The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-13
Cbe rove Chat neper Dies
THE
he Marsh"
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WAS it anything" asked she, looking
rather scared.
Tell me what you thought you
heard?' asked Lord Catherington, in
child in his chair.
II fancied-but it must have been
only fancy-that I heard something OUT
side the window
"A sort of scraping noise, as if some
person were trying to hoist himself UP on
to the window ledger" asked he And
then, without waiting for reply, he said:
'This is the third evening I've heard it.
But each time I've opened the window j
have seen no one there. I'll try new
tack, Think he said, musingly, as he
walked UP and down the room, listening
as he did SO.
Beatrice had risen ara grown deadly
pale.
''If-it should be the man, the ragged
man. whispered she, In hoarse voice.
Lord Catherington, pray be careful.
Don't try to meet him alone. I believe
he's mad. I do, indeed. There was a
sort of glare in his eyes which could
never have been In those of a sane man.
I'm sure of it.
whoever he is, mean to have him
in said the viscount, with quiet deliber-
alton, as he rang the bell. 'Take Ermyn
upstairs, so that can bring him in here
and have this cleared up"
But Beatrice hesitated.
IL don't like she began.
At that moment the butler came In.
Green said Lord Catherington, "go
out quickly by the front door and see if
| there's any one waiting about outside
these windows. If so, seize him and hold
him. Then I'll open this window and
drop out and We'll haul him in together
if he won't come of his own accord"
| The butler looked most unwilling to
| FILA I. 4
lord" and proceeded to obey. The front
door being thus left open, Beatrice, with
Ermyn in her arms, shrank from going
out into the hall. Lord Catherington,
perceiving this, opened the door at the
further end of the library and beckoned
| her toward it,
go thru this roon,'' said he, land
straight on thru the next, and then you
| will find yourself in a passage that runs
along at the back of the house. Go
| straight thru; it will bring you to a
| staircase you haven't used yet, which
will take you upstairs. Don't be afraid.
4 There's light enough for you to see by"
For Beatrice, glancing thru the open
doorway, was rather alarmed by the vista
of gloom, lighted only by single jet of
electric light which was all she could see
of the unused apartment into which she
| had to venture.
| However, his tone grew imperious, and,
moreover, she heard sounds in the hall
indicative Of the fact that Green had Sc
cured his prisoner and was bringing him
in. So, with one frightened little moan,
she went thru into the long dark room,
and Lord Cather1ngton Immediately closed
the door behind her, shutting her out.
He had scarcely done this when the
butler came in by the other door, leading
in the ragged man with the wild eyes,
He came without either resistance or
remonstrance and when his captor had
introduced him with the words, This is
the man, my lord" and left the room at
T a sign from his master, the stranger stood
motionless in the middle of the floor and
+ met the viscount's eyes with a steady
stare.
. "Who are you?" said Lord Gathering
! ton, when he had surveyed him carefully
from head to foot.
Pm man you've robbed" replied the
man, betraying at once by his voice that
, he was indeed, as Beatrice had said, not
= q common tramp. h@ Al
Not Intentionally, T think said Lord
, Catherington, interested at once, and sure
already that there was some method in
. the fellows madness.
y mo. And I shouldn't dwell upon that
: If there were nothing more. It's not on
my own behalf I've come here, shadowing
you, determined to get speech with you. -
THAT, you see, was an easy matter
enough. I've had you brought in myself.
i I'm accessible to everybody"
"You wouldn't be, tho, if your servants
: could help it. My ragged clothes
'Well, you have speech with me now.
9 at any rate. What is your busness?"
t What have you done with Rosa?"
t Lord Catherington started. 1t was his
wifes name. He looked at the man again
d you mean my wife, I suppose? Are
: you a relation Of llers?"
4 I'm the man she left for you"
e "What? I give you my word I knew
nothing Of it," '...
= Il don't accuse you Of that. I don't
blame you: don't defend her. You don't
, want me to tell you she's wlful woman
n But. wilful or not, tickle or not. loved
= her then, love her still"
e ''Well?"
To be continued Saturday.