Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-20
CHAPTER Nv.
Will BOWMAN Counts Three.

That / did not scream out as Anna Mark
had done when she crouched behind the
case | have always put down TO last
wisp of Dutch courage given me by
Umphray's small ale At any rate, / only
dropped my glass and stared at the fire
hard trying TO think what l should do
Clearly l must tell Will at once. and yet
if / moved away with any haste the thing
inside would naturally suspect and spring
out upon me. So / continued idly throw
ing wood on the fire for some time. as it
had been to while away the heavy hanging
hours, breaking pieces off dry boughs and
tossing them like one careful of his aim.
Presently / heard d noise in the parlor,
and the voice of William Bowman loud in
some argument.
Coming. WIFI l cried aloud. starting
quickly from my seat as if / had heard
him call me-
And, with my heart in my mouth, / went
to the door which led within the house,
my own dark shadow stalking Iengthily
before me. uncertain and blurred in the
leaping flames Of the burning wood. l did
not dare even to glance in the direction of
The mysterious packing case. But / shut
and boIted the door behind me as soon as
l had passed through
Will Bowman was going up the stairs
To bed. with his boots in his hand.
Will | whispered. VIII, We are all
/
Is murderer in that case
VIII paused on the second step
Nv hat do You mean? Have You gone
as mad As Anna?' ne said. smiling
But as soon as | had told him of the
eyes which had looked at me through the
coarse yelling. he came back down the
Stars and began to consider, scratching
his head and thinking hard without drop
Ping the boots out of his hand
The weavers are either away with their
master or over to the change houses by
TINS time, he meditated. There will not
be one sober man in New AfiIns nv mis-
hour of the night. Philip, are you stanche
Can you stand behind me in this? | will
go ana OUTAGE him now, thief or murderer
or whatever 1t isl
| answered that / would certainly do that
which in me lay. though l knew not what
he meant to be at
He was back in a moment with a couple
OF small swords and dagger
Come on, he said: we will try cold
steel on our lurker. A pass or two will
do my masters Spanish wool no great
harm, while shooting blazing wads into il
AT th'it range would set the stuff on fire
ANA that would be the end of me with I'm
phray SpurWayt-'
So. giving me one of the rapiers, VIII
bowman took q candle in one hand and
MS own small sword in the other We
went INTO tn great, silent weaving shed
Whtre ne Set the candlestick down on a
loom, But indeed, with all my throwing
OF fuel on the dogs of the CRATE the place
where the packing case stood was filled
with light.
As We went softly down the floor We
heard a light patter Of feet behind us and
To- there at the door was little Anna Mark
with d pistol in her hand.
an she was be ginning; did l not tell
But win stopped her with a wave of
his hand We stood before the canvas
covered case. II doomed up bigger than
ever, looking blank and inaninnate enough
10 have contained eravestones
j heard VIII suck in long breath as
he threw back his sword that was in his
hand TO be ready for the thrust Then he
spoke in a loud voice
Now. he cried, we know that there
Is man inside this packing case. We
are here fully armed and are resolved To
try the truth of our suspicion Whoever
you may be, l bid you. in my MASTER
name ana The name of the law to surrender
yourself | will count three and 1h.r.
after thrust the case through and through
YIN my sword give you fair warning
Then he counted slowly. One
There was no sign or sound from the
packing case. though We listened intentiy
and ] own that / quaked to my very sho,
leather
Two
Still there was no answer. not a sigh o,
a culver. not the stirring of "a rat in III,
wsiiuscOt-
For the last time warn you, whoeve
you are said Will Bowman, very gray,
and slow After ! count three / will
thrust, and the Lord have mercy on you
SOUL
/ knew where he had gotten that. II,
had seen il in the Old Bailey trials a col
lection of which was in the house.
Having spoken he paused it Nigh
have been five seconds or live hours
know not.
Three he counted, in loud, suddel
shout.
His sword arm darted out, the clea,
steel jerking forward like arrow TIL
thrust appeared to pass right to the bacl
of the case. easily and silently.
VIII withdrew the steel with grea
gasp of relief.
There he cried fiercely, will that Sc
You at rest? Or are you glad that YOU
cursed imagination should put us all il
this fret for nothing. You, Philip deserv
raw hiding, or, better, good cobbin
with a barrel stave over a beam wheI
Umphray comes home. And by CAD, yo
shall have 1t. too
He looked angrily about at us as we stoo
"a little way behind him
But see" he cried II will take 1t O.
myself to make certain
And with a quick hand and in a sudde
characteristic burst of anger he tore ava
the rough sacking and yellow gauzy stui