People's voice., 1899-09-28


your programme. Has it occurred to
you that your calm demand will prob
ably be answered with couple of rife
balls?"
'I've thought of that, but l mean
to take the chances-if l 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
ing-room, where Mrs. Ludlow was wait
Ing to serve the returned wanderer.
He took his accustomed place and made
, ravenous onslaught upon the hastily
prepared supper that astonished and
Gratifed the sympathizing hostess.
'How dreadfully hungry you were!"
she said, calling Aunt Nina to replen-
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 I get"
"Are you going away to-night?" 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
want her to know you are alive and
we'll"
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 a single, solitary word
except that you're to give my love to
Hester"
"Tll 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
room, heard Ringbrand's voice answer
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 a
swift instant that the whole world
might read her secret in her face.
Ringbrand rose to meet her, and took
her extended hand in both Of his. II
told you good-by for some purpose aft
CT all, didn't l, Miss Hester?" he said,
smiling.
81 should think you did," she an
swered, reproachfully. "Where in the
world haveyou been? And what makes
you look SO thin and pale?"
Il tumbled into hole on the noun
tain" he explained, and, leading her to
a chair, he seated himself beside her
and recounted his adventures, careful
py 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
ingly. "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
told how the men had secured the
plateau, shouting, he remembered the
cry that had reached him just as he had
placedthe first round of the ladder, and
he held her attention with graphic de-
scription of the sudden hope and its
disappointment, 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 beatifc 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
gave a rapid outline of his plan for the
capture of the marauders.
Upon hearing it, Col. Latimer de-
INJURED at once because of the danger
attending Ringbrand's part il the IN
dertaking; but he aequiesced finally
when Ludlow added the weight of his
advice, and the young man glanced
gratefully at his friend for the timely
assistance. When the details were ar
ranged. and Ringbrand had appealed to
Henry not TO fire unless it became plain
ly necessary, the colonel spoke again:
I'm that conversation in the cave. Mr..
Ringbrand, did you slppen to heah any
thing that might th'ow any light on
fhis?"-handing a soiled and greasy
note to the Young man