Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-12-26
"Geoffrey Heathcote, Esq"
BY JOHN FINNIMORE: Copyright 1899, by s. 9. Mcclure co.,

DlAA ~ wv
been playing a part SO successfully?
Come, sir, your name and station.
1 made him q low bow n smiled
grimly. My head was bare, for my nat
had flown aside as l ran.
"Courtly, too" sneered the old man;
"a malignant in hiding. Well, friend,
you have played your game u
never suspected you. Speak,"
Father, father" screamed Jack.
peace, peace!" cried Sir John, lifting
his hand and surveying me with kin
lding eye. LAS / live, a light breaks
across my mind; you are Geoffrey
Heathcote."
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 death-a traitors death-waits
for him
L took no notice of him, but kept my
eyes fixed on the older man.
Yes, Sir john said 1, "Geoffrey
Heathcote. and this lady, let me tell you,
she has been playing a part, too" In
the GREATNESS silence which now wait
ed upon my words. my voice sounded
like hat of a man who speaks aloud
as he walks alone. You have, been
addressing her" / continued, las Mis-
tress Vaughan. To that name she has
a right, for she was born to 1t. But
she has also every claim to another. Tor
when 1 rescued her from the insulting
attentions of your son, l interfered TO
protecr-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, ben 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
for him; 1, too. At last he took of his
hat and made Enid n stiff bow.
Mistress Heathcote," he said. Il ask
your pardon. To use your maiden name
was q device for which 1t were hard TO
blame you. Godfrey Heatticote,' he
went on, turning TO me. II tell you the
plain truth when / say that were the
warrant | hold against you a private
matter touching my own fortune alone,
would tear it in a thousand pieces
and fling it into yonder moat.
bowed and kept a wary eve on Jack
who was lingering his pistol hungrily.
But in that 1t concerns my duty as
a magistrate and a sworn servant of
the commonwealth Of England / have
no choice but to execute it. and l 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?"
"She shall be safe" said NJ
Il thank YOU" l 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 ONE
yield yourself" cried Jack, and -four
ishcd his sword. / made q single bound
to the top Of the low parapet. and dived
clean into the moat AS | Glove the
water, the sound OF a pistol hot rams
in my ears, but it was too late and j
was untouched. / swan across under
the water and came up to breathe
among a clump of sedges on the fur
ther side.
A deep drain emptied itself into the
moat within a yard of my head and
[ crept into il and waded along till ]
was beyond pistol shot. Then l climbed
out and looked back. Enid was
crouched on the %parapet, watching ca
gerly, and l 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. 1 had three
hundred yards between me and cover
and / fed for my life. A plantation OF
thtckset young ashes lay before me
and | strained every nerve to gain II
before my pursuers could come up to
me No law was granted to 81 obsti-
nate a fugitive, and, as l saw the
FLASHED hedge which kept h cattle AT
bay draw nearer and nearer, l heard
shot after shot ring out. The sounds
filed me with renewed hope.
| dared not glance behind to see how
| stood, but if they had taken to their
pistols, it 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 n Galloping horse, and l tumbled
over the hedge II darted into the
wood in safety. Here vas no ground
for a horse to follow, and knowing the
place as l did, ! feared no pursuit or
foot. | pushed swiftly through the
ashes and came to a bride path, down
which ] flew at my utmost speed. II
led straight to the keepers cottage, and
there lay my n chance of escape
Whitesock. Let me but feel her pow
erfii, springy ribs between my knees
again and they must have nags be-
yond anything | ever knew of who
wolld bring us to book. Ten minutes
fast running brought me to the little
clearing where the keepers cottage
stood. There vas no sign of White
sock anywhere and | rushed to q wat
tied hut behind the house. The great
bloodhound was fastened to the post
OF the door to prevent any one enter
INK and he leaped upon me as soon as
| ventured within length of his tether,
almost knocking me Town.
What, Ranger," l 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 n wooden hasp
| withdrew it and went in. A joyful
whinny rang through the place, and
seeing that Whitesock was loose,
called her and hurried to the house.
Here | hoped to furnish myself witt
some sort of weapons, and l lifted the
latch and entered. No vas at home
and l looked eagerly round, but at first
glance saw nothing which could serve
me. Then 1 espied Ralph's quarter
staff propped in a corner and seized
that, in default of handler weapons.
saw no signs of horse furniture either
and so scrambled Cn the mare, and
rode away barebacked.