Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-04-05
CHAPTER XVIII.

HXzYU IL lG sergeant turned on MS neel
81 as he concluded his sentence
81 and strobe off toward the door
of the inn A CHASTITY sensa-
ton Of physical fear, as though had
been detected in the act of assassina-
ton, overwhelmed me and left me star
ing with my jaw down. Then l ran
after Jones, calling upon him and ell
bowling nay way through the crowd.
Sercombe stood for moment conspic-
uous in the doorway, and then he van
ished. But Jones, being small man,
| was swallowed up among the villagers.
/ caught sight of Montgomery standing
apart by his horse and hallooed to him.
He hesitated for an instant and then
pushed through to me.
"Find JONES'" said hurriedly. will
liams is dead-murdered by this bloody
gang. Oh, there he isl" And we reach
ed him simultaneously.
/ pressed my questions home, and
Jones, reckoning to one Of his men
who stood by, lent half an ear to me.
Excuse me, sir" said he, Il will at
tend to you directly" and whispered
some order in the officers ear. The
man made his way through the throng
and disappeared. Eyes, sir" said
Jones. "a little way from the stream
we found the body, first discovered by
a man, Lewis, going to work. Evident
" attacked by more than one person,
but the coroner will determine that"
"See here, JONES'" said |, ''can see
you ,later?"
He looked at me with his sharp, I'M
compromising eyes. Eyes, sir; dare
say we'll want your evidence"
"All right" / answered, and, turning
to Montgomery, "Come, we'd better
get back. There's nothing to be got
from him at present"
Montgomery pulled my arm. "Hood|
he whispered.
started. The idea flashed upon me
in a distasteful light. ITO be sure" !
said. Il had forgotten" We hurried
out Of the knot of stragglers. The car
riage. and Hood were gone!
This discovery brought my wander
ing senses together. We had been
duped again and that by a sheer acct
dent, Of which Hood had cunningly
taken advantage l myself had pre-
pared my own disappointment. Mont
gomery informed me alphabetically
that he had tried to keep his eye on the
carriage, but that my summons had
taken him from his post. We inquired
eagerly among the bystanders, but that
was of little avail. One or two had
seen the carriage drive off, and these
all agreed it had taken the road to the
castle The futility of these inquiries
soon dawned on me. It was not so that
Hood should be taken, and went back
to Jones with my news.
IF you want the real murderer"
declared, you will find him on the top
Of q carriage driving somewhere be-
| tween here and Aberayon."
The sergeant stared at me.
Hood said I.
Jones smiled What evidence have
you, sir?'' he asked, pulling out his
note book
stammered and hesitated. Hes a
scollndrelr' said /.
Jones looked extremely dispassionate,
| but seemed prepared to copy down my
| sentiments All of a sudden I saw the
situation in it's ridiculous light, but.
though it stopped my tongue, it did not
| dispose me TO laughter.
IF you have any evidence to offer
against Mr.. Hood, Sir / shall be pleas
ed to take it down. said Jones, and at;
| the same moment he elevated his eye
brows in formal smile at some one
| behind me. I started around, and there
was Hood, immobile and civil, sas al
ways
I never said a word.
If shall be pleased to answer any
questions, sir" said Hood.
I cursed him in my heart for an
amazing scoundrel and turned on my
heel. 1t did not please me to suffer
SO black an eclipse. Montgomery fol-
lowed meekly at my heels.
81 would have knocked the beast
down if you had given the word he
said.
His lealty won my heart. s'Mont-
gomery,' said /, "if there's any good
soul in this world, which I have begun
to doubt, it's you. And now the devil
Of it is that we have Williams in our