Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-12-31
"Geoffrey Heathcote, ESQ"
By JOHN FiNNIhoRE Copyright BY Co.

This is no miracle of tongues he
said dryly. WHO are you who have
Come, sir, your name and station"
4 l made him a low bow and smiled
grimly. My head was bare, for my hat
had flown aside as ran.
"Courtly, too" sneered the old man;
] "a malignant in hiding. Well, friend,
you have played your game out. /
never suspected you Speak,
Father. father" screamed Jack.
Peace, peace.' cried Sir John. lifting
his hand and surveying me With kim
lding eye. las live, a light breaks
across my mind; you are Godfrey
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
took no notice of him, but kept my
eyes fixed on the older man.
Yes, Sir john" said /, "Geoffrey
Heathcote, and this lady,let me tell You,
she has been playing part, too" In
the GREATNESS silence which now watt
ed upon my words my voice sounded
! like that of man who speaks aloud
1 as he walks alone. You have been
addressing her. | continued "as Mis-
tress Vaughan. To that name she has
right for she was born TO it. But
she has also every claim to another, for
when 1 rescued her from the Insulting
attentions of your son, interfered to
protect--1lay 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
hat and made Enid stiff bow
Mistress Heathrote," lie said II ask
your pardon. To Use your maiden name
was device for which it We're hard to
blame you. (ieoffrey Heathcote," he
went on, turning to me, II tell you the
plain truth when / say that We're the
warrant l 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 it concerns my duty as
q magistrate and sworn servant of
the commonwealth of England l have
no choice but to execute it, and l will
procure you q 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 he.
81 thank you.' 1 replied; that is all
could wsll.'
Enid, of her own instinct. gently
loosed her hold upon me, knowing that
he time of my attempt was now come.
yield yourself" cried Jack, and flour
ished his sword. l made !, single bound
to the top of the low parapet, and dived
clean into the moat. AS | Glove the
water, the sound of a pistol shot rang
in my ears, but it was too late and
was untouched. / swan across under
the water and came up to breathe
among a clump of sedges on the fur
Their side.
A deep drain emptied itself into the
moat within n yard of my head and
crept into it and waded along till 1
was beyond pistol shot. Then I climbed
crouched on the parapet, watching ca
gerly, and l heard her cry of joy as 1
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. l had three
y !,
and fled for my life. plantation of
thickset 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 l saw the
FLASHED hedge which kept the cattle at
bay draw nearer and nearer, / heard
shot after shot ring out. The sounds
filled me with renewed hope.
dared not glance behind to see how
I 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 a galloping horse, and 1 tumbled
over the hedge and darted into the
wood in safety. Here was no ground
for a horse to follow, and knowing the
place as | did, | feared no pursuit on
foot. | pushed swiftly through the
ashes and came to bride path, down
which flew at my utmost speed. 1t
led straight to the keepers cottage, and
there lay my one chance of escape.
Whitesocls. Let me but feel her pow
again and they must have nags be-
yohd anythlhg ever Knew OF who
noulu pll.iS Us " ,ooh. en- nllhuteS
l'se .uliiiiiis sit iiie ~ 'Ae iiltle
s.tal n,,a,' .ne 1922 - Jo,'ase
80, $500. Mas , no siSli ~ w me-
i'll ~, '' ~, us1ieu NJ, ~ q
, lieu ilu. oSiiiiiu 'te mus ne sIeae
W taa s Mas aas.e'isa " .he pos
~ 'iis uuoi ~ , any oiie
Iiis GU n1 ieai.u , upoii his q? syn, 20
"a VI Ms tesiei
i,