Evening star., 1902-03-29

house, carrying straight forward between
| 1t and the sea. but l. was approaching the
Ferry House from the moore behind. and
| in that direction the windows are but little
| raised above the moss.
| There was no soul moving anywhere. yet
| when / found the stable, lot there was
| beast already there. champing at his man.
ger. Then, by dint Of cropping, I found
| feed of oats in the corn chest, which gave
| to Peden. For knew not what was before
| me nor what strange ways / might need to
traverse ere the morning.
This business finished, to be yet more
| forehanded, turned the key Of the stable
| door and put it in my pocket.
My case being so uncommon and my de-
| sire to find the lost maidens so overwhelm-
| ing, did not consider it beneath me to lie
! down on my belly and take look through
the windows Of the hut to see what could
4 spy within.
only by the red fire. which glowed rather
| than burned on the hearth, could only
| dimly perceive dark figure shrouded in y.
great cloak. which now and then cast
| raggot or peat upon the "greisoch" Of red
| embers.
| Besides the kitchen. there was another
| chamber or ben-the- -hoose'' at the other
| end of the Ferry House but a newspaper
| darkened its little foot square of window,
| and even the chimney which / squinted
down was too narrow to reveal more Of
| the occupant than one booted foot, which
| swung back and forth as if the owner had
| crossed his legs and was sitting very much
| at his ease.
But the more looked, acting the spy for
| Fafrlies sake as i would not have done for
| any other cause, the more did l become
| convinced that my brother Rupert was
within. The swinging boot was small and
vanished one and / could think of no
other save Rupert who would be likely to
| carry such a cavalier accouterment to the
| Corse of Stakes.
At that moment a horse neighing from
| the stable caused the vanished boot to
| disappear as if in the direction of the door.
| recognized the sound also, being quick to
! distinguish the characteristic noises of ami
| mails. The neigh was obviously my broth
| er's black Bravo making acquaintance with
| the dappled patriarch of Glenluce my good
| Peden the Prophet.
| After that there was no lsnger any doubt
| about the matter. Grierson had not been
! mistaken.
| bending my head 1 passed into the smoky
| Interior An old woman sprang to her feet
with more agility than a misshapen back
and features wrinkled and Smoke-dried
might have betokened.
"Eh, Master Gregory" she cried, whats
brocht we back already frae Hamish's, and
preserve us what's come O. the"
But before she had time to finish her SEN
tence-upon which SO much depended-she
| haL recognized from my height and appear
| ance that 1 could not be Gregory Glendon-
wyn.
erend sir, might ye be seekin' at the charge
hoose O. the Corse O. Slakes this Sabbath
night"
L had however, no wish to waste time
upon her. I did not answer, but pushed
on in the direction of the "ben room oc-
cupied by the wearer of the vanished rid
ing boots.
The old woman. for all her infirmities,
was at the door before me.
Ma" she cried, Gin there ye shall ma
gang till ye hae telled me your errand?"
But | put her aside with as little force as
was possible. considering that she clung to
me rather like cat with nine lives than a
woman well past the three-score and ten,
as her appearance advertised her to be-
Il am seeking my brother-stand asde!'
l said, briefly.
So l opened the door, and there before
me, playing a tune to himself upon a small
ana dainty flute, was my brother, Rupert
Glendonwyn.
(To be continued9