The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-01-14


But the unexpected. that element in
human affairs which we invariably
ignore, ruled otherwise. I had hardly
crossed the threshold of the inner room
when heard a heavy football in the pas
sage. At the same moment the voice OF
Jap Byers, calling me by name, echoed
gruffly through the darkness, while .
CLEAN of light pierced the gloom. AS
the door was flung open, revealing the
thick-set figure of the coachman, Ian
tern in hand, a crash of glass to my
right set my nerves tingling. Deme-
trius had leaped through the window,
glissaded down the roof of the veranda,
and was already lost to sight. Jap and
1 confronted each other, our mouths
agape, our eyes starting from our heads.
eff this amt a picnic" said Jap, whist
is it?'
Attempted murder, Jap. You ar
rived in the nick of time"
81 heard that ther hound a-bayin',
Mr.. Livingston, an 1 suspicioned that
somethin'-a coon,l maybe-was stir
rim. Well, sir, old Sultan wasn't givin'
tongue fer nothin'; fer the next thing j
knowed there was that Greek sarpint
| a-crawlin' around the house. Thinks /,
| I'll watch you, mister, an maybe take'a
hand myself in this yere game. [ piped
him off as he unlocked the back door,
! and then l saw, not five minutes ago,
the light in Mr.. Burlington's room go
out. Gosh! I done some tall thinkin'
right then. I ddssn't cry out cause
that'd ha' given the hull snap dead
away. So fetched the lantern, sashayed
| across the yard, and tried the door. 1t
was unlocked, and then-why, then I
! jest follered my big nose till it led me
here"
"How much time do you say elapsed
between the putting out of the light and
( your appearance in this room?"
Three minutes, maybe. Not more"
Good heavens! And it had seemed to
me three hours!
MOtiOning to Jap to remain where ne
was, hurriedly entered the front room
and glanced at Burlington. He was
sleeping calmly.
JAP" said I, softly, something must
be DONE"
That's right" said he ''Let's do it.
"You stay with Mr.. Burlington. /
must see your master at once"
Gerard occupied Nancy's room, who
was sleeping with her mother. In less
than five minutes I had recited the
facts. He listened attentively, his gilt
tering eyes bent sternly upon mine:
that he fully assimilated my amazing
narrative I could not doubt.
"Demetrius, l said, in conclusion.
murdered Ferdinand Perkins, partly
from jealous rage, partly TO pave the
way for his own advancement. Every
thing else follows in natural sequence.
| He alone knew that Perkins, not you,
would be left that fatal night; he was
in possession of your cipher; he took
advantage of your love for Mrs. Bur
lington to render you a service which he
thought half your fortune would
scarcely repay; he, with devilish clever
ness, played upon the feelings of nerv-
Gus woman and bounded her to your
arms; he made capital out of your shat
tered nerves; he"
Enough" said Gerard, hoarsely; 81
am satisfied. My God! how cruelty
that fiend has used me! And" his voice
failed-"and my little Mark is in his
bloody hands! Come! not second is
to be lost"
He flung his clothes upon his lanky
person, and sputtered out his fears.
Demetrius, he felt assured, would hast
en- to the island. hold Mark as hostage,
and make what terms he pleased. saw
the force of this reasoning. AS he said,
not a moment was to be wasted.
''Mr Gerard" said I, you must stay
here. Let me act for you. shall take
Jap with me, and you can rely upon my
mOther-wit to rescue Mark and bring
Demetrius to the gallows You are
not"
Hugo" he rejoined, impressively
you think I am a coward, not fit for
such a desperate adventure as this will
prove. My lad, fate plays queer tricks
with us. That night at Red Gulch
paralyzed my nerves. This nights work
has undone the mischief I'm ready
by Jupiter, to encounter that monster
single-handed. And, Hugo, mistrust
that hot head of yours. My child's life
is at stake. Demetrius is desperate
If it comes to choosing between Marks
life and the capture of the Greek, how
could hesitate? You might precipitate
more bloodshed. God knows there has
been enough. Come"
A few minutes later we were on ouI
way, Gerard walking with feverish
strides ahead. The nurse was left with
Burlington.
"Je-roosalem!" whispered Jap to me
''ye'n let me have one crack at the son Oh
a gun, Mr.. Livingston, won't We, now -
81 want more than one myself, Jap
But I'll try and remember you"
ITO BE CONTINUED