The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-01-03


They had given him more of the
deadly stuff than they intended, and
he had slept all that night and all day.
But as has already been seen, Buck
ford had a constitution Of iron and
rallied from attacks that would kill
ordinary men.
He rallied from the effect Of the
drug, at first slowly, with a bewilder-
ing sense of trying to recall where he
was. Gradually his senses came back
to him, and he remembered the inn at
Ontro.
EIe felt somewhat ill, the natural
effect of taking into his lungs the
fumes of stupefying drug.
He lay on his bed expecting some
any inn-any well regulated inn-when
d guest slept too long there would be
an investigation.
But the hours passed and no one
came.
Buckford had feeling as if he had
been i'll long time. He knew that one
day had elapsed since he came there,
buI hhSW hOI AOW ulduy
The longer he lay there the better he
felt. The strength was returning to
his limbs.
He did not even feel the pangs Of
hunger.
He at last got out of bed and went
to the door to call some one He found
it locked.
Thara was anotbor door on opotbor
side of the room. He opened that. 1t
led into space now evidently used
closet, but from which, on the opp
site side, another door led somewhere.
This he tried, but could do nothing
save push, as there was neither knob
nor latch.
While he was in the closet he heard
voices.
"The fellow is the very devil for
escaping" said a voice. "First he
eludes us at Paris, then at Strass-
burg and now at Ontro. 1t is a pity
old Robard did not hold him. That
5000 francs would pay for the trou-
ble."
Buckford's heart beat rapidly. He
recognized the voice of Vandal.
HAS he gone to Trolle as a ped
dler?' asked Reber. 'This is a strange
game. Why did he sell the gown to
that woman?
'Oh, to get money to buy the horse,
l suppose. But that was gay story
about his stealing diamonds and 12,-
600 francs. Well, had to say some
thing. Three of us would not chase
across all Europe for 1000 francs"
Buckford, painting in the closet, won
dered what it all meant. Evidently
they were under the impression that
he had gone on toward Trolle. They
had also been told that he had sold the
woman the gown when he had pre-
sented it to her.
These things, together with his
strange sensation of illness, made him
suspicious. He stepped quickly back
to his room and felt for his purse. 1t
was gone.
"Ahw he said bitterly. 'T have
fallen among thieves again. This ras-
cal of an innkeeper has robbed me-
Now, how shall get out of this scrape
with no money and my enemies in the
very house?"
He crept back to the closet
The three pursuers of the thief who
stole so much wealth had been
given two connecting rooms. Reber
and Robello occupied one, and Vandal
was alone in the other. Their CONVEX
sation, carried on while they were pre-
pairing for bed, was necessarily a lit
tie loud. Buckford heard it easily.
''How far is Trolle from here? Ro-
bellO was asking. when will he ar
rive there"
"How old is goose? 1t all depends
on the horse the innkeeper sold him.
If it was good one, he can do it in
two days"
1.-TWO days! And we are a day be-
hind him."
well, we will get the best horses to
be had and try to overtake him. 1 saw
some horses in the stable today-not
handsome beasts, but strong, and they
looked speedy"
''The stable! Did you find stable?
This inn Is the only stable saw,
"Well, there Is a stable for horses in
the rear"
The conversation now ceased and
Buckford went back to his room. He
was now in thrill of excitement. He
had lost his sense of illness. His mind
was alert and quick. His eagerness to
find way to escape had overcome the
effect of the drug.
He had taken off his clothes before
retiring and now dressed himself. He
then made an examination of his room.
He remembered that the window look
ed out toward large building, for he
had seen it at the twilight hour when
he had entered. This must be the sta
BILE spoken of by Vandal. He next
cautiously opened the window, making
as little noise as possible,
1t was dark night, there being no
moon and but few stars to be seen.
The great peak of the barn rose like a /
black mountain short distance away. |
He knew that he was on the ground |
floor of the inn. There seemed to be |
the roof of shed under him.
He was about to let himself down !
from the window when key turned in !
the lock of his door, and he heard the |
voices of RObard and his son.
At the same moment he heard the |