The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-01-20
CHAPTER XVIII.
az RAIp on DIE WE'RE GARDENS.

Brett passed busy day. He had i'm
portant business to transact at the adj
miralty, and there were other matters
that claimed his immediate attention.
1t was evening before he was again at
De We're Gardens.
There he found note awaiting him
from Mr.. Fenton, hastily scrubbed and
folded:
Inclosed wire received this afternoon. Am
going at once to Minchenhampton. Please
sleep here. Will wire you.
Brett hastily unfolded the Enclosed
telegram and read:
In the hospital at Minchenhampton. Only
slight accident. Please come. MABEL.
The words danced before Brett's eyes.
He could only grasp one fact-that Ma .
bel was still alive.
.sThank God for that" he cried.
And then the thought came that per-
haps, after all, she was severely hurt.
True, she said it was only slight acct
dent, but might that not only have been
intended to break the news? And how
did she get there. and where was this
place?
He hastily consulted Bradshaw, found
that the nearest station was Brins-
combe, and that the last train left Pad
dington at 20 minutes past 6. There
was nothing for it but to wait till
morning for Mr. Fenton's wire. 1t
might tell him he was returning at
once with his precious charge. If not,
he would start himself at once.
At length Brett resigned himself to
the inevitable and strove as best he
could to get through the weary hours.
But do what he would he could not
sleep If he closed his eyes for a few
minutes and fell into fitful doze, it
was only to awake with a start with
the idea of something dreadful happen
ing to Mabel or that he was fighting
with Keighley Gates. At last, after one
of these dreams, he found himself hope
lessly wide awake SO, finding sleep was
impossible, he lay with open eyes star
ing into the darkness.
Suddenly he heard noise in the
house. He sat up in bed and listened
intently. There was click and the
opening of creaking door Perhaps
Mrs. Fenton was worse He opened his
door quietly and peered out.
No; there was low gaslight burning
on the landing outside, and no one was
about. He waited and listened. All,
there it was again, and down stairs4
Good heavens, there must be burglars
in the housed
He hastily put on some clothes and
then cast about for a weapon. There
was nothing better than poker, and
with this in his hand he made his way
down the staircase.
4 At each step he stopped and listened,
but there was absolute silence, and he
began to think he had been mistaken.
He waited at the bottom of the stairs
for further indications. He must have
been there fully five minutes before he
caught sound. but at last he was GER
tain some one was moving about in the
dining room. Grasping his weapon
4 firmly, he opened the door.
The room was dimly lighted BY the
rays of dark lantern, and at the far
end Brett saw man busily engaged
with the silver on the sideboard. There
were couple of open bags on the table.
and in them and around them he saw
quantity OF the household plate. The
man had his back toward him and did
not hear his entrance, and Brett was
close upon him before creaking board
betrayed him. The thief turned round
instantly and faced him. Brett knew
him in moment, despite his disguise
1t was the man he was looking for, the
man he had seen coming from Keighley
Gates rooms, the man who had tried
to rifle the body of Lady Florence Mos
tyn, the man whom he suspected had
abducted Mabel! At last he was face to
face with the scoundrel. He had him
in his power. With fierce exultation he
raised his weapon.
Hands up, you blackguard, I" cried
he. "or I'll brain your
The man 8 hands mechanically went
up aloft.
"Now, DR.. Fitzgerald. y said Brett,
I'VE meet again.
He never finished the sentence, for
there was stealthy step behind him
and terrible blow on the head with q
life preserver, and he fell senseless and
without cry.
Thanks, old chap" said Fitzgerald,
dropping his arms with a sigh of relief.
"Whoever would have expected that
donkey turning up here?"
Course him!" Missed Gates between
his teeth. ''He and / are quits now.
But look sharp. Stow away what swag
we have and close up. We must be off.
Others may have heard us. I'll go and
listen
Leaving Fitzgerald to collect the
booty and without bestowing thought
OH the inanimate body on the floor,
Gates opened the door softly and went
out in the hall
In an instant he saw that the house.
hold had taken alarm. There was whis.
pering, the opening of doors, and he
caught the sight of figure on the stairs.
Without even giving signal Of alarm
to Fitzgerald, Gates ran to the front
door 1t was the work of an instant tc
open it and in another he was flyine
down the steps into the street. Here hil