Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-02-18
CHAPTER XIV.
PLOTTING AND PLANNING.

PLOTTING AND PLANNING.
Directly realized who my guest was,
/ rushed forward and seized his hand
with show of delight greater than, I
believe, / have ever felt at meeting
man before or since. If had been given
the pick of all men in the world at that
particular juncture in my lifo's history,
/ believe ! should have declared for
him.
"We had no idea that you were in
England" said when the first excite
ment had somewhat subsidized. both
Allie and I thought you were 10, 900
miles away. You have heard the awful
news, suppose.
"How could help it when every
board in the streets sets it forth and all
the paper boys are believing the latest
news Of the capture of the Beautiful
White Devil? But want to know the
real facts.
"You shall know everything directly.
But first tell me what has brought you
home in this providential manner?"
81 came because heard that Bark
mansworth was coming. I received a
warning from Hongkong that he had
applied for leave, and knew that if he
found out her ladyship was in England
he would lose no opportunity of reveng-
ing himself for that affair outside Sim
gapore. But he got away before me. and
my welcome to London yesterday was
the news of her ladyship's arrest. You
did not see me at the preliminary exam.
ination this morning, l SUPPOSE"
"No, I certainly did not, and l
thought scanned every face. "
"And yet was standing beside you
all the time"
"Good gracious! How do you mean?'
"Pray tell me who stood next to you?
Wasn't it medium sized, military look
ing man in a much worn frock coat with
a velvet collar?"
"Now come to think of it, it was. "
"Well, was that man. I'm begin
ming to think my disguises are artistic
after all"
"But why all this disguise? What
are you afraid Of in London"'
II am afraid of our friend Barkmans-
worth, if you want to know. l was the
man who took him off the mailboat, re-
member, and my face must be unpleas-
antly familiar to him. If he saw me, l
should be arrested within all hour, and
whatever happens, seeing the work that
lies before Us, that must not.
"Do you think you can be of use to
her ladyship in her defense then?"
"It must never come to defense 1t
would be fatal to allow her to be sent
to Hongkong. They would convict her
at once. No, there is nothing for it but
for us to plan some means of escape for
her, and yet when one thinks how per-
feet English police arrangements are
that seems we'll nigh impossible. How
ever, done it must be by hook or crook,
and we must set about it at once. y
But how? Have you any idea in
your head?"
"Not at present, but it will be strange
if don't hit upon one before very long.
If only her ladyship could help us!"
"Wait one moment. Perhaps she can.
When left her this afternoon, she gave
me a note, which / was not to open un'
til l got home. Let us see what 1t says.
took it out of my waistcoat pocket,
opened it and read it aloud. 1t certain
ly contained the germs of an idea and
ran as follows:
have been thinking over what we spoke Of
this morning. and it seems TO me that, II a'r
to escape at all, the attempt must be maze
during the time |. am being conveyed from
Bow street to Holloway IN the prison van. The
question IS whether sufficient temptation could
be put before the driver and the guard to in
duce them to assist me. Will you think thi:
outP
When | had finished reading, l asked
, Walworth for his opinion. But fol
nearly five minutes be allowed no slgl
to escape him to show that he had heard
my question, only laid himself back IL
his chair, looked up at the ceiling, AND
meanwhile slowly tore my newspaper
into rags When he had finished his
work of destruction, he sat up straight
and slapped his hand on his knee.
Her ladyship is always right be-
lieve do see way now. .
"What is it," | asked in almost
breathless excitement.
"You must not ask me just yet. Ill
70 away and make few inquiries first.