Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-24
HIood,w said I, almost with sigh o

Certainly not, sir; by your leave
sir" he answered promptly
"Then upon what terms shall l offer
you release?" His eyes dropped, and
there was silence. Remember" said
l. chat no one outside ourselves is
aware Of your existence here. You
may be hidden here till the day of
Judgment and none be the wiser, and
even then your bones will scarcely see
the light Of day. What do you pro-
poser
Hood shifted his gaze to my face.
Anything that's convenient to you,
sir. I'd rather leave it to you, SIR
experienced strange impulse to
cry out with some emotion, but wheth-
er this was establishment, anger or u
mere sense of the ridiculous, or wheth-
er it was a combination of all three, l
could not have said. rose from my
seat, controlling my voice with diff
Guilty.
every well, Hood" l said. ut shall
be left to me, as you suggest" And
with that l stalked out Of the dungeon
and locked the door.
1t was impossible to transact bust
ness with such man. l felt the need
of reciprocity, whereas dealing with
Hood reminded me Of nothing SO much
as of digging at piece of rubber that
will fly gently back when the pressure
is removed. And 50 it must be with
Sercombe that should arrange the de-
tails Of compromise, or at least the
terms Of truce IL not Of a permanent
peace.
Sercombe was absent from the inn
but learned that he was In Raymond,
and, taking our horses, Montgomery
and rode across to the little town in
the early hours of the afternoon. We
ran upon the captain himself In High
street and as we were making for the
Swan to put up our nags. He welcom-
ed us cheerily and, hopping his red
forehead (for the day was very sultry),
invited us to drink with him.
"Just stepping across to the Swan"
said he. "Come along and put up your
toes. Ecuador was nothing to this"
accepted with nod, and presently
we were seated in the commercial
room by the window that looked out
upon the courtyard, slipping a cooling
draft.
II prefer" says the captain hospita-
bly,, ito drink in company rather than
alone. And that's the distinction be
tween drinker and drunkard, Mas.
ter Montgomery. Take it from me. "
With which he threw back his head
and took long pull at his glass. Il
have not felt SO warm since was in
Abyssinia," he remarked.
"Ah," said I, you are right, captain.
Hot is the word. I'm sure from my
heart I envy Hood"
/ Sercombe pricked up his ears, re-
garding me inquisitively.
YES" I went on, leaning back in
my chair; "cool, damp floors, cold stone
walls and neither the sun nor the moon
to snite him-that's my notion Of com
fort this weather"
Sercombe paused in the act Of drink
ing and put down his glass. what
Is this conundrum, Mr.. Greatorex?" he
asked in puzzled way.
"'Tis no conundrum," replied airi-
~. by the way, where did you say
your friend Hood was?"
He looked at me under his red eye
brows. "AIr. Hood" he said, 'is on
business Of his own. He is gentle
man at large, but he has affairs"
mo doubt, no doubt" remarked
amiably. This is an excellent cool
ing drink, captain"
Sercombe puffed at his cigar, con-
tinuing to study our faces. Upon Mont
gomery's, I dare say, he perceived q
smile of triumph, for he suddenly put
down his cigar and folded his hands
on his head.
II fancy we've got to come to an
understanding, Mr.. Greatorex," he said
slowly. 'I'm slow Of wit, no doubt.
but / begin to see daylight. But
will call on you to observe that am
not responsible for Mr.. Hoods move
ments."
81 have never imagined so," I an
swered. ION the contrary"
A frown, rather than scowl, cross
ed his face. HAS it ever fallen to
you, Mr.. Greatorex, to be tied in q
leash: to be But reckon as a bar
rister you are not particular about
your cases. You have messed up with
many dirty attorney"
"You felicitate me too much" said
I. with bow. II am unfortunate
enough never to have had brief"
"Ah!" said the captain and was for a
moment silent. "You have Hood" he
asked.
The mans intelligence was quick; his
wits were plying even more quickly.
1--WE have the honor to possess a
prisoner of war;" said 1.
81 congratulate you, SIR" said he,
upon an event l had always antici-
pated." Then again he was quiet,
seeming absorbed in thought, but sud-
denly he sat up "See here, Mr.. Great
orex," he said, II will be frank with
you. This thing has not gone accord
ing to my notions, and that's fiat. AS
for this folly Of exploiting the castle
from inside, put no faith in it from
the outset. A fair siege and square
siege is more to my taste. But you
let up on US with that moat of yours
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