The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-07-23
(Continued.)


desk to keep myself from falling. OF ell
the suspicious that had struck me in rs-
lation 10 that desperate man. not one
had been near the truth. The idea that
he was not sir Percival Clyde at all. that
he had no more claim 10 the baronetcy
and TO Blackwater park than the poor
est laborer who worked on the estate. had
never once occurred TO my mind At one
time had thought he might be Anne
Cathericks father; at another time
thought he might have been Anne Cath
erick's husband the offense OF which he
was really guilty had been. from the irst
10 last beyond the widest reach OF my
ina gina tion.
The paltry means by which the fraud
had been effected the magnitude and dar
ing OF the crime that II represented tie
horror Of the consequences involved In
rs discovery. overwhelmed me. Who
could wonder now at the brute restless
ness Of the wretch's life; at his desper
ate alterations between abJect dupliclty
and reckless violence: at the madness ~
guilty distrust which had made him I'M
prison Anne Catherick in the asylum. ami
had given him over to the vile conspiracy
against his wife on the bare suspicion
tndt the one ana the Otnsf knew MS ter
riblc secret? The disclosure OF that Sc
cret might. in past years. have hanged
him-might now transport him for life.
The disclosure Of that secret. even IL the
sufferers by his deception spared him the
p psnalties OF the law, would deprive him,
at one blow, OF the name. the rank. the
estate, the whole social existence that he
hid Lsurl ed. This was the secret, and
IL was mine, A WORD from me, and
him forever-a word from me. and re
was driven out into the world. name
less. penniless. friendless outcast The
mans whole future hung on my lips-and
he knew IL by this time as certainly as I
did
That last thought steadied me- Inter
ests far more precious than my own d.
pended on the caution which must now
guide M. slightest actions There was
10 possible treachery which Sir Percival
might not attempt against me- In the
danger ana desperation of his position. he
would be staggered by no risks. he would
recoil at no crime. he would literally hesi-
tate Al rothng TO save himself.
| considered for minute. My first ne
cessity was TO secure positive evidence In
writing Of the discovery that l had Just
made. and. In the event OF any personal
misadventure happening TO me. TO place
The t,py OF the register was sure TO 5e
SAT in Mr.. wansborough's strong room.
But the position OF the original In the
vestry was, as j had seen with my own
eyes, anything but secure
In this emergency. l resolved TO return
10 the church, TO apply again 10 the clerk.
and to take the necessary extract from
tie register. before slept that night. I
was not then aware that legally certi-
eH nd nO
ument merely drawn out by myself could
cai i'm the proper importance as A proof.
was not aware Of this; and my deter
mination TO keep my present proceedings
a sec'st prevented me from asking any
questions which might have procured tlie
necessary information. My one anxiety
was the anxiety TO get back 10 Old Wei
mirghhm | made the best excuses
could for the discomposure in my face and
manner which Mr.. wansbotough mac
alrealy noticed; laid the necessary fec
on his table: arranged that should write
10 him in = day or two: and left the ONCE
with my head In a whirl, and my blood
throbb NIX through my veins at fever heat.
II was Just getting dark. The idea oc-
Cured 10 me that l might be followed
again and attacked on the high h-road.
NV walking stick was light one. Of
little or no use for the purposes OF de-
ftrse. l stopped, before leaving Knowles.
bury. and bought a stout country cudgrl,
snort. and heavy at the head. With TINS
homely weapon. IL any one man tried 70
stop me. | was a match for him. III moro
than one attacked me. could trust TO my
heels In my ol-days ! had been
noted runner and had not wanted for
practice since. in the later time OF my
experience In Central America.
I started for the town at brisk pace,
and kept the middle Of the road.
small misty rain was falling; and II
was impossible for the frst half Of the
way. TO make sure whether ! was follow
ed or not But at the last half or my
tourney. when l supposed myself to be
about two miles from the church, ! saw
a man run by me in the rain. and then
heard the gate Of field by the roadside
shut 10 sharply. I kept straight on.
with my cudgel ready In my hand. M
ears on the alert, and my eyes straining
TO see through the mist and darkness.
Before I had advanced a hundred yards.
there was rustling In the hedge on nv
right and three men sprung out into the
road
drew aside on the instant 10 the foot
pa,h The two foremost men were carried
beyond me before they could cheek
themselves The third was Is quick as
lightning. He stopped-half turned-and
struck at me with his stick. The blow
was aimed at hazard. and was not Sc
we're one. IL fell on my left shoulder. l
returned II heavily on his head. He stag
gered back and jostled his two compan-
ions iust as they were both rushing at
me- This circumstance gave me mo-
ments start I slipped by them, and took
10 the middle OF the road again AT the top
OF my speed.
The two unhurt men pursued me. They
were both good runners. the road was
smooth and level. and for the nrst five
minutes or more l was conscious that
aid not gain on them. II was perilous
work TO run for long In the darkness.
could barely see the dim black line OF the
hedges on either side; and any chance
obstacle In the road woulc have thrown
me down 20 a certainty Ere long | felt
the ground changing Il descS~sed from
the level at a turn. and then rose again
beyond Down the hill the men rather
gained on me. but up hill began 70 dis
tance them The rapid. regular thump Of
their feet grew fainter on my ear: and
calculated by the sound that was FAR