Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-04-19
BY LOUIS TRACY
CHAPTER XXXII.

moved by impulse. stopped the car
riage In the main road. The other
alighted after him. Mrs Grove thu
lodge-keeper's wife. opened tho gatos
md evidently wondered why the car
riage did not enter.
Good evening, Mrs. Grove said
Brett, advancing. Have you seen Z
telegraph messenger recently?"
'Lnwk, SIR she cried, II didn t
recognize You In the gloom! No, sir
there's been no messenger, only"
Then she uttered a startled OK
clamstion.
why. there's Mr.. David an Mr.
Robert. I could ha' sworn one of
you gentlemen walked up to the
house Ave minutes ago. an wun-
pered you never took no notice of
ne. Well OF all the strange things
1T was q natural mistake" said
the barrister quietly.
Then he told the coachman to wait
where he was until message
reached him from the house.
He did not want to disturb the
visitor who had caused Mrs Grove
to "wunner." nor was there any use
IN sending the carriage back to Stow
market Somehow. he felt that Ca
pella would not come to Beechcroft
that night
The FIVE men went rapidly and ST.
lentiy up the avenue. AS they ap-
preached the lighted library. they
could see a servant parleying with
the Japanese.
A motion Of Brett's hand brought
the party into the shade OF the som
Der yews.
You and Holden" he said TO
Hume. go round 10 the main en-
trance. proceed at once to the library
door, enter the room, and lock the
door behind you. Be ready with your
stick, and do not hesitate to lunge
hard II Coma attacks you. You
Holden. keep the revolver handy. II
must only be used to save life. The
moment you appear at the door we
will rush to the window. which IS
open. Coma must have entered
that way. You both understand"
L,
clinging to the line of the trees. The
others closed up. Timing their ap-
prohch with perfect Judgment, they
crept over the gravelled road at the
bend. and gained the turf in front Of
the window.
Ooma's back was towards them.
They could hear his voice-a queer,
high-pitcbed, yet strident voice
whilst he questioned somewhat
scared footman as 10 the where
abouts OF his mistress.
The man had evidently perceived
the remarkable resemblance borne
by this uncanny stranger to the Fra
ger family His replies were respect
full, but suffering He was alarmed
by those fierce eyes, more especially
because his inability to give salts
factory information seemed to anger
the newcomer.
You are not a child" they heard
Coma say, with menace IN his tone.
"You must have heard, from her
maid or some other source, where
Mrs. Capella has gone TOT"
Mo, SIR" stammered the man.
Il really 'aven't. | Thought
Mrs. C--Capslla was In London.
The b--butier says We are NIL to ave
a 'oliday next week"
rs there no way in which 7 can
fnd out where your mistress Is at
this moment2 must see her. My
business Is important. 1t cannot
wait. It is Of the utmost Importance
to her."
Brett, Htraining like hound In
the leash, could note slight accen-
tuation in the perfect English spoke en-
by Coma. There was Just suspicion
OF the liquid r. so strongly marked
In Jiros utterance. What an I'M
cAnny thing is heredity 1t even
alters the shape OF the roof of the
mouth. The Japanese OF English de-
scent could necessarily pronounce
English better than the pure-born
native.
The servant within seemed to rack
his brain for favorable reply.
You might ask Mr. Capella. nr."
he said at length. with some degree
Of returning confidence. He was
expected here by the last train. but
missed II In London, expect. He 10
sure TO come tonight, and he Will
tell you. II you care to wait"
Mr.. Capella! Coming by the last
train, What 10 he like"
do you mean in appearance. sir?
He 10 email, dark-complexioned
gentleman, with wavy black hair and
a very pale face. He"
But Coma turned away from the
man, and looked through the window
with the lambent glare of wild ami
NAL In his eyes He instantly saw the
three motioniess figures, Brett. Win
ter, and Robert Hume-Frazer.
They sprang forward, Robert was
quickest, and reached the open win
dow first. The Japanese jumped
back and made Tor the door, but II
opened In his face, and David en-
tered the room. Behind him waa
Holden, who made no secret OF the
fact that he carried a revolver.
Coma caught the astounded man
servant by the waist, lifted him as
though he was a truss of straw, and
threw him bodily at Robert Frazer
and Winter, bringing both to the
ground by this singular weapon.
II was a fatal mistake to attack
the readiest means Of exit. Had he