The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-07-13

went brisk change His eyes flashed
and his mouth stiffened with the bat
tle-look.
II tell you what. sir; I can manage
it," be said. "Tll get back to the roof,
ard drop down into the yard. There's
an old gutter pipe, a square-headed,
strong thing that marked. I'd have
got down it only l saw no sense in
that then. Now it's different. Wait a
quarter of an hour, Mr.. Thorning. and
If he's to be found I'll settle him. 1
suppose you're locked in?"
Il am locked in, and he is, I be-
lieve, dining. Mr.. Garston."
Never had Alec seen Mr.. Thorning
look so amiable since it had been cur
rent knowledge that he (Alec) aspired
towards Minnie.
"All right sir" said Alec. I'm OFF,"
Mr.. Thorning did not speak as Alec
slipped out Of sight, but he called af-
ter him later to be careful. His words
did not carry far enough.
But Alec was careful nevertheless
He understood that very much depend
ed on his pluck and prudence COM
| combined.
That tree of ivy which climbed album
| dainty to the loaded roof of the abbey
| offered very fair handhold right to the
battlements 1t was q nasty enterprise
| all the same; and 1t was in ctate of
profuse perspiration. due to anxiety
and heat, that Alec scrambled at
length on to the roof again.
He breathed freely for minute or
| two, and steadied his nerves while he
| crossed the area to the inner line of
| the building. The gutter spout was
| worse than the Ivy. Indeed, he didn't
| Ike the look of IT. The more he view
| ed 1t, the less he liked it,
This fact set him tackling it forth
with. He didn't wish to have all his
courage ooze out of him before he be-
| gan. He thought of Minnie, waiting
| disconsolately. She had kissed him
| when he started to smash his way out
| OF the library, and he thought of that
kiss. Further still, he thought of Mr..
mornings softened and even welcom-
| ing gaze just now. And then, grad
ually, he lowered his legs to the spout,
the square loaded mouth of which GIN
scribed c 1890 he clutched with his
arms and even his very chin.
The first part was the worst. That
hanging in space, ere he could feel
| anything with his booted toes, was. to
say the least, disquieting. But when he
mad got one hand on the clamp near
est below the spout head he was over
the worst. His muscles were in good
| TRIM and so down he went with plen-
| " or brake power in his arms.
And this was the sight young Rad
| way beheld when, having finished his
dinner, he strolled again towards 1.-THE
| Penitents' Cell" He meant to reduce
a thousand of that five, mention of
which had, he believed maddened Mr..
morning. Alec was in the last ten
| feet of the descent
| Railway stood spelIbound. and Alec
| dropped the final six feet plump, land
ing capitally. Then their eyes met,
and Alec sprang to the chase. He
caught Railway on the threshold of his
mothers quarters. There was no par
ticular struggle, for, as Railway had
judged when he first saw him, he was
no match for the athletic young barris-
| ter
Now. then. come and undo those
doors! said Alec, when he had his cap
tive quite under control
Roadway was silent. He nodded and
skunk ahead of his conqueror. First
Mr.. Thorning was freed and then
Minnie, and no one except Railway
paid any heed to the magistrates in
| dignant denunciations of the unfor-
tunate rogue.
Alec and Minnie drifter together
while Mr.. Thorning continued to air
his feelings. They were smiling, Min.
ME openly, Alec with certain secre.
tiveness which 1t annoyed him to be
forced, as it We're, to practice.
But 1t was now Minnie Thorning's
turn to speak
Dad" she said, linking her arm II
her fathers Just look where Mr.. Gar
ston came down that horrid pipe. Sup.
posing he had slipped"
Mr. Thorning glanced at the pipe and
then at Alec, and held out his hand.
Il haven't thanked you, Mr.. Garston,'
he said, quietly. IT do so now, from
my heart, I'd no idea--that is, it was
a nasty risk"
"And, O. dear" murmured Minnie
II am so hungry, dad"
Mr.. Thorning inflated his nostrils yet
again at Railway
IF 1t were not for you mother poor
good, hardworking woman" he ex-
claimed. well, we will see about that
next week. Come, Minnie. At least ]
am glad he lied when he said you had
a-heart seizure"
TO-" said the girl with a mischieyous
smile at Alec, whose lips quivered to a
haIt-responsive smile, did he say
that?"
Mr.. Thorning frowned, and turned to
Alec.
r'If you can lunch with us, Mr.. Gar
ston-" he began.
But before he could finish, Minnie's
arms were about his neck, and he was
Kissed In the courtyard of Carnway abb
bey--kissed before those other men.
THANK you, dear papa" she said
gratefully. THAT Is SO sweet of you.
OF course he'll come, won't you, Alec?p
Delightful, indeed. siri" said Alec.
Michael Roadway scratched his head
as he watched the three ascend the
lane from the abbey. He was unhappy,
but ne felt that he had something to