Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-12


a pretty tidy and comfortable one, as you'll
admit, reckon"
What is 1t you watt, sir?" asked Mr.
Thorning, abruptly.
We'll, not to wastea@ords, 5000 was the
sum I'd thought Off
Railway licked his HIPS after the reply.
indeed said Mr.. Thorning.
yes Radway continued. Il didn't sup
Your promise to pay II next week and to
forget all this-thats good enough for me
from gentleman like you"
Mr.. mornings eyebrows rose He really
was somewhat aStonished.
on, you propose to trust me. do your
he said We'll, to begin with, perhaps you
viii either take me to my daughter or
orlng my s daughter to me. 1t viii be time
enough then to begin negotiations"
railways Jaw slackened visibly.
i've told you my terms, sir" he said,
rather sulkily. There's no food in the
place for more'n me; and you may be here
TIL tuesday. l don't reckon they know me
arr,'
You're a cool young villain! remarked
Mr. Thorning, with the air of one willing
to be amused.
It's not for want of trying to be, if I'm
not, said Railway. His forced smile might
however, have shown his prisoner that he
was sufficiently warm with fear neverthe-
less. Come. sir, is 1t bargain?"
Bring Miss Thorning to me here Not
until you do so will for one moment con-
descend to parley with you am county
magistrate, sir, for one thing" Mr.. Thorn
ing spoke majestically.
Then Railway lost his temper. You may
be the boss of the whole county, for what
l care" he said. I'm not going to bring
Miss Thorning here. I give you my word,
she's all right, and when you've promised
me that oof, you'll say SO, too. You shall
have a few hours to think it over
This said, he shot the shutter into It's
place, savagely, and then he drew forth his
pipe and meandered into the patch or sun.
shine Which still gilded the eastern side Of
the encompassed courtyard
But he couldn't enjoy his tobacco properly
in such suspense. He returned to the abbey,
went as far the library door, which was
quite tight, and then descended again to
THE Penitents Cell" He knocked at the
panel before opening it this time:
Il only thought you had something to say
to me, SIR" he remarked, when his eyes
met Mr.. Thorning's, and shrank before
them.
You may shut that window" said Mr.:
Thorning. II have nothing to say to YOU.
Nothing. yet! I'll tell you straight sir,
the figure isn't coming down single dol
lar"
Shut the window, you rascal
Very good"' said Railway.
He tried to sheer bitterly; but somehow
the Indignation and masterfulness IN the
magistrates eyes smothered his attempt
I'm going to get my dinner, he added.
and slid the shutter. There was no know
ing but gentleman used to such meals as
they had at Bowerdale Manor might be
coaXed to capitulate by and by, merely for
reasons of stomach, combined with refiec-
ton. That is if he had no proper fatherly
feeling
Still, Railway was not exactly elated on
his return to his mothers quarters. That
fellow with Miss Thorning stuck in the
throat of his hopes well as Mr.. Thorn
ing's unexpected obstinacy.
He ate bread and cheese with an onion,
and drank beer, but his appetite was poor.
Only supposing Mr. Thorning continued OBJ
stinate! What was he to do with his three
prisoners? He had SO far bluffed through
out, with no thought of Interior proceed
ings to the verge Of homicide. Yet, in
self-defense, he might be forced to face
even the risk. 1t was not an appetizing
prospect.
Twice during his meal he slipped back
into the court yard just to see that nothing
abnormal was happening, obviously. But
he perceived nothing. He hoped therefore
that his fidgetings Of mind meant nothing.
And meanwhile Mr.. Thorning strobe to and
fro where the penitents of old had walled
their "Mea culpa!' in hair shirts, which
were removed only for the equally irritat-
Ing knotted cord. He was exceedingly
wroth. To think that his daughter too,
fian
What would he not have given to espy q
policeman through the grimed diamond
panes of his CELL which looked up a bram-
ing would have been welcome: even a olsen
gagged convict in search of job. He would
have engaged that convict on fabulous
terms.
1t was with these warnings in him that
he saw, or thought he saw, shadow out
side. Instantly he smashed two of the
panes with his elbow and called out:
rs any one there?" he cried, quite ap-
pealingly.
The shadow became flesh. Alec Garston
brushed back through the dead nettles and
the frosted refuse of the past autumn, and
showed Mr.. Thorning his face.
Good heavens, sr!'' he exclaimed. you
here?"
Fresh establishment possessed the master
of Bowerdale. For moment or two he did
but gaze at Alec, while fresh emotions
fought within him. Then he spoke
Good day Mr.. Garston,' he said. "a
diaboGcal outrage has been perpetrated on
me and Miss Thorning-my daughter Min
ME-"
Il know" said Alec. I've just managed
to get out myself. But you, as well, sir.
OF all the impudent conspiracies! l broke
out through the library window, and climb
ed down by the ivy. l was just hurrying to
tell you. Why Mr.. Thorning. It's almost
too ridiculous! What a laundering scoun-
drel the fellow is! What does it mean"
Mr.. Thorning was perplexed. But instead
of asking Garston to be more explicit, he
smiled sternly and answered Alecs ques-
ton.
TT means" he said. chat I am held
here and my daughter, too, until I pay
young Railway $4,000"
"Oh! / see''
Then Alec's plan of campaign underwent
a brisk change His eyes flashed and his
mouth stiffened with the battle look.
II tell you what, sir; I can manage it,
he said "Pll get back to the roof and drop
down into the yard. There's an old gutter
pipe, square-head strong thing tina. l
marked. I'd have got down 1t only ] saw
no sense in that then. Now it's different.
Wait a quarter Of an hour, Mr. Thorning,
and II he's to be found I'll settle him. /
suppose you're locked in?"
II am locked in, and he is, believe, din
ing, Mr. GarstOn."
Never had Alec Mr.. Thorning look
so amiable since it had been current knowl-
edge that he (A1ec) aspired toward Minnie.
"All right SIR said Alec. 'Pm off"
Mr.. Thornng did not speak as Alec Slip
ped out Of sight, but he called after him
later to be careful. His words did not
carry far enough.
But Alec was careful nevertheless He
understood that very much depended on
his pluck and prudence combined.
That tree of ivy which climbed abun-
dainty to the loaded roof of the abbey Of
fered very fair handhold right to the bat
Elements. 1t was nasty enterprise all the
same; and it was in state of profuse
perspiration, due to anxiety and heat that
Alec scrambled at length onto the roof