Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-14
CHAPTER IV-Continued.

CHAPTER lV-Cont1nued.
He could not have been a very brave man,
Idris thought, for he seemed unable to keep
his hand, which rested on the table, from
shaking.
All three were silent, listening for a re-
nowal Of the sound. 1t soon came-a dull
boom slowly rolling through the air like
distant thunder.
With the air of one mad the stranger
dashed to the window, and f1inging wide
the easement looked out into the night a
night of glory and beauty, such as is sell
dom seen in misty Brittany The air from
horizon to zenith was alive with countless
stars that seemed to float like silver dust
in the blue depth Their faint light falling
over a wide expanse of ripping sea, ana
on long arc Of yellow. sand terminated
at each end by dark cliffs, formed a pic
ture that would have charmed the eye OF
an artist.
Idris, his curiosity getting the better or
his fear slipped from his mothers embrace,
and stealing to second easement, Iookeu
through it's latticed panes.
On the water was the boat he had noticed
earlier in the evening. the boat that hao
been put out from the yacht. II us occu-
pants had gone ashore for the purpose or
taking some one aboard they had failed IN
their object, since the boat contained the
same seven sailors. They were evidently IN
a state of perplexity; for, without any ap,
parent motive, they were rowing backward
and forward in line parallel with the
shore, the steersman now and then stand
ing up and sweeping the coast with
night glass. Wat.
saw lets of black smoke issuing from the
funnel The engineer was evidently getting
I'D steam. .;o,,
Here. thought Idris, was the explanation
Il Txa
of the booming SOUND. Inc sacn. was was
about to weigh anchor, ana hao hIeo d 3 ui'
as a signal of departure.
The masked men, however, did not seem
to think that the sound came from the
yacht With his body haf out OF lne WIN
dow he was staring at the plateau of brown
moorland with it's faint silvery crown
staring as If behind that white mist some
exciting event were happening that ne
would fain witness. ,
heration. and at that sound the man reeleo
from the window as if buffeted by giant
hand. ,,a
"Damnation! he has escaped he Missed
between his set teeth. rs this their vigil
lance. after being warned of the plot! But
nv enemy shall not escape. I'll join IN the
chase myself. That gun invites pursuit. II
is lawful" and here sinister smile appear !s. !.
ed beneath the fringe of his mask, 1T Is
lawful to shoot a fugitive convict"
With that he darted from the room anu
dashed down the staircase; the siaIiLnlile
of door followed, ana tne me-. mn the
..raet In the direction of the moorland
The indignation felt by Mrs. Breakspear
at the theft of tn, ring became ea ioed and
new emotion A convict had escaped anu
the strangers words seemed almost 10 IN
nIy that the fugitive washer lusoa Ia
She strove to Danish this ldea as VIZ
fancy, as a too daring hope on mel, net pat :,
hnt r. would persist in forcing itself upon
her With her hand pressed 10 heL SUI '.
she sat. powerless to speak, treHpIils a.
the thought that at thas very IN the
Eric Marville might be heeing oSer 'i in
1oistv moorland with armed warders :! ~ II
n me- nnrsuit eager to bring him down Win
TAT there goes another gum crlea
1dris' who is It that is firing ana why
are soaatb,na else besides the gun was now ,''
heard Along the lonely and unusua a,
silent road that led down from the .,Eoi
land to Quilaix came s ''ash.b,e in
at first faint and undistingulshaa;Snt; rnt
ahoracter became gradually more dlst ny,
end finally developed into the th 1' .nso
of horse hoofs, accompanied by .ne no'i IL
Of wheels rafting madly for"ar dooth 70
speed were a matter OF NE "ii
the driver Of the venice 49,. sound
" o,der and ever louder grew the souhu
of the galloping horse-hools, my ~ ont
scended the moorland; they reacneu ~ w
Chris Of the town; they came plunglhs up
the Rue Grande. and at last the "ild ract
was brought to a sudden stanos'iii III A'o'i>
of the harbormaster's door
Idrs looking from the window, saw IN
the street below light gig, ana IN !, d ma .a
of soldierly aspect, who was holdins tne
reins with tight hand and using ms oes'
endeavors to keep the painting ana steam
ing mare steady in order to facilitate the
descent of a second man.
"For Gods sake, Eric make haste, ciieo
the one In the gig, with a backward slahce'
'"rhey can't be far behind US.
The man to whom these Words were
spoken delivered succession OF KNOCKS a.
the street door, the loud, imperative KNOCKS
of one whose errand will brook no deiay.
Without waiting for his mothers bidding
Idris flew down the stairs, eager TO learn
the meaning of this strange summons.
On opening the door he found on the
threshold a man draped from neck 70
ankles in a gray ulster, man VINO acteo
| in a very strange way, for he llfted lars
completely off his feet and kissed him sew
eral times
Now Idris. though not at all averse to the
kisses of his mother or of the fishermen
daughters, had an objection to the kisses OF
| man. and especially of a strange man
and he struggled to be free.
where's your mother" cried the
stranger, setting 1dris down.
"Shes up there" answered 1dris 1ndl.
| eating the staircase. But you'd better not
kiss her. She won't like it,
The man gave joyous laugh.
won't she? Well let US see,' was his
answer. and he darted swiftly up the stair
case. first calling out to the man In the gig
'See to the boy, Noel"
Now, my little man." said the military
gentleman, Jump up here; You are goine
| for sail in that pretty ship yonder In the
| bay"
| Idris' eyes sparkled at this enchanting
prospect.
! But can't go without my mother
| oh, she's coming, too; your father as
| we'll"
MY father?' laughed Idris. why, my
| father Is in
He checked the word "prison" upon his
| lips, and substituted for it the euphemism
lover there
| by Cd! that's Where he'll be again, un-
less he hurries," cried the military gentle
man. That's your father who has just run
| upstairs
| His father upstairs! The day had been a
succession Of surprises to Idris and this
was the climax of them all. He had never
| known such an exciting time. Dear TO the
gentlemans command to ascend the vehicle
| he turned and scampered hastily up to his
| mothers sitting room, where he beheld 9
| sight that struck him dumb.
! The stranger was standing in the middle
| of the room with Mrs. Breakspear In his
| arms, her cheek pillowed on his breast.
Eric. oh, Eric!" she mi,rmured; and the
pure Joy of that moment TRANSPORTED hei
face with the light and beauty Of ar
| angels.
i