Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-01-22

| once thought" he said, that Mr. Shep | pard was more my sort, but now l 1 believe pin my note on you" You honor me-" 1 returned, but come to business"
 The captain plucked his long red l mustache meditatively. I'm sorry can't discuss this with you now, gen | tlemen," he said After all, it's your affair though admit I have certain interest in it, but if l may come up and see you about 3 o'clock we can go into details fancy it's d concerted plan we want.
 That's so, l returned, feeling ter l ribly mean and small to be conspiring so against the laws of my country with an admitted scoundrel
 Very well; let us say B." said the captain and stuck out his hand as though to dismiss Us.
 For myself, being in the frame of mind l have described, l eontrved to overlook his arm. but Sheppard, all smiles, sprang forward and shook hn heartily. By the way" he said bright Iy, and where is my friend Hood 7"
 "IIood." echoed Sercotnbe and looked at us queerly. Oh, Mr Hood is ill., venting q new maneuver. He is bet ter soldier than am, is Mir. Hood, nat ufally." suppose he saw that we ex- changed @lanees. My dear sirs," he said, "I only tell you what you might suppose for yourselves. Mir Hood is trying his hand at generalship, but don't revesi his plan of eumpaign Per haps you guess it And he burst out laughing rather unpleasantly
 It was obvious to both of us that there was d bitterness ill Sercembe's words. Fallen though he was from q respectable estate and sunk as lie had become in q career of dissipation and interruptions adventure, he still re- tained d certain feeling of his own dig nifty. How far the difference between Hood and himself had gone I could not know. but if it went much further it seemed as though We might take some advantage out of it. But of the two it was Hood-Hood, with his lean black face-that feared
 Sercomhe kept his appointment with commendable punctuality, entering our council chamber, if 1 may 50 describe the smaller of the halls in which we usually sat. with the jauntiness of his mornings encounter. Lunch was but newly over, and felt myself descend in Montgomery's eyes when I offered the captain a glass of wine. He took it airily, even with kind of rude grace, which sometimes characterized him, and nodded Us a good health, plunging at once into the matter of his visit.
 "You will excuse me, gentlemen. can spare little time today You will understand that l am very busy" this with twinkling eye. But we must needs oblise a friend, and I am here over dusty road to meet you"
 We are grayely indebted to you" said 1 ceremoniously But must point out that this point touches you as much as, if not mere than, it affects us"
 eve have shed no blood" said the captain emphatieally, settling back for argument.
 .!'Tis not your fault then I retort- ed, and, in any case. what blood was shed was spilled in self defense in re- polling an illegal assault upon our per sons and our property"
 You would find it difficult to prove that in court of law says he, clst- ing his eye at me.
 II thought we were agreed to leave the law alone," said I.
 .Unhappily," observed Serconbe, with d laugh, "the law won't leave Us alone
 "Oh, come," said I impatiently, 'we are confined to this, Captain Sercombe. Are you prepared to help us? You yourself say time presses. If not, it may well be that we shall throw the onus upon the proper offenders and leave you to shift for yourselves"
 And what about the treasure, my friend?" asked the captain, with an ogle.
 II know nothing of any treasure" remarked calmly, nor does either of my friends here. Presumably all at tack was made upon the castle for the purpose of burglary, and l can con ceive that nly s::iFer only was aimed at I think that will suffice to explain the cowardly attack of some ruttianly for eigners. I think the Raymond police will easily understand that"
 Sercombe looked somewhat blank, but in a moment resumed his cheerful ness. Quite so, and, as such course would benefit no one, we are to con- bine forces against q common enemy. We'll, fire ahead"
 At this moment an Interruption came through the entrance of the maid with the announcement of some visitors at the door, We all stared at one an- other.
 "Nho are thcy?" demanded Gro Be Continued.)