The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-20

down to Lyncaster-on-sea to do SOME
reading The western wall of the hotel
gardens formed the eastern boundary OF
the park, and our room was at right an.
giles to the wall. Immediately beneath II
on the park side was a row Of garden
seats.
One night Hargreaves and were lux.
uriatng In a lounge after dinner. The
room was in darkness, and we were quiet
for once, enjoying smoke and half doz-
ing. Presently l was reused by the
sound of voices talking outside. The
window was open, and l drew aside the
curtain and looked out. Two men occu.
pied the seat just below me, on the park
side Of the wall-decent looking fellows
as far as could tell in the dusk. look
ed careessly at them for moment and
was about to return to my pipe when e
word or two caught my ear. l leaned
forward and listened eagerly.
"Then it's all settled. We sneak up
the drive, steal ladder, and you climb
in at the landing window. We shant be
disturbed. Old Seaton sleeps at the back
Of the house. So do the servants"
| "Go on"
"Her room is in the front-the first on
the left from the landing window.
spotted it the other night when l was
strolling up and down.
| "Oh, never mind that! Hurry upv'
well, you know what to do next.
Seize the little darling, gag her, lower
her down to me-she's mere feather
| weight-follow, and I'll manage the
rest"
"Sh-sh! Not 80 loud"
The speaker glanced apprehensively
over his shoulder at the hotel.
You're sure this place is empty?' he
went on. "Therell be pretty how dye
do if we've been overheard"
"Of course it's empty. How funky you
are!'
well, don't care about the business.
IT'S internally risky, and
"Oh, come, you can't back out of it
now! You understand! Meet me at
11:3O O'Clock at the crossroads half
mile from Seaton Hall. Then tramp,
few minutes wild excitement, then
Dora and bliss"
Catch your hare before you cook it,
Tom. It's far cry from tonight's affair
to bliss and Dora"
"Oh, shut up! I'm off"
$50 am l."
The two men moved away, and IL
sank back in my chair and gasped.
What could it mean? Did these cold
blooded rutiians really contemplate break
ing into mans house and stealing his
daughter under his very nose? 1t was
Incredible, impossible; it was
l reused Hargreaves with vigorous
shake. wake up" shouted, wake
up! Thieves! Burglars! kidnapers! Miss
Seaton of Seaton Hall"
what the deuce are you talking
about! cried Hargreaves, starting up.
"Are you mad!'
pulled myself together with an effort
and rapidly ran over what had heard.
Hargreaves listened and scoffed. 1t
was the greatest rubbish he had ever
heard. Garry off girl in that desprr-
ado fashion in these days. Absurd. Go
to sleep again, my dear fellow, and dream
some sense."
This was irritating. If there had been
time, l should have been annoyed with
Hargreaves, but there was not. l as
sumed lofty Indifference.
believe it or not, as you like" said,
cts true enough. / shall be at Seaton
Hall at midnight to stop this desperate
deed, and il lose my life in the interest
of my fellow creatures my blood be on
your head"
greaves. Seeing which, | followed it up |
with hint Of ignoring the Lancaster
police and capturing the burglars off our
own bat.
Hargreaves was Fetched"
A couple of hours later two villains
armed with blackthorn cudgcls strobe
along the road from Lancaster to Seaton
and Hargreaves on the war
path.
We were horribly neryous-at least
was. A four mile walk in mud and
thick mist had cooled my enthusiasm,
and nervous tremors trickled down my
spine as | thought of attacking those
ruffans alone and unaidcd.
Visions foated before me in frightful
procession. l saw myself and Har-
yreavcs a pair Of mangled corpses well
tering in our gore. Horril lie! Wiping the
cold perspiration from my forehead,
stole glance at Hargreaves
He was stalking along in silent gloom,
his hands thrust into his pockets, his cap
uggcd down over his eyes.
"Hargreaves," began. He started as
hough he had been shot. This was en-
'ouraging.
"H-IIargreaves," said, trying to get
he nervous culver out OF my voice
DIDO you think they
al, A.
gang Of them"
Rubbish" from Hargrcaves savagely.
Bosh How goes the cnemy?"
Half past 49," suffered and resign
d myself to fate.
We reached the crossroads by II
clock, after which ten minutes sharp
-alkng brought us to Seaton Hall.
The house was approached by drive
bout quarter of mile in length. This
'e followed, sneaking along, and finally
ITO the thick shrubbery just where the
rive swept round in front of the hall.
There we crouched side by side and
'aited. 1t was beastly-branches Of
'ees stuck into us, pricky shrubs LAGER.
ted our faces. We could distinguish
othing but the dim outline of the house,
Or tne hist, when mad been gradually
Increasing, suddenly descended like
nick pail, s:lrouding everything.
Weseemcd to have been there for hours,
uring which my only comfort lay in
utching the blackthorn cudgcl and
ocket pistol, to which Hargreaves car.
ed the pan, when suddenly uargreaves
ripped my arm.
l listened. Footsteps were coming
ealthly toward us. Nearer and nearer
ley drew-nrarer and nearer. crouch
down behind the shrubs and peered
ut.
All, ha. There they wcre-the futfans.
hank goodness, only two of them! They
lcaked along on the narrow strip of
rass bordering the gravel drive, passed
nd disappeared into the darkness.
A few minutes elapsed. Then Ian
rms red bulls eye cleaned out close to
lie ground Two figures reared ladder
5ainst the house wall.
One Of the men mounted and disap-
cared. | could hear Hargrcaves breath n
ming in quick gasps. My teeth chat !.
red.
Now the fellow was at the window
rain. He clutched something in his