The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-03-17
By H. B. MARRIOTT WATSON


notice to the authorities at Raymond.
[ could have cursed the man for lis
folly and his babbling tongue, but |
duct was merely natural. In truth, if
be thought at all. he must have consid-
cred us a pack OF egregious asses bef
not taking better precautions and &C.
curing the aid of the Raymond police.
| could do nothing, therefore, bet ac-
quiesce with as good a grace as
might and wish heartily that we had
left him sleeping as soundly as Mrs.
Main and the maid, who, it appeared,
had never opened an eye throughout
the night, although the former asserted
that she had dreamed there was q
Understandable" adding the enclitic
familiar to her conversation.
But the situation remained to be
faced. and l guessed that we should
be confronted with it very shortly,
Consequently we must compose plan
of action, and, whatever we agreed
upon. must run no risk of denial at
other hands. In this connection it
seemed that / must pay a necessary
visit to SercOmbe, a task which for
some reason was not to my taste.
Sheppard. who had quite recovered
himself and had not yet referred III
any way to the event of the early
morning. cordially approved my sug
&c: ton.
1T will be wise course" lie de
clared. And. besides, | am anxious 10
inspect these foreigners nearer
Where the Greeks We're lodged we
knew not. but it was evidently not at
the Woolman. for on our arrival there
the place was deserted except by the
woman who had charge of Hood
kitchen. She could give us little IN
formation. She had not seen her mas
ter since she went to bed on the pre-
vious evening. But Captain Sercombe
had been called at o o'clock and had
gone out after eating a hasty break
fast. There was no one else staying
in the house. Such was the informal
ton she impaired to us, influenced to
her frankness, l had no doubt, by my
position as the big landed proprietor of
the place. Which way had Captain
Sercombe gone? He had gone down
the roadway in the direction of Ray
mOnd
With this we had to content our
selves; but, determined at all hazards
to catch Sercombe, Sheppard and
took the narrow lane that led down the
valley in the hope of hitting upon him.
At the bottom of the valley the stream
makes an open pool of some consider
able size upon a piece of fiat land.
Here it receives few eXiguous
branches from the lower hills ana
rests. as it were. in those spreading
shadows ere it narrowS and spins for
the Ray. The wood was sparse about
the pool, but it was very private and
retired from the roads, and it was
quite by accident that we penetrated
the wood so far. But here we per-
ceived through the LEAKAGE the smoke
of fires and heard the noises of human
creatures. an uncommon feature in the
silent Gwent. Pushing through the
brushwood, we came next upon YER
liable encampment i'll that friendly
spot. And now we solved the riddle
which had perplexed us earlier in the
morning, for the first man my eyes fell
upon was my old acquaintance of the
squint. Here was not camp of gyp-
sizes, but of cutthroat Greeks!
The discovery was no sooner made
than it was confirmed by voice
sounding from my right and calling
my name il familiar tones
'Ah. how dye do, Mr. Greatorex?
Glad to see you. What pleasant chance
has brought you into our little village?"
TO BE CONTINUED