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

LIVINGSTONS PHARMACY.
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charged his musket as ! was darting
towards the stable.
In a moment the whole place was
in the utmost confusion, and as
mounted, taking care to pretend a VI
client attack upon the man who held
my horse. while 1 told him TO say I
was a stranger to him. the troopers
were already to horse and came clat-
terng round the old house after me.
Things went just as | would have
had them. ! was careful that none of
the men should see my face, and l put
my horse at the ha-ha and leapt into
the park.
l did not hurry matters at the start.
The ha-ha caused a little trouble to
some of the troopers, and my wish be-
ing to bring as many of them as
could away from the Grange, it was
my cue to let them think that they
could catch me. But this had conse-
etuenees- of n different kind Those who
could not take TIE leap stopped to en-
ploy their muskets after me, and then,
finding the gate, they came streaming
through
Old Noll had little relish for the
shooting, and when one of the balls,
from an accidentally wel-aimed shot,
came ripping and singing close to his
ears, he shook his head and plunged
forward as though impatient to be out
of range.
1t was a new sensation to play the
part of the fox in the hunt, but had
no qualms about the result.
i went easily across the great park,
therefore, dropped into Winthrop lane
at the end, ratified across ,Twinbury
common, and skirted Three-Cornered
Copse, being careful all the time to
keep as much in sight of the hounds
as the fast darkening evening would
allow.
Once 1 played a trick on them and
let them come almost upon me. ! had
breathed old Noll up the steep side of
the Haunch, and once across it l dis
mounted and waited for my pursuers.
On catching sight of me the men rails
ed such a shout of eXultation as
brought all the laggards squirting up,
and they dashed toward me, making
sure of their capture.
But / was ready, and picking my
way along the zigZag sides of the fir
wood there, 1 carried out the plan
had formed. At the bottom of the val
ley, between the Haunch and Dandy
Chine, lie the Quagmire woods, as
nasty and dangerous a bit of country
as the name could mean, and into this
| purposed to lead them by degrees.
Noll and I knew the way well enough
but it was another case with the fell
lows who were after me. I led them
on, keeping in sight till they were well
into the middle of the woods, and when
I reached the sudden turn by Dead
| Mans corner ! gave Noll his head,
and away we flew along the narrow
track, leaving the men fioundering in
the quagmire, calling to one another
and shouting and oathing finely.
We were soon clear off. and urging
the old horse to his utmost efforts
headed in the direction of Hardinage,
and ratified home at a pace which
would have surprised the soldiers in
deed could they have seen it.
Once at Hardinage changed my cos
tune rapidly, while another horse was
saddled, and then galloped back
through the night to Lanston. was
all anxiety to know how matters had
sped there in my absence, and hoped
indeed that Master Lovelace had al
ready been released and was away
with young Gorham as had arranged.
But to my chagrln, my ruse had been
but partly u success. Capt. Hilary and
Sir Burton were still at the Grange,
and in the hall awaiting the return of
the troopers with their captive. A num-
Der of the guests had arrived and were
grouped about in the rooms and hall,
looking nightly ill at ease and UNI
comfortable, while Audrey was far
more distressed than before, and had
been weeping.
You have been away, Sir Godfrey"
said the captain.
II am not aware that / am your
prisoner or accountable to you for my
movements" I answered 'brusquely. 81
think you have carried this farce far
enough. In truth, l shall hold you re-
sponsible for the outrage to which |
have been subjected. Because / chose
to leave here and gallop to Hardinge
for a change Of costume, your fellows
forsooth must needs come gathering
after me, firing their muskets and ac-
tually putting my life to the hazard.
You'll find them now hard stuck in the
Dogs on the other side of Muttlebury
Haunch. But the thing is intolerable.
Come. Awdrey, let us go to the guests
and leave this gentleman to do his
will"
The captains face darkened as said
this, while Sir Burton Prendergast
gave me an ugly, sneering look; ana
when Audrey put her hand on my arm
she showed in her fingers a slip of
note and whispered, Take 1t. Dan
ger"
This farce has gone far enough, Sir
Godfrey, as you say" cried Prender-
CAST, growing angry and coming to us.
Mistress Audrey will remain in my
charge. Have a care" he added in
a whisper which could not reach the
captains ears. II know the secret of
this statue, and shall tell IL, unless
Mistress Audrey purchases my silence
in the way have told her."
could have struck him for his mean.
cowardly threat, and l masked my
temper
Probably she will put herself in my
hands, Sir Burton, seeing that she Is
affianced to me-"
"If she does not wish to ruin her
father and you all, she will tell you
rather that she Is afilanced to me, Sir
Geoffrey A word from me and this
thing will be known. And / am in dead
ly earnest"
But the game was not lost yet fol-
all that j knew that my ruse had
drawn off nearly all the troops, and
that If / could but smuggle Master
Lovelace out OF the statue he could get
away easily from the house with one
OF my men to act as guide.
I stood a moment as IL thinking in
great perplexity, and then giving Aw-
drey. who was very pale and frighten-
&C. a significant pressure Of the hand
that lay on my arm, / released II.
II see no other course, Audrey, but
to comply. You had better take Sii
Burton's arm and go to the ballroom.
We must set things going or the whole
county will think we are mad"
His face lighted with triumph as he
held out his arm and my sweet Aw-
drey placed the tips of her fingers upon
~ Nybfte I turned To C,orhafn and un-