The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-22

All the guests we're now in the great
ballroom, and signalling to Audrey
TO come with her partner to me.
took my stand close to the door OF q
small room that lay between that and
the dining room Unanswered so
that Sir Burton stood between me and
the door, which placed ajar, and then
my plan was ready.
This is a serious matter. Awdrey, 3"
I said. land / think Sir Burton and
had better talk it over together"
IT have no wish for your interfer-
ence. Sir Godfrey" he replied inso-
lently. 81 can manage my own af-
fairs"
But this is more my affair than
yours" I retorted. and before he knew
what | was intending, / linked my
arm in his and pushed him roughly
through the door, and clapping my
hand on his mouth forced him through
into the dining room beyond. Then !
freed his mouth, and he did precisely
what ! had reckoned on his doing.
He sent up q. cry for help. shouting
that there was treachery, and called
for Capt Hilary. who came running
in from the hall, OH to which the din
ing room opened. AS soon as the cap
tain entered I slammed the door be-
hind him, and this gave Gorham his
cue 10 ACT anu Nelulllk MY bdNh W
the door turned upon the two men,
This is private quarrel between
Sir Burton Prendergast and myself.
Capt, Hilary, and you Will have the
goodness not to interfere.
"There is treachery afoot,' shouted
Sir Burton, mad with rage. THE
prisoner you want is in the hall con
cealed in the statue, captain. This
is trick to cheat you of him.
Let me pass. sir: ] shall hold you
responsible" said the captain TO me on
the instant speaking very angrily.
Irresponsible for what?" 1 exclaimed.
"'rhe mans mad. Does he mean that
he and you have been all this time in
the hall there and he has given YOU no
inkling of the story he now tells? You
don't believe that. surely?" / said.
holding my place at the door and lis
tening with all my ears for some sound
that Gorham had Cane his work.
Let me pass. sir" cried the officer
drawing his sword. "In the name of
the king let me pass"
do you draw upon an unarmed
mann" l exclaimed, and as I spoke I
heard a sound from the hall which
seemed to show that young Gorham
had succeeded.
IF you hinder me further your blood
will be on your own head. Will you
let me pass?" said the officer fiercely.
DO you mean you would murder me
for cock-and- story such as Sir
Burton Prendergast's? / asked, de-
laying him to the last safe second.
1.-The door there through the ante-room
is open, but if you prefer this it is
nothing to me-"
He dashed out sword in hand and
Sir Burton was following when / laid
my hand on him and barred the way.
"I have reckoning with you,"
said, for l wished to give time for
Master Lovelace to get clear away;
and words between us grew hot and
fast, until Capt. Hilary came back and
demanded that ST. Burton should come
and explain the secret of the hiding
place. I let him go then, and fol-
lowed
Then Audrey and some of the guests
came out into the hall, and a pretty
scene of cross purposes followed. Sir
Burton Prendergast asserted that the
horse was the hiding place, and he and
the officer tried vainly to discover the
opening, until Capt. Hilary. losing all
patience, declared that he would have
the statue hewn in pieces If the secret
could not be found.
"But there is nothing in IT," said
for the twentieth time; and at length,
when I saw Gorham among the rest.
and a glance told me all was well. and
fearing, moreover, that the statue
would really be destroyed, l myself
opened it.
"You can see for yourself" said;
and while Capt. Hilary thrust his head
into the opening a smile ran round
the faces of the guests, who came
crowding forward in curiosity at the
secret of the statue and amusement at
~ Of ha
The Captain flushed with vexation at
cutting so sorry a figure, and was in
doubt whether to vent his anger on me
or on Sir Burton.
"There was some one there, I know"
said the latter, trying to bluff it off.
"Do understand that you make an
insinuation of falsehood against me,
Sir Burton Prendergast?' I asked. fac
ing him and speaking sternly. This
matter is now personal to me-" And
not relishing my stare and having no
stomach for a quarrel, he fiinched. and
with shrug of the shoulders said to
the officer:
81 am very sorry, Capt. Hilary, but
it seems ] was wrong"
what do you propose to do next,
captain" / asked. 1--WE are at your
command, but you will understand
that our Christmas keeping is not like
ly to be the merrier for any prolong-
ing Of this matter"
II shall hold you responsible for this,
Sir Burton. You have kept me here
while things have been arranged for
the prisoners escape. withdraw my
men and shall make my report" Thus
the interfering bully found himself
PROSTATE between the two of us and
in danger of kicks from us both. IF
the prisoner was in concealment there
and you knew it you have prevented
my captureing him. Why didn't you
tell me, sir?'
i smiled at this turn, but 1t was not
our cue to let the captain believe we
had ever concealed any one.
REST your mind easy and do not
blame even this meddling mischief
maker causelessly. We have no one
at the Grange whom we wish to con-
ceal," and this was true, for by this
time Master Lovelace was well on his
way to the boat.
Capt. Hilary went away then, grum-
bling and smarting with the irritation
of man who feels that he has been
tricked but cannot lay finger on the
proof, and as soon as he was gone,
| signaled to Audrey and Gorham to
lead the guests away while i detained
the cowardly traitor who had come so
near to causing serious mischief.
"A word with you, Sir Burton"
said shortly. you have acted tonight
the part of coward and a spy. and
in doing 1t you have cast imputations
on me. Tonight I do not make 1t a
personal matter, but tomorrow, IL you
are still IN the county of Sussex, or II
within six months you show your face