Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-10-17
4 GffRRE ffRRE OF Of GRIT GRIT
Copyright, 1900, by r. F. Fenno & Co

Copyright, 19OO, by X. r. Fenno q 70
CHAPTER V-CONTINUED.
But Just as | was about to open the
letter we were interrupted by the ar
rival Of a tall. military looking gentle
man. with q fierce face and very hec
toring. overbearing manner. We were
standing In the hallway. the man Sa
vory and l. for although he knew what
nv business was he did not trust me
enough to let me 90 up stairs. The
front door was just ajar. he inside ano
still on the stoop. when this high
falutin. masterful sort Of gentleman
came up and said to both Of us:
'Is this where Captain Wood lives
Look sharp. want to know"
There was shortness in his tone and
manner which. being free born Amer
lean, | could not stomach at all. He
might have been q slave driver talking
to black Africans. and looked at hin
In q way to warn him not to raise my
dander.
"Come. speak out. Which Is the man
of the house? Is Captain Wood in?
must see him at once. l am Sir Charles
Collingham."
At this Savory bowed low. They are
q mean. lickspittle lot. these Britishers
when there's any talk of titles or big
toads in their puddles.
Eyes. yes. Sir Charles; quite so.
know you now. But Captain Wood is
not in"
.sWhere shall l find him? must see
him at once. It is matter Of duty.
Where is hep
That's just what we want to know .
I put In. 1T puzzles us entirely. he
has got into some mess somewhere,
and we can't tell for certain what has
happened to him or where to find him. y
"And who the devil are you. prayT'
asked my gentleman insolently. "And
what In heavens name have you to do
with Captain Wood? You are an Amer.
ican. l perceive"
"Waal. that's so, and what difference
does that make? Amt good enough
to know Captain Wood or for you to
talk tor" He had pretty well raised my
dander this time.
"Pshaw! I've nothing to say to you.
| don't know you. and don't want to
know you. and you may 60 to the devil
your own road as soon as you please"
And without waiting for more be
brushed past me. pushing Savory aside
and saying:
II must 60 up to his rooms. There
are some papers up there want. Show
the way. please" and he ran up stairs.
OF course followed. was as much
concerned about Captain Wood as be
was. Besides. felt 1t due to my self
respect and position as one Of your
most trusted agents to call this over
bearing Britisher to account
The new visitor, General Sir Charles
Collingham. as I presently heard be
was called, was the first In the room,
and he went straight to the bureau or
escritoire, at which l expect Captain
Wood did his writing business. The
general fell upon the papers and turn
ed them over with much haste and ex.
citement. Then he turned to Savory
and said In the same peremptory tone:
Where is the dispatch box from my
Office sent here last night? don't see
It. Fetch 1t. will your
"But 1t went to the captain this
morning. Sir Charles. with his port
manteau and other things"
"Great powers! How could it when
you don't know where he isY'
IF you will permit me to explain"
here put in, although | wonder ! went
on, for l saw clearly on his face that he
thought me an interfering nonentity al
together beneath his contempt But as
I told my story his manner changed.
his look Of utter incredulity and amaze
ment gave way to one Of absorbed In
terest, and by the time had finished
he had thrown himself into the nearest
armchair with a loud and prolonged
whistle. an evident let of to bis dis
turbed feelings.
Then he sprang to his feet and walk
ed up and down the room like a mad
man, talking to himself aloud:
Its not possible. It's too preposter-
GUS. | cannot. ought not, to believe 1t
But yet. by the Lord Harry. strangr
things do happen"
Then be pulled up short and faced
me as If l were criminal and tough
Il suppose you are to be trusted !
Who and what do you call yourselfi
You haven't dreamed all this? You
weren't drunk last nightr'
II am q water drinker. Sir Charles
Collingham. and take it from choice hot,
according to my physicians rule" re-
piled severely. You. | conclude. from
your title. are British army officer,
but | do not consider you are gentle
man to make such aspersions."
"Come. come, don't lose your temper.
never do-it's mistake-in business,
and you haven't told me yet who you
are and what you have to do with Cap
tain Wood"
The shortest way was to give him
one of my cards. He was not unac-
quainted with the name Of Saraband
and said 80 courteously enough. In
deed, he became now so civil that.
Judging him to be really person Of
Importance, gave him a brief out. inc
Of the plot to which we believed Cap
tain Wood had fallen victim.
"YOu think it is the money, do you?
Nothing else?" he asked sharply.
"Why, what else could there beT'
He hesitated for q moment, but said
at last:
"Tm not at liberty to tell you exact
". They are confidential matters con-
nected with the service. But there