Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-09
CHAPTER XXI.

A T half-past ten the next morning / rang
n the bell at the door of my cousins fiat
and inquired for Sir Gilbert Hardross. 1t was
an excellent testimonial to my altered appear
ance that the who answered the door,
and whom l had known all my life, declined
promptly to admit me.
Sir Gilbert is just going out" he said. He
is too busy this morning to see anyone
l kept my foot in the door. He told me
to come" | declared. Il cannot go away
without seeing him."
Then you can stay where you are, he de-
clared, trying to close the door. " You can see
him as he comes out.
l stepped by him quickly. He was small
man, but he seized me pluckily by the collar.
Just then we heard a door open, and my
cousin stepped out dressed for the street.
What is the matter, Groves!" he asked
sharply ,
man answered. He says that you told him
to come"
My cousin stood drawing on his gloves, and
marked, that that is a mistake, isn't it! L
am quite sure that l have never seen you
before in my life"
| felt inclined to smile; but the man was
watching u.s.
q have some business with you, sir"
said deferentially. 81 am not begging, and |
will not keep you longer than two minutes"
NV cousin stepped back into the sitting
room. | followed him and took the liberty of
closing the door after me. Then | took off
my hat. drew myself up to my full height, and
dropped the foreign accent which | had been
at so much pains to acquire
Don't YOU know me, Gilbert?" | asked.
He started at the sound of my voice, and
took quick step toward me. l held out my
hand
God in Heaven! It's Hardross! he ex-
claimed.
| laughed as our hands met. 81 shall not
bother about my disguise any longer" l re-
marked. 1T is evidently better even than |
had hoped"
He wrung my hand. I was delighted to
"Old chap!" he exclaimed. I'm delighted
| can't say more. You've knocked me all of
a heap. For Heavens sake, talk should
like to be quite sure that I'm awake
You're awake all right, | answered, " as
sure as I'm alive. How well you look in black,
He nodded. "How on earth" he exclaimed,
I" could the papers have made such mis-
take?"
They weren't so much to blame A man
was murdered in the Rockies who called
himself Hardross Courage, and who was
travelling with my traps. Only you see it
wasn't l."
"a man who called himself Hardross Cour-
age?' Gilbert repeated bewildered. Its an
UNCOMMON Hdllt
The men who killed him." l answered,
thought that they had killed me. It's a
long story, Gilbert. I've come here to tell
you a little of it, if you spare the time"
Time? OF course | canl" he declared.
Wait one moment while l go to the tele-
phone"
l checked him on the way to the door. Not
word of this to anyone, Gilbert, L said; not
even to Groves there!'
He nodded and hurried out of the room.
When he returned, he had taken off his hat
and overcoat. He drew up two easy chairs
and produced box of cigars.
Now then" he exclaimed, for the mys-
teriesi By joe, I'm glad to see you, Hardross!
Light one of those-they're the old sort-and
go ahead"
you're not a nervous person, are you,
Gilbert?" l asked quietly.
81 don't think so, he answered. you've
given my nerves pretty good test just now,
| think. Why do you ask?'
Because l am going to tell you secrets" |
answered, and because there are men in the
they knew, would kill us both on sight.
Il am not a coward. if that is what you
mean," Gilbert answered. You ought to
know that Go ahead
| told him everything. When | had finished
he sat staring at me like man stupefied. :" l
suppose" he said at last, looking from his ex-
tinct cigar into my face, that l am not by
any chance dreaming? 1t is you, my cousin
Hardross, who has told me this amazing
StOryh