Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-04-05
CHAPTER XVIII.
IT RAID ON DE WERE GARDENS.

|, Brett passed busy oay. he hau LII
portant business to transact at the ad
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 a note awaiting him
from Mr.. Fenton, hastily scribbled and
folded:
Inclosed wire received this afternoon. Am
going at once to Minchenhampton. Please
sleep here. Will wire you.
Brett hastily unfolded the inolosed
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 faot-that Ma
bel was still alive.
"Thank. God for thatl" he cried.
And then the thought came that per-
haps, after all, she was severely hurt
True, she said it was only slight acol-
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-
oombe, and that the last train left Pad
dington at 90 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
eleep. If he closed his eyes for few
minutes and fell into fitful doze, it
was only to awake with 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 a noise in the
house. He sat up in bed and listened
intently. There was a click and the
opening of a oreaking 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. Ah,
there it was again, and down stairs !!
Good heavens, there must be burglars
in the house!
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.
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
firmly, he opened the door.
The room was dimly lighted by the
rays of dark lantern, and at the far
end Brett saw a man busily engaged
with the silver On the sideboard. There
were a couple of open bags OH the table,
and in them and around them be saw a
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 a moment, despite his disguise.
| It was the man he was looking for, the
man be had seen coming from heighley
Gates rooms, the man who had tried
to rifle the body of Lady Florence Mos
tyn, the man whom be 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," cried
he, "or I'll brain you"
The mans hands mechanically went
up aloft.
"Now, DR.. Fitzgerald" said Brett,
1--WE meet again.
He never finished the sentence, for
there was a stealthy step behind him
and a 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 sigh of relief.
"Whoever would have expected that
donkey turning up here?'
Course him. p' hissed Gates between
his teeth "He and I 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 60 and
listen"
Leaving Fitzgerald to collect the
booty and without bestowing a 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