ringbrand had heard nothing of the
search party, and she told him of the
efforts that had been made to find out
what had become of him. When she
tod how the men had secured the
plateau, shouting, he remembered the
cry that had reached him just as he had
placed the first round of the ladder, and
he held her attention with graphic de-
scription of the sudden hope and it's
while Ludlow took the
colonel aside and told him of the in
tended attack. Ringbrand saw the look
of grim determination come into the
eyes of the elder Latimer, and a mo-
ment later Ludlow came over and began
to talk TO Hester, while the colonel and
his son left the room. When they came
back the conversation became general,
and Ringbrand was glad of this, for he
felt that the one thing impossible under
the circumstances was a tete-a-tete
with Hester.
After little, the colonel suggested
to his daughter that she retire, adding
that they had little matter of business
to talk about that would keep them
up awhile longer She went willingly
enough, being in q beatific frame of
mind which would have made her
obedient to much more unreasonable
request, and when they heard the door
of her room close behind her they drew
their chairs together, and Ringbrand
II e 1.