The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-12-25
sGeoffrey Heathcote, Esq
~ JOHN FINNIhoRf- Copyright 1897 p .. $. Mcclure Coz


ny great surprise the old man seemed
moved. His eyes softened and took on
9 look of pity, his voice when he spoke
changed indescribably. She seemed to
feel what he. was going to say, and
shrank, n chung tighter to me. l.
clumsy and slow, could not perceive.
a, MISTRESS, Mistress said he. land
! thought you We're everything that
was innocent and Eood.ss
And: SO she is" I cried holly. 'Nev-
er, never in your life, Sir John. held
your mind q truer thought"
For an instant all stood wrapt and
silent. The speech: was as unexpected
as II a dumb animal had found voice.
Every face was turned on me, hither-
g. III their eyes, a mute, voorhees,
clown.
sirsJohn recovered himself first of all.
This Is no miracle of tongues" he
been playing a part so successfully?
Come, sir, our name and station"
l made him a low bow and smiled
grimly. My head was bare, for my hat
had flown aside as I ran
"Courtly, too" sneered the old man;
"a malignant in hiding. Well, friend.
you have played your game out. I
never suspected you. Speak,"
Father. father!!" screamed Jack.
Peace peace!" cried Sir John, lifting
his hama and surveying me with, kin
lding eye. A I live. a light breaks
across my mind; you are Godfrey
A loud cry of surprise from. the on
lockers echoed his words, and Jack
fairly halloed for joy.
"A doomed mani" he called out, and
laughed shrilly, "a doomed man! a
bloody 6eath-a traitors death-waits
for him"
7 took M pot}ca ~ hiu h,4 TO-. ~v
eyes fSed on the cider man.
Yes, Sir John said /, "Geoffrey
H~eathcote.a and this lady, let me tell you,
she has been playing a part, too In.
the GREATNESS silence which row wait
ed upon my words. my voice sounded
like; that Of a man who speaks aloud
as he walks alone. You have been
addressing her" I continued, 'as Mis-
tress Vaughan. To hat name she has
u right. for she was born to it. But
she has also every claim to another, for
when | rescued her from the insulting
attentions of your son, 1 interfered to
lprotect-my Wife
A loud hum Of establishment burst
from the Puritan portion of my audi
ence. and Sir John laid his hand over
his mouth, bent down his head and
looked at us long and earnestly. 1t was
now time for me-to go. but the old man
made no move, and every one waited
AoA AaAAk - NAcos-
hat and made Enid a stiff bow.
Mistress Heathcote," he said. II ask
your pardon. To use your maiden name
was a device for which it were hard to
blame YOU. Geoffrey Heathcote," he
went on, turning to me, 81 tell you the
plain truth when I say that were the
warrant I hold against you a private
matter touching my fortune alone,
| would tear it In a thousand pieces
and f1ingsit into yonder moat."
I bowed and Kept a wary eve on Jack,
who was lingering his pistol hungrily.
"Butsin that it concerns my duty as
q magistrate and a sworn servant of
the commonwealth of England 1 have
no choice but to execute 1t, I will
procure you a fair trial."
And, pending that, Sir John.you will
see that no one disturbs my wife in her
own house here?"a
She shall be safe said he.
Il thank you" I replied; that is all
I could wish"
Enid. of her own instinct. gently
loosed her hold upon me, knowing that
the time Of my attempt was now come.
Yield yourself" cried Jack. and -four
fshed his sword. I made a single bound
to the top of the low parapet, and Owed
clean n the moat. As / Glove the
water, the sound of a pistol shot rang
in my ears. u it was too late and I
was untouched. I swan across under
the water anft came up to breathe
among q clIlnp of sedges on the fur
Their side.
A deep drain emptied itself into the
moat within a yard Of my head and
i crept into it and waded along till I
out and looked back. Enid was
crouched on the parapet, watching ca
gerly, and I heard her cry Of Joy as
waved my hand and started to run
down the park. For. there was need to
put my best foot foremost.
My enemies had got to horse, and
now swept round the further angle Of
the house in hot pursuit. I had three
undred yards between me and cover,
and / fed for my life. A plantation Of
thsckset young ashes lay before me,
and l strained every nerve to gain it
before my pursuers could come UP to
me, No law was granted to so obsti-
nate a fugitive. and, as I saw the
FLASHED hedge which kept the cattle at
bay draw nearer and nearer, I heard
shot after shot ring out. The sounds
flied me with renewed hope.
| dared not glance behind to see how
l stood, but If they had taken to their
pistols. 1t was scarce likely they ex-
pected to run me down In the open.
One or two balls whistled pretty nigh.
but the best of shots can take no aim
on q galloping horse, and I tumbled
over Cne HeQSe ana QarteQ Into the
wood in safety. Here was no ground
for a horse to follow, and knowing the
place as I did, I feared no pursuit on
foot. l pushed swiftly through the
h and came to a bride path, down
which I flew at my utmost speed. It
led straight to the keepers cottage, and
there lay my one chance of escape,
Whitesock. Let me but feel her pow
erful, springy ribs between my knees
again and they must have nags be-
yond anything I ever knew Of who
would bring US to book. Ten minutes
fast running brought me to the little
clearing where the keepers cottage
stood. There was no sign Of White
sock anywhere and I rushed to a wat
tied hut behind the house. The great
bloodhound was fastened to the post
of the door to prevent any one enter
ing and he leapeds upon me as soon as
/ yentured within length Of his tether,
alnost knocking me down.
What, Ranger!" I cried, and my
voice and his sense of smell convinced
him Of his mistake, and he crouched
at my feet and licked my hand. The
door was fastened by wooden hasp.
l withdrew it and went in.s A joyful
whinny rang through the place, and
seeing that Whitesock was loose, I