The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-04-01
XII,
A YALoRoUs COWARD.

The leader of the unsuccessful party
of searchers was just finishing his sup
per, in the intervals of which delayed
meal he had been giving his wife de-
tailed narration of the events of the
Gay. "And now 1 suppose I've got to
go and put in the night at the Nc
Nabb," he added. "These raids have
got to be stopped, if"
Mrs. Ludlow held up a warning fin
ger. 81 thought that was our gate"
she said, and presently they both heard
the quick nervous tread of some one
coming up the graveled walk. Then
there was a step ON the veranda, and
before either of them could rise grimy
apparition appeared at the door of the
dining-room. Ludlow sprang to his
feet with an exclamation of glad sur
prise.
'By Jove, old fellow, but you did give
me turn!" he exclaimed, grasping the
apparition's hand and wringing it
heartily. 81 thought it was your
ghost-I did, for fact; and believe
the small madam thinks SO yet.-Helen,
dear, wake up and allow me to intro
duce Mr.. Ringbrand."
Mrs. Ludlow rose unsteadily and ran
up, laughing and crying in the same
breath. "You foolish mani" she said,
pushing her husband aside impetuous-
ly, ''can't you see that Hugh's nearly
dead ?-and you stand there making
your miserable jokes! Why don't you
run for the doctor, quick?"
In spite of the dreadful secret which
was weighing him down like a night
mare, Ringbrand dropped into the near
est chair and laughed till the tears cut
little channels through the Crime on
his cheeks. "You mustn't mind me-"
he said, as soon as he could speak; 81
haven't laughed for three whole days,
and it sounds so good and homelike
to hear you talk again. I don't want
a doctor, Tom, Ludlow was edging
toward the hatrack-"I need soap and
water and something to eat. Mrs.
Ludlow, I'm your guest, and I've lost
ten consecutive meals. Please have
Aunt Nina put the whole ten of them
on the table, and I'll devour them when
I've washed off little of this war
paint"
Mrs. Ludlow vanished in the direc-
tion of the kitchen, and Ringbrand
rose and grasped his friends arm.
tom, you come upstairs with me while
l clean up bit, and I'll tell you what
l can. There's work cut out for both
of us tonight, with not any too much
time to spare"
Ludlow followed him upstairs, ask
ing: "Shall turn on the water in the
bathroom for you?"
"No; there isn't time for that; but
you may open those valises and get
me a whole clean outfit-the black suit
with the cutaway will do.'
He got out of his soiled clothing hur-
riedly, throwing the different articles
all about the trim room and hastily re-
counting the story of his capture, i'm
prisonment and escape, and concluded
by giving an outline of the plot against
the Latimers as set forth in the con-
versation between the two men in the
cave.
Great heavens! but it's lucky you
overheard that talk" calculated Lud-
low, pausing in his aimless search
among the contents of the travelling
bags.
"It's something more than luck, Tom,"
replied Ringbrand, sluicing his face
in the basin; ''it's Providence, or else
/ shouldn't be here to tell about it,
''Have you thought of any plan to
checkmate the scoundrels?"
Il have, and it needs your help. AS
soon as I've had something to cat we'll
drive up to The Laurels,' and then you
can take the first opportunity that
offers to get the colonel by himself
while you tell him about it. He can
tell Henry quietly, and therell be no
need of alarming Miss Hester. After
she has gone to bed We'll hold a council
of war, put out the lights, and dispose
our forces so as to give the Bynums
warm welcome when they come;
they'll not make the attempt much be-
fore midnight, and we will have plenty
of time to get ready for them"
Hadn't we better take few of the
men with us-the Bynum boysn fight
like devils when they find themselves
cornered."
81 think it won't be necessary
can't you find that suit? You see,
there'll be four of us, and if you can
manage to capture the one who is to
hold the horses, 1 think the colonel
and Henry and myself will be good
for the other two. had thought of
suggesting something like this: They
will leave the horses in the grove at the
left of the avenue, and you can post
yourself where you can slip up and sur
prise your man. Then the others will
proceed to fire the ehouse-probably at
the front, retreating to the cover of
the clump of laurels to await develop
ments. For the sake of having a clear
case of arson against them, thought it
would be best to wait until they had act
ually started the fire, and while they are
doing this | can get behind the laurels
and the colonel and Henry can prepare
to cover the nen with their rifles as