Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-20

Ghosts don't cough" remarked cook.
This one did awful and he looked that pale
and thin as was"
HE went away in broad daylight" asked
James.
ut was getting dark-about five maybe. was
sorry for him. and / would have let him in to
see Miss Alice, he seemed SO disappointed"
Ah Sarah, it's pity you didn't let him in"
But, Mr.. James, YOU can abear tramps"
"Or ghosts" added the cook, fearfuly.
1T were no tramp and no spectre" said the
coachman. "I see It ALL" He looked soemnly
round the company. "Ths was Mr. Bernard
come to see If Miss Alice will help him He's
alive, God be praisedl'
., Amen" said the cook, bowling her head as
though in church.
And If he comes again, we will let him in
and say nothing to the police"
Il should not" said Sarah che looked so
sad and pale. Oh, dear mel and such fine,
handsome young gentleman he was, to be sure"
I'VE will swear to be SILENT" said James, sol
emnly, seeing as are all sure Mr.. Bernard
never killed old Sir Simon
:, I'd never believe it If jury told me-" said
the cook.
Young jerry swear to be silent"
"oh I'm fly, Mr. James," said Jerry, easily;
but who is Mr.. Bernard? and why did he kill
Sir Simon? ?'
He didn't. and he's the present baronet at
the Hall, young Jerry. You don't chatter or I'll
thrash you within an inch of your life'
| oh, he won't talk" said the good-natured
| cook. Hes angel"
Sarah snorted. She was not so impressed with
Jerrys angelic qualities the rest Of the COM
pany. However, Jerry, who had his own rea-
sons to retire, slipped away and read Victoria's
letter for the second time. Then he talked to
! himself in a whisper.
"Hes alive after ALL" he said. "and he's ston
ping at that castle Idaresay the mistress went
over to there to see him with Miss Alice And
they brought him back dropping him on the
way SO that he could get into the house quietly.
He knows my whistle. No one but him could
know it, as he heard on that night What's
to be done? I'll go out and have look round
He may come back again.
Jerry was too young to be so exact as he
should be. There were several flaws in his argu-
ment. But he was too excited to think over
these. 1t never struck him that Miss Planta4e--
net could have smuggled Gore easier into the
house by bringing him in her carriage after
swearing James to secrecy, than by letting him
approach the house in the character of tramp.
Jerry knew that Commission was close friend Of
Cores, and saw at once that Bernard had
sought the refuge Of the castle where he would
remain undiscovered. 1t was his duty to com
muncate this knowledge to Beryl, but for rea-
sons of his own Jerry determined to wait quiet
ly to how things would turn out Mean
while he strolled round to the fowls, where he
thought it likely the tramp-if he was tramp
might come.
Now it happened that Miss Berengara had left
the house of pair Of Cochin fowls unlocked.
She would have gone out to lock il herself but
that she weary. All the same Vie would
not delegate the duty to her servants as she
considered they might not execute the commits
sion properly. Finally, Alice offered to go, and,
after putting thick waterproof and a large
pair of rubber boots which belonged to Miss
Plantagenet, she ventured out Thus it was that
she padded round to the yard with lantern
and came into the neighborhood of Jerry. That
suspicious young Immediately thought she
had heard of Bernard's coming and had como
out to meet him. He snuggled into corner
near the gate and watched as best he could in
the darkness.
1t was pouring rain, and the sky was black
with swiftly-moving clouds. These streamed
across the face of a haggard looking moon, and in
the flaws of the wind down came the rain in
! perfect drench.
Alice, with her dress drawn up, lantern in
one hand and an umbrella of the Camp species
extended above her head, ventured into the yard
and locked up the precious fowls. Then she
came back round by the gate to see if it was
barred. To her surprise it was open. Rather an
, noyed she closed it again, and put up the bar.
, Then she took her way round by the side of the
house to enter by the front door.
Jerry followed with the step of red Indian.
He was rewarded.
. just as Alice turned the corner OF the house,
she heard a groan, and almost stumbled over a
body lying on the hower-bed under the wall OF
the house At first she gave slight shrek, but
before she could step back the man clutched her
feet-"Alice! Alice!" moaned the man. "Save
7 me!-it's Bernard"
= Bernard here" said Alice, with shudder,
and wondered how he had come from the castle.
I She turned the light on to his face, and then
started back This was not Bernard.
In the circle of light she saw-and Jerry slink-
. ing along the side Of the fence saw also--a pale,
, thin face with wild look on It.. The hair was
long and matted, there was scrubby growth on
/ the chin and the eyes were sunken for want of
= y food Still il was Bernard's face, and but that
: she had seen him on that very afternoon, she
would have been deceived, until she had made
a closer acquaintance with the tramp. But Alice,
!, having heard the story of Mrs. Gilroy's son,
: knew at once that this miserable creature was
Michael He was representing himself to her as
Bernard and, mindful of Durham's advice, after
- the frst start of alarm she determined to treat
!, him as though she believed he was her lover
N @Can YOU get to your feet?" she said, touching
g him. although her soul shuddered within her
y when she thought what the man had done.
e 'Yes," said Michael, hoarsey, and tried ia
= rise.
e She assisted him to his feet but his weight -
u most made her sink 81 must get the servants, "
said she, trying to disengage herself,
n "No! mol" said the man IN voice of hoarse
D terror. "TRey will give me up Remember
what have done"
a Alice did remember indeed, and shuddered
II again. But it was needful for the clearing o
D. BERNARD that she should carry the comedy SC
le az TO detain the man. A word from her, that
= She knew who he really was, and he would fly
ll at once-when all chance OF saving Gore would
G he at an end. Therefore she half led half drag
As oed him round the corner of the house in th,
tt.1 Ia, 4