The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13
CHAPTER XLvL
HOW OUR PIECE MISSED FIRE AT
HARNDON ACRES.

ough bore fruit at the start The town
was a-bubble over Master Harndon'S feS-
lNlues Tor the evening, and Dick and
determined on the instant of our arrival
III town 10 attend IL. We did.
AS We had hoped TO find il. this rout at
Master harnoOn was sitting Jam. and
good half Of the guests were in civilian
plain clothes. neither Paris nor London
having as yet reached so far into the
homespun and 10 prescribe the gay tOg-
gerleS OF the courts. This for the men.
hasten 10 add; Tor then, as now. our
American danes and maids would put a
years cropping Of the plantation on
their backs thinking nothing OF IT. ana
there was no lack Of shimmering silks
and stin brocaoes, Of high-piled COLI
tures, paint, patches and po~cer al this
merry making at Harndon Acres.
Lacking an intrOducer and want
ing, moreover, nothing save tAe
leave TO have standing room IN tne
rhrOng as lOOkers-On, We gave Mr. Mar
maduke HarndOn. q sleek rCtund little
gentleman, sinking and bowIng ana
tapping the lid OF his silver snunooA,
wide BERTH and with an agreement 70
meet later for the comparing OF notes,
Jennifer and / went apart al the door OF
the ballroom. each 10 lose himself IN the
assembled company as an otter Slips INTO
pool namely, without ruhlnG IL
] was easily done. Wins borough had
by this time become a refuge camp for
ali the loyalsts in the region round
about. and there We're many az the pres
eut company who were strangers one 10
another. uneasy, shifting ngures 10 the
gay throng, beneath the notice alike %
naughty danes and prinking oanOy oln-
GERS. Beneath the notice. 4 say; yet l
would qualify this. for more than one OF
the epauletted macarOnis trod upon my
toes or hustled me rudeiy IN the crusA
III ] trembled, not for my own selt-con-
troll. but Tor Richard S. making sure that
the lad was having no more gentlemanly
welcome than /
Twas with some notion Of finding
ampler room for my feet that edged
away through the fringing wall-crowd IN
the dancing room toward a curtalned
archway at the back. AS yet had over
heard uaught save the silly psrSin2ge or
the bellies and beauX-a word here ana
another there-and 1 was beginning 10
fear that this was as poor place 10
look for information as was the pot
house, when thing befell 10 set me
a-Quiver with ali the thrlllIngS the hu-
man heart-strings can thrura into one
and the same instant Of time
j had shOuldered my way out OF the
ballroom medley and into the less
crowded drawing-roOm at the back Il. as
proved 10 be a rear drawing-room SER
ing for the nonce as reIecIory- mere
were little groups and knots OF chatter
ers standing about; fair maids, each with
her ring OF relocated courtlerS. laugh
and jesting or picking daintliy al the
yiands on the great oaken table IN the
midst
Rounding the promontory of the ia
ble's end 10 come 10 anchor in some quiet
eddy where / could listen unnOuced Tor
J.
needs entangle the button OF my coat
Gun in the delicate lace OF lady's sleeve
in passing
10 me, and 1 saw the white shoulders go
Up in q little shrug Of petulance while
sought 10 disentangle the button. Then
she turned 10 face me and the words OF
apology frOZe on my lips Twas Mis-
tress AIargery. standing al case with
good heavens, with Richard Jennifer and
Colonel Banastre Tarleton for her com
uanE1
Here was halter with a double snaf-
fie al the end OF il, was the thought that
flashed upon me; and I was gathering
my wits 10 brazen il out IN some such
manner as to leave Jennifer unattainted
when my lady gave little start and a
La. Mr- Septimus: how you startled
me-" she cried Then, without a tremor
Of the lip or pause for breath-taking.
she presented me: Colonel Tarleton;
Mr.. Seprimus IretOn Of lretondene. in
Virginia" And next 10 Dick: Mr..
Richard; my good friend. Mr.. Ireton-"
Twas done so cleverly and with such
an air that even Dick. who had known
her from childhood, was struck dumb
with admiration, as his face sufficiently
advertised. And. indeed. had much ado
70 play my own part with any decent
self-pOssessiOn. though l did make shift
10 bow stifiiy. and 10 say I see l
should have brought the Iretondele title
deeds with me 10 make you sure that
an not my rebel cousin John. Mistress
Margery. Your servant, Colonel Tarle-
ton; and yours, Mr.. Richard
Dicks bow was an elaborate hiding Of
his tell-tale face: but the colOneIs was
the slightest OF mods, and I could feel
the sloe-black eyes Of him boring into
Had my lady given him but a mo-
ment's time I make no doubt he would
have come instantly at the truth and the
little farce would have been turned into
a tragedy on the spot But she gave him
no time. The spinet in the ballroom al
cove was tinkling out the overture to
minuec, and she laid the tips Of her
dainty fingers on the cOlonelS arm
This viii be ours to walk through,
will IL not, Colonel Tarleton2" she said.
playing the sprightly mink 10 the very
US a curtsy. 'Au revoir. gentlemen. 'Tis
a thousand pities you had not Joined
sooner and 50 had the red coat and small
sword TO grace you here.
When they were gone Dick laughed
sardOnically.
saw you ever such a cold-blooded lit
tie jade in all your life? Twas with me
as II was with you; 1. too. stumbled upon
them. and the colonel hustled me and set
his heels upon my foot dareSay L
should have had myself in irons in an
other moment but for Madge. She
slipped IN between and introduced US as
sWeetly as you please.
Nevertheless said I, 'the colonel
recognized US both"
''Noi Think you so2'
"'Tis certain enough to play upon.
What we do now must be quickly done
heard"
He swore softly. Never q cursed
word: less than nothing Of any interest
20 Dan Morgan"
We must try again. Twill surely be
talked OF here If the army is about TO
move. Do you take turn in the ante
room and meet me in a quarter Of an
hour at the outer door.
At the word Dick promptly lost him
self in the throng while / made a slow
circuit Of the refreshment table Once
thought I had a clew when a girl hang
ing or the arm Of an infantry Lieutenant
said. viii IL be true that you will pres
emily go out TO hunt down the rebels,
Mr. Thornicroft2" But the prudent lieu
tenant smiled and put her OF cleverly,
leaving his fair questioner-and me
none the wiser.
I went on. drifting aimlessly from
group TO group and dallying Of set pur-
pose II I had read Colonel Tarleton's
glance Alright the moments were grow
ing diamond precious: but as yet neither
half Of my errand was done. Come what
might I must see Margery again and
have ner tea me where and how TO find
the priest; and twas borne in upon me