Marble Hill press., 1901-03-13
A PRETTY ~ ~
~ ~ CONTAIN
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BY LouiEe Bedford.


NnAf fh \. ANohtluutt-l
"Ii You mean it and can stick 70
il. ! will think over what can do
to help you. No. you needn't tiank
me; its for your Sisters sake. not
yours. She's a girl one cannot but
respect.
They We're nearing the Grange as
he spoke. The moon was looming big
on the horizon as it neared its setting,
and faint shadowy light rested on
the horse and on the little town be
low, and the quiet gray sea beyond.
The Doctor was walking his horse cau-
tiously down the steep descent when
he broke into a low. soft whistle.
BY JOve, there's something wrong
there, I'm certain there's a man
about the place. Hold hard for a min
ute, will you?" And he handed the
rcins to Neville.
Let me cone, TOO" implored Ne
vile
No, wait cut here; and, if | shout
leave the horse and come after me
1t may have been a policeman march
ing round.
Neyilles e&is strained to catch ey-
cry sound, but there was nothing TO
Le heard, for the Doctor was making
his way roiselessly across the grass
to the Craving room window from
which, sure enough, man was eau
tiously descending with bag in his
/ hand.
He did not either see or hear the
/ Doctor for his back was turned to-
wards him, so he was unprepared for
the sudden, cat-like spring that the
Doctor made upon him. With an oath
he dropped his bag and turned furi-
OuSly upon his assailant. They were
uneQualy matched for Doctor Drake
was of slight build and small in stat
ure, whilst the man whom he tried TO
hold was bread and propOrtionately
strong.
The burglars hard sought his pock-
ct, but Doctor Drake was too quick
for him, With Gle hand he kept a
steady grip on the mans collar, with
the Othel he sought and found the re-
vOlyer that was concealed in his coat
pocket, and tn1ew it far away from
him Gil the grass, and two rapid shots
in quick succession showed that it had
exploded
With desperate effort he freed
himself, hurried the Doctor to the
gtOund with Summing force, and made
for the gate; Luz the shots had brought
Neville rushing to the rescue. The
horse, finding himself abandoned and
frightened by the quick shots, trotted
off towards home; whilst Neville drew
back to let the man pass and sprang
upon him with the determination OF a
bulldog not to relax his hold until
others came to the rescue.
His lithe arms clung tightly about
the burglars neck, and he was shout,
lug at tie top of his voice as he clung
Help, help, murder!'
The words reached the Doctors ear!
as he rose to his feet, daZed but no
: disabled by his fall, and he gave al
answering shout.
Hold on, Howard, I'm here Bu
as he uttered he words there was I
thld and 4 fall and heavy groan, ant
up the hill the sound of footsteps run
ming as il life depended on it.
Neville lay a crumpled heap by th'
gate; and m the rapidly fading ligh
the Doctor saw that the poor fellow
!, was STEPPED III blood.
.. Give chase-hes done for me-" sal
Neville, with clenched teeth. He
made off I'D the hill!' And scarcel
.. knowing what lie did, the Doctor di
So.
As a boy, he had been famous TO
his running and his training stoo
him in good stead now. Even now h
: was conscious that he was gaining o
the man whom he pursued. He coul
y heard his heavy breathing. AS h
: reached the top of the hill he saw tn
u dark figure in front Of him runnn
+ along the dim, white line of road 0
top of the cliffs, and the DoctC
thought with fierce delight that h
al had his prey safe enough. He cOul
IS turn neither to the right nor left; l.
Is was committed to the road befOl
Is him.
ID Doctor Drake would breathe himse
er a bit and then he was pretty Certai
or to prove the better man of the tW
IS, for he could see by the way the bu
s, glar swayed from side to side that
to was getting spent They must hay
H. run for a mile when the man gave
ce fearful glance behind him. like hun
la ed animal, and the Doctor answert
Sc the glance by wild halloo of trump
go He was not more than hundred pac
IN from him.
lg Suddenly the burglar stopped, rG
Sc to the edge of the cliff, looked over
ed for an instant, and the next hi
ag thrown himself upon his hands al
IS, knees and was letting himself ca
in tlousy over the edge. AS his he
he disappeared the Doctor came up to t
in spot. and, in Mortified astonishmet
it looked down over the cliff The bu
yn glar had evidently felt that his o
Of chance Of escape lay in making /
way down its face
There was drop Of twenty Pe
ac from the level Of the road to a pr
lg, jecting ledge Of rock below; after tn
as a good climber might make his W
TO safely to the shore, and the man h
w decided on the leap. But he misci
"a culated his distance; the rocky led
In, was slippery with frost, and one W
he yell broke the night silence as his #
OF barely touched the ledge he sought
les rest on, and he tumbled headforemo
to bounding like a ball from point
nd point, until a final thud told the d.
ch tor that he had reached the shore.
its could dimly see him, dark speck,
he lay there hundred feet below. a
silence reigned supreme agan--a
'uF lence that could be felt.
as CHAPTER XI.
his Neville, meanwhile, lay where t
aat Doctor left him; but not for long. 7
zen sound of the pistolshots and the shot
that followed had reached the ears