New-York tribune., 1903-06-23

| for it"
Man. there's no time to lose, The Nortr
| Willis Regiment sails tomorrow night for Porru-
1 gal 1 heard the news as left Plymouth
/ IF that's So" put in. Mr.. Plinlimmon VIII
be down at the cottage tonight. or tomorrow
| morning. to say gOOdby."
/ Are you sure Of that?"
/ Sure" said l. Miss Isabel told me that he
/ had his coIoueIs promise"
/ Mr.. Rogers slapped his thigh. "Egad. boy.
| it seems to me you're the good angel in this
business Wen send down TO the cottage at
/ once"
/ He pulled dog whistle from his pocket and
/ blew two shrin calls upon IT, But above the
second sounded the rector's voice IN sharp
exclamation and we spun around in tine 70 see
| him fling back the door and pass. not into a
/ cupboard as 1 had expected. but into lighted
room
| I was running toward the door 20 what
\ his exclamation might mean. when at the Other
appeared the constable whom Mr.. Rogers called
1 'tJirn''-a youngish man, and TALL with a round
head set like button top Of a massive pair
/ OF shoulders.
I You whistIed for me- sir?'
| Il did. You will not be wanted 20 keep watch
/ any longer Step down 10 Mindeu Cottage and
/ give this note to Miss Brooks He pulled out
/ pencil. searched his pockets and found scrap
| Of paper. ani. leaning over the table scribbled
| a few lines. III Miss Brooks has gone to bed
| you must knock her up"
| Very good. sir Constable Jim touched hts
| hat and retired.
| And now what's the matter in there? Come
along. you. Whitmore. Has he found the II
| cense?"
| But this was not what the rector's cry had an
| nounced The room into which passed had
apparently served Mr.. Whitrore for bed
chamber and private study combined. for bed
| stood in the corner. and a bookcase and bureau
| on either side OF the chirnneypiece- In the mid
die OF the floor lay open valise. and all
| around it a litter Of books and clothes. tossed
| here and there as their owner had dragged
| them out TO make a selection IN his packing
| Mr.. Rogers uttered long whistle so you
| were in the act Of boIttng?' He stared around.
! rubbing his chin and forehead. his eyes again on
whitmore- Now. why tonight wondsr?-
MY conscience. Mr.. Rogers"-
| "Oh. the devil take your consctencei Your
conscience seems TO have timed matters pretty
accurately. II not quite accurately enough Say
that your nose sraeIt a rat. But why tonight
| I cannot say why, but he stared around. =
| nausea seemed TO take the unfortunate man
| Perhaps the excitement Of confession over. the
cold shadow Of he end rose and thrust ITSELF be-
| fore him He was. feel sure a coward IN
grain. He swayed and caught at the ledge Of
the chimney piece, almost knocking over one OF
/ the TWO candles WHICH DOEDeQ Llers
With that there srnote ne sounds
OF two voices in alteration outside-one a
| wornan's high contraIto. And. a moment later.
footsteps came bustling through the outer room
and there stood on the threshold-Miss Belcher-
She was attired in low crowned beaver hal
and a riding habit, the skirt Of which. httched
| high in her left hand. disclosed pair Of tan
| boots cut like hessians but without the hessian
tasseI. On this hand bIazed enormous dia-
| Inond. The other. resting on her hip, held
hunting crop and a pair OF gauntleted gloves
IT bid ye be quiet. Sam Hodgson." she was
saying to the constable who followed her, vainly
expostulatiug. Man, Il you dare to get in my
| way, I'll take the whip TO ye- To heel, say.
Mr. Rogers's orders? Damn your tmpudence-
what do I care for Mr.. Rogers? Why. hullo
jack
As her gaze travelled round the room. Mr.
Rogers stepped up and addressed the constable
/ across her:
TITS all right. Hodgson; you may 90 back to
yo11r post wasn't expecting Miss Belcher
| And begad. Lydia" he added. as the constable
| withdrew this is & queer hour for a call
| But Miss BeIcher's gaze moved slowly from
the rector-whOse bow she answered with a curt
nod-to me. and from me to the figure of Whit
/ more by the fireplace
What's wrong?r she demanded Lord. n
! he's not faintfngr-and as she ran. the curarS
Jack,-I saw bottle in the next room. didn't
II No thank We Rector can manage him
| AS Mr. Rogers hurried back for the brandy.
she lifted the man and carried him. rejecting our
| help TO an armchair beside the window. There
for a moment standing with her back TO ne, she
peered into his face and (as think now whfs-
pered a word 10 him
open the window. boyle wants sir shs
called 70 me over he- shoulder.
While flInabled 70 draw the curtains. she
reached an arm past me and flung them back;
and so. with turn OF the wrist. unlatchsd the
| easement and thrust the pane wide In doing
! SO she leaned the weight OF her body on nfne
| pressing me back among the curtain folds
heard a CRY from the rector An oath from
Mr.. Rogers answered tt But between rhe cry
and the answer Mr.. whitnors rushed past n~
and vauIttug the sill, escaped into the night
| "Confound you, LydiaH' Mr. Rogers set ooWn
the tray with a crash and leaped over 1t toward
the window. finding his whistle and blowing
shrfu call as he ran Wen have him yeti Tel
| F4odgson to take the lane Oh. confound your
| interference
Across the yard cIatter Of hoofs sounded
cutting short his speech-
| .srba eate.'' he shouted, clanber1ng across ths
sill
But he was too late. As he dropped upon the
| cobbIes and pelted OF 20 close It. saw and
heard a horse and rider go hurting through the
open gate-an indistinguishable mass A shout
a Jet or two OF sparks-a bang on the thin
| tfrnbers as on a drum-and the hoofs were thud-
ding away further and further into darkness
CTo be continued)