, 1905-12-20

all the laggardS SpurrlnS up, ana they
dashed toward me, making sure OF
their capture.
But l was ready, and, picking my
way along the zigzag sides of the fir
wood there. | carried out the plan had
formed. At the bottom of the valley.
between the haunch and Dandy Chine.
lie the Quagmire woods. as nasty and
dangerous Il bit of country as the name
could mean. and into this | purposed to
lead them by degrees. Noll and l knew
the way we'll enough, but it was am
other ease with the fellows who were
after me. | led them on, keeping in
sight till they were we'll into the mid
die Of the woods, and when | reached
the sudden turn by Dead Mans corner
l gave Noli his head. and away we flew
along the narrow track, leaving the
men laundering in the quagmire, call
ing TO one another and shouting and
oathing finely.
We We're soon clear off, and, urging
the old horse to his utmost efforts. |
headed in the direction of Hardinge
and ratified home at n pace which
would have surprised the soldiers ill.,
deed could they have seen it.
Once at Hardinge | changed my cos
tune rapidly, while another horse was
saddled, and hen galloped back
through he night to Lanston. | was all
anxiety to know how matters had sped
there in my absence and hoped indeed
that Master Lovelace had already been
I-,.aI ~ ,rffb 49,,
Gorham, as | had arranged.
But to my chagrin my ruse had been
but partly Il success. Captain Hilary
and Sir Burton were still ut the
Grange and in the ball awaiting the -
turf of the troopers with their captive.
A number of the guests had arrived
and were grouped about in the rooms
and hall looking nightly i'll at ease
and uncomfortable. while Audrey was
far more distressed than before and
had been weeping.
you have been away, Sir Godfrey"
said the captain.
Il am not ware that | am your pris-
oner or accountable to you for my
movements" | answered brusqUa y.
1 tilllh NVd IidAt a ltNi thiH iNINN LII
enough. In truth, | shall hold y Il re
sponsible for the outrage to which |
have been subjected. Because | chose
to leave here and gallop to IIlrdinge
for a change of costume your fellows,
forsooth, must needs come Gathering
after me, firing their muSkets and ac-
tually putting my life to the hazard.
XnI1'n find fhana now hard GtI1o1- in tItn
boys on the other side of MuttlcbIry
haunch. But the thing is into.e,able.
Come, Audrey, let us go to the guests
and leave his gentleman to do his
will"
The captains face darkened as | said
this, while Sir Burton Prendergast
gave me an ugly, %sneering look. And
when Audrey put her hand on my arm
she showed in her fingers a slip of a
note and whispered, '"Take it. Dan
ger"
"This farce has gone far enough, Sir
Godfrey, us you say" cried Prender-
CAST, growing angry and coming to us.
"MIistress Audrey will remain in my
charge. Have Il care" he added in a
whisper which could not reach the cap
tain's ears. Il know the secret of this
statue and shall tell it unless Mistress
Audrey purchases my silence in the
way | have told her."
l could have struck him for his mean,
cowardly threat, but | masked my
temper.
probably she will put herself in my
hands, Sir Burton, seeing that she is
afiianced to me-"
"If she does not wish to ruin her
father and you all, she will tell you
rather that she is afIianced to me, Sir
Godfrey. A word from me and this
thing will be known. And | am in
deadly earnest"
But the game was not lost yet for all
that. | Knew that my ruse had drawn
off nearly all the troops and that if 1
could but smuggle Master Lovelace out
of the statue he could get away easily
from the house with one of my men to
act as guide.
l stood a moment as if thinking in
great p~erplexity, and then, giving Aw-
drey, who was very pale and fright
ened, "A significant pressure of the hand
that lay ON my arm, l released it.
Il see no other course, Audrey, but
to comply. You had better take Sir
Burton's arm and go to the ballroom.
We must set things going or the whole
county will think We are mad"
His face lighted with triumph as he
held out his arm and my sweet Audrey
placed the tips of her fingers upon it,
while | turned To Gnrhnm and nndnr