The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-06-11
Cbe rove Chat neDer Dies
on
Marsh" he Inn the Etc.
AL Rights Reserved.
CHAPTER XIn.-Continued.

u,
direction Of London, the only sure
refuge, taking advantage, with his old
instinct, of such bits of cover as came
in his way BY the time the good
woman of the inn had got down to
the door he was nearly a quarter of
q mile away.
But when he came in sight Of shed
we'll sheltered by clump Of trees,
he determined to take refuge within
its walls till morning, and laying
Ermyn down on little straw which
he found inside and collected into a
heap, he had the satisfaction Of see
ing her head droop, of hearing her
little Wailing cries cease, until at last
she was sound asleep.
He watched by her side all thru the
night, doing at intervals for a few
minutes only, tortured in the long
waking hours by the dreary sense Of
his own failure to take advantage Of
his luck In securing his child.
lie had no remorse for what he had
done to Lord Catherington. Long
years of brooding over his own mis-
fortunes, in the intervals Of drinking
bouts, had undermined his sense Of
Justice to everyone but himself. His
simple, foolish creed had become that
of the outcast and the derellct, and
was summed up In the formula:
Down with everyone who Is well Off
and prosperous, since I am neither!"
When morning came, before the lit
tie one opened her eyes, he went out
in search of food, and of some in
formation Of which he stood in need.
He found both at the village inn,
which was just taking down its shut
tiers.
On his asking for glass Of milk
and some nursery biscuits, the man
who was opening the house laughed
at him.
You look as If you could do VII
summat stronger than that" said he.
Yes, 50 could; but it's not for me,
It's for a child"
"a child, eh?"
Yes, I'm on tramp, and it's hard
for the little one" said Burnet, noting
that already the man looked at him
curiously, as they went into the bar
together.
"Where be the little 'un?"
cover there" replied Burnet, throw
ing back his head vaguely in the direc-
ton of the fields. you needn't be
afraid of trusting me with the glass.
I'll buy it,
ooh, it wasn't that" The man got
the milk from a can by the door and
opened a tin. stranger in these
parts?"
Yes said Burnet. And look here,
you'd do me a service if you could
tell me the names Of some of the great
folks hereabouts. Perhaps 1 might
get some help from some of them, for
the sake OF the cnllu, some WOfR 10 40,
or some clothes"
The man looked at him, at the cut
on his right hand, and then said:
well, there's Mr.. Bowen. He lives
at the Hall yonder, but he's away
now, I fancy. Then there's Lord
ter o. six mile from here. But he's
away, too, I'm thinking, and there's
a rare lot O. trouble goin' on there,
they say. Not much chance Of there
being time to give to you
Anybody else?" said Burnet.
There's Mr.. Green, at the bridge,
retired tradesman or somethink O.
that sort. Gives a lot away just for
the sake O. being thought somebody.
He might help you"
"WhO else is there?"
well, then, there's Sir tombstone
Troyle at FrOyle Place"
"Froyle!" echoed Burnet, suddenly
recollecting that this was the name OF
Ermyn's governess. "Froyle did you
say" ..,,o, eno,, ,ono
at the top of the hill"
Burnet finished his own refresh
ment and went out with the milk fol
Ermyn. Froyle was an uncommon
name, and it seemed to him that there
was a direction of Providence in the
coincidence of his hearing it at thai
moment. Perhaps even, he though
to himself, the people there might be
relations of the graceful young widow
who had such a high-bred air, and If
that case, if he could get these people
to take an interest in the child, HI
might cunningly thus contrive to ge
the little one restored to the home
from which he had SO rashly take1
her.
For the cold morning air hat
brought confirmation Of his belief il
his own folly In stealing her ava,
from her happy home.
He ran back to the shed at a grea
pace, and coaxed the child, who wa
now awake and more frightened a
finding herself alone than she ha
been at finding herself with him tn
night before. to have some breakfast
When she had finished he wrappe
her up again. and set off at a grea
pace in the direction Of the hill wher
Froyle Place was. He reached tn
house at about half past 8 in tn
morning. and walking boldly thru tn
gates before the lodge keeper coul
stop him, knocked at the great fror
door Of the mansion, which was
great winged building Of red brlcl
much higher and more imposing tina
Stone Court.
The door was opened by a man-sel
want, who looked at him in astonisf
ment, but asked him why he had com
to the front door instead of to tn
back.
Robert Burnet drew himself up.
IT am not a beggar,'' said he. "a
least not for myself. Ask your maste
or your mistress If they'll take pit
on a lost child
AS he spoke he uncovered the fac
of little Ermyn, who peeped out wit
big, frightened eyes, with her mout
puckered up for another whimper.
The servant looked, hesitate
looked from the child to the man.
wait minute" said he. ct
ask
And he shut the door in Burnet
face.
- The artist, blazing up into a ma
mans anger at this rebuff, turned
once, and clenching his teeth al
muttering impotent threats al
curses, was hurrying down the dri'
again, when he was met by the lods
keeper, who had followed the intrud
up toward the house.
To avoid him Burnet turned to tt
left, and began to run across the law
- leaping over the flower beds wi
great agility. Being still in full vie
of the windows, he attracted the a
tention Of the inmates Of the mansio
with the result that Sir tombstone
curiosity was excited by his singul
appearance, and he pointed the fus
tive out to his wife, who cried: