The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-17
CHAPTER XIII.
At the Keepers Cottage.

The duke followed the ride for some
distance, the clamor Of voices around
the wrecked train growing every mo-
ment less distinct till they died away
altogether, and he guessed that he was
in the heart Of the wood, half mile
from the scene Of the disaster. Whether
or no he was pursued he had no means
Of knowing, with such diabolical cum
ming pitted against him;, but, at any
straining ears, and he began to hope
that his breakaway had been unde-
tected.
Suddenly the ride urned abruptly to
the right, and at the end Of glade,
some hundred yards further on, he saw
the lights Of dwelling. Across. the
intervening years came flash Of re-
brated coverts Of his neighbor, Sir
Claude Asprey, and the house ahead
must be the keepers cottage where,
when an Elton. boy spending the holi-
days with his uncle at Prior s
Tarrant, he had lunched as a member
of Sir Claude's shooting party ten years
ago. The place was craven on his mem
Dry, because the day was red-letter
one by reason Of his having shot his
first pheasant thereon.
Without any definite plan in his
head, but actuated by a longing for
human companionship, however brief,
he went up to the door Of the cottage
and knocked, his arrival being also
heralded by the barking Of dogs at the
side Of the house. The door was al
most Immediately thrown open by Z, a
carried candle and stared in open
mouthed wonder at well -dressed Wis
/ itor at such an hour and place. Beau
MANOR looked at him closely and smiled
his first smile Of pleasure since For,
syth = hand had gripped his on the
day he landed.
IT can see you'v forgotten me
Mayne," he said, "tho I should have
known you anywhere-time has touched
| you so slightly. Don't you recolleci
young Charley Hamburg, who came
| over with the duke Of Beamanoir to 9
big shoot with Sir Claude in '9l9"
A glea.. shon 81 in the honest keeper
sir,' he-replied,, adding quickly: "Beg
the duke yourself nowYo
| very unfortunate one,n Beaumanoi
laughed. "There has been mild sor
q Of smash-up on the railway yonder, AM
started to walk to Prior 8 Tarran
train. / was a bit hazy about my di
rection, so l thought I'd inquire, AM
at the same time reassure you that i
, wasn't poacher who was abroad il
the woods. May I come in while yo1
: give me my bearings9''
| Come in, your grace, and welcome
but it isn't in my house that I shal
direct You; It's not likely that II
: going to let you wander about M
i woods on a dark night when ca
+ guide you out Of them myself and thin
| it an HONOR was the keepers cordial
, ly respectful reply.
3 Beaumanolr was conscious that stanC
3 ing in a lighted doorway was hardly tn
: place for him just then, and he followe
!. into roomy kitchen, professional
! eloquent with it's array Of guns an
{ sporting prints. Mayne explained tina
) his wife had Just gone up to bed an
t that all the youngsters, whom perhaps
( were out in the world.
{ Beaumaneir dropped into a chair, an
q to crafty his kindly host accepted
q horn tankard Of home-brewed ale, whic
4 he slipped while he satisfied Wayne
curiosity about the accident II
q would have given much to take th
!. keeper into his confidence about til
8 personal element in the outrage, br
I that luxury could not be INDUCED
4 without impossible disclosures. Consit
{ ering that he had eliminated the MOI
d pertinent part Of his narrative, he we
: ity with which 1t was received ii
S Mayne disburde ned himself.
t II wonder your grace can take. YOU
K narrow escape SO lightly said tt
d j keeper. Providence must have bee
9 in two minds about you tonight.
al How so9 asked the duke, startin
IS Surely General Sadgrove had not bee