The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-10-12

Much as | had been surprised b. thc
promptttudr with which these unsc"-.
pulous fees had got him into their tolls
l was now amazed with the breadth.
the Doldne&s Of their scheme. It was
rs clear to me rs if had seen 1t al IL,
print. To seize. scQuestratc. securely
hold their prisoner, with heaven knows
what added Ill usagc-it might br
make away with him uttcrly-whilc his
double. some clcverly SGT UD second
self. their puppct Cr confederate. per
sonated him. acted for him. makiny
ducks and brakes Of his fortune. ac
QuirinG every rcd cent that was nova.
Die ana within reach. without fear Of
interference or retribution. provided
only they kept fast hold OF their prey.
How far was it in my power TO meet
and Illustrate these felonious but as
tutely planned measures? At least |
had one or two threads, one or two
clews. in my hand.
l believed that could exactly locatc
the present place of Captain Woods
detention. knew the very house or it's
outbuildings in which he was imprison.
cd. To get him out must be my next
job. If he were once free. much mis-.
chief. the worst certainly. might be
prevented. But whether he were I'M:
mediately released or not it was Of lii.
tie less Importance to folloYj uD his per-
sccutors to ascertain what they were
doing and work to counteract end de-
feat them.
Three Of them, at least, l had heard
of, thanks to my friend at the consul
late, two By name and clear identity.
The third should be discovered through
the other two.
My next moves were clearly and i'm
peratively marked out for me.
AS passed along the Strand called
In at Norfolk street. No sign from Jo-
seph, so all was presumably without
change in the Stratballan road. Next
to Charges street.
Time was getting on. Close on o.
M, and nothing done as yet In Mr..
Woods behalf. Twas impatient, eager
to act for him, and yet knew must
proceed regularly. The man Savory
had returned, and knew by his face
that he had drawn blank in Laburnum
street. OF course no Mr.. Wood was
there. l did not require to be told
that. Savory was also satisfied now, q
good deal on the evidence of the collie
dog which he had taken with him.
Master Willie was nowhere on the
premises. Roy will answer for that.
told him to go look although the wo-
man Of the place-it was sort Of Sec
ond rate lodging house-callcd him a
f,,l
Roy's teeth helped him to quest right
through the house"
"Finc fellow! Wen take him with
us to look for Mr.. Wood. Eth, Roy?'
He was like a Christian. that dog,
for he made friends at once, wagged
his tail and put his nose in my hand.
When Savory added Oil some gibbcriSh
with "ulloolColoo, go search, Roy" he
first howled and yelpcd, then ran up
and down the hall entry like mad
thing.
"Where are we going, sir?' asked
Savory, growing respectful as he rec
osaino2 ,,,S- >,.+l.o.ity-- -.---
''To Scotland Yard straight. They
wouldn't listen to me this morning.
Now perhaps What have you got
there?"
"It's letter, sir, brought by hand
half an hour ago for Mr.. Wood, mark
ed, Very immediate.' Dye see? But
you wouldn't surely?"
This was in alarmed protest as I was
about to break the seal.
"Wouldn't I, though? Why, it's q
question Of life and death with Captain
Wood. Anything and everything that
is likely to help us must be made use
Of. stand on that, and here goes"
But just as l was about to open the
letter we were interrupted by the ar
rival Of tall, military looking gentle
man, with fierce face and very hec-
toring, overbearing manner. We were
standing in the hallway, the man Sa-
worry and I, for although he knew what
my business was he did not trust me
enough to let ME so up stairs. The
front door was just ajar, he inside and
l 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. l want to know"
There was shortness in his tone and
manner which, being q free born Amer
lean, l could not stomach at ali. He
might have been q slave driver talking
to black Africans, and | looked at him
In 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, lickspittlc lot, these Britishers,
when there's any talk Of titles or big
toads in their puddlcs.
Eyes, yes, Sir Charles; quite SO.
know you now. But Captain Wood is
not in.'
'Where shall find him? l must see