Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-06-20

no doubt we can stand bleeding
again."
There seemed to Lowndes to be
something pathetic in the rough irony
of the mans tone; he began to feel
heartily sorry and ashamed that he
had allowed himself to be persuaded
into this adventure. The pretty, pale
girl, standing mute behind her uncle;
the uncle himself with the dull per.
plexity in his eyes, seemed to him in
the ghostlY light Of the early morning
SO utterly broken down, so bewildered,
so miserable, that he wanted to stink
away without exchanging further
word with them. But this, Of course,
was out of the question.
81 have had nothing TAKEN" he said.
hurriedly. Nothing whatever"
"YOu think the woman was maybe
only taking a look round by way OF
passing the timer" suggested Clarls,
still in the same grim tone.
Lowndes was silent.
"And, pray, if may make so bold"
went on the inkeeper, in threatening
tone. after a few minutes pause.
what was she like, this woman"
81 couldn't see. 1t was dark, you
know"
"But you're sure it was woman, OF
course"
There was, perhaps, note of inter
est in Claris's irony this time.
"Yes," answered Lowndes, with a
little more decision, II am sure Of that.
She moved like a woman, and had a.
woman's head and woman's skirts
I saw her head as she got out Of the
window. I saw her skirts moving
about before me when 1 got down to
the ground"
"And that's all you've got to say?
Now, Nell, tell us what you saw"
And he turned trlumphantly to his
niece.
Nell was standing opposite the win.
dow, and the gray light Of the morn
ing came over the top Of the shutters
full on her face. 1t was white, weary,
and there were dark lines under the
eyes, which were heavy and lusterless.
Every word she uttered bOre-so the
young man thought-an odd stamp as
Of truth and sincerity.
II woke up suddenly, hearing a loud
noise. saw the door fall in and
some one rush through and get out of
the window. 1 sprang up and looked
out, and saw this gentleman sliding
down from the roof of the clubhouse Oh
to the ground"
81 didn't see you" interrupted
Lowndes, sharply. with another doubt.
"You did not look up" replied the
girl, with cOmposure. "YOu ran away
through the garden to the right. I
dressed quickly, and ran downstairs
and out by the back door to see what
was the matter. When 1 got out you
had scrambled up the bank and were
talking to my uncle"
Lowndeg said nothing; there was
nothing TO say. But, although it Is
true that he had not given much at
tention when he burst into the upper
room to anything but the window and
the escaping figure, he felt convinced
that if there had been person in bed
in the room he should have seen her,
or heard some cry, some word, to indl-
cate her presence.
Now, you've heard another story.
And, begging your pardon, I'd sooner
take her word than yours"
But" suggested Lowndes in con-
ciliatory tone, "do the two stories con-
tradict each other? All this young
lady says is that she did not see the
woman pass through her ROOM"
mo, nor any one else, either" burst
out George Claris, as if his patience
was at last exhausted. Gan look here
I won't stand no man coming down
here to spy about, and taking fancies
into his head, and breaking into the
rooms Of my house-not for nobody,
and so, sir, you can just go up stairs
and pack your portmanteau and clear
out between this and breakfast time.
Not another bit nor drop will you be
served with under my roof. And you
may just tell the three young scOun.
drels that sent you that whatever they
likes to call themselves they're no
gentlemen. II know them, you see.
1 know you were put up to this by
Jordan. King and Co."
Uncle! uncle! No; Mr.. King never
sent him. I will answer for that!'
And Nell's face became suddenly
with a blush that betrayed
her secret.
Lowndes was touched.
you're right" he said to her, very
simply. "NIr. King knew nothing
about my coming" He turned to
Claris. "Let me have my BILL" he
said, II will go at once"
And the young man, ashamed Of his
own action, but more perplexed every
as he considered, from every
point of view. his singular adventure.
eft the Blue Lion within the heXf
twenty minutes, and returned to town
to relate his experience to Otto Cony.
Deare and Willie Jordan.
To be Continued.