Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-04-07

as they ulu an lOur or so ago. III YOU
have business, have business, but if |
find any one hanging about the copses
l will take my own way with him.
Jones started at my angry rejoinder,
and he appeared little embarrassed.
You have your remedy, SIR" he said,
but l made no answer, merely moving
to the door. Il will take your word for
it, sir" he repeated.
II have not given it" l said.
"Well, SIR" said Jones, II bid you
good evening"
knew well enough that the prospect
him vince. 1t would be folly for him
to undertake it, and so he withdrew
with this slight discharge of courtesies
Sheppard met me with the news.
Montgomery had undertaken the job
of guiding the captain through the gal
lery, and after that Sercombe was to
conduct him to the rendezvous, on the
river. He had given Sheppard particu-
lars of the place, and it did not appear
as if we could miss it, but time was
passing, and If anything was to be ac-
complished we must be away. Our
preparations were accordingly pushed
forward, nor were they very elaborate.
An encounter, maybe q bloody one.
might be looked for Certainly we
could not afford to dispense with our
weapons, but beyond them there was
little to delay or incumber us.
Sheppard and l got forth of the cas-
tie and reached the great gates just
after dark was fallen AS we passed
through thought perceived the black
shadow of Il man lowering among the
bushes near by, and put him down as
Jones.
At the foot Of the gorge we turned,
and, following the road to the right for
quarter of mile, dipped quickly
with the bend of the brook eastward
and for the border Of the farther coun-
ty. The first part of the way took us
through the outlying stretches Of the
forest, but presently the woods Rugged
the margins upon either side, and be-
fields and pastures, with here and there
the shining windows Of farmhouse or
cottage. About this point it occurred
to Sheppard that we We're being fol-
lowed.
Il saw man cross from that last
stile," he declared. land I'll swear
heard a rustling in the bushes
VERY WELL" said l. 'If Jones is
after us Jones will have long tramp,
and the sooner we dispatch him on 1t
the BETTER
what will you do?" he asked.
"Sit tight" said l, land keep mum.
Here's an excellent corner for silent
meditation" and l dropped into a
black patch Of brachen, whittier he fol-
lowed me.
We had been following footpath
which wound through the coppice close
to the stream, and little distance to
the left we sank into our hiding place
and waited. Some five minutes after,
the footsteps Of man sounded softly
behind us, and he came into the plane
of sight. Dark as it was made him
out for one Of Jones' men, and my
opinion was confirmed by the stealthy
manner in which he proceeded.
We'll let him pass" l whispered,
land then follow him. Rustic police
are no harm to u.s.
Five minutes later we emerged and
resumed our journey, diligently open
ing our ears to the sounds of the night.
but nothing was audible to alarm us,
and we reached at last a spot where
the path ran down to the waters edge
between thick trees. Opposite, the dark
bulk of little jetty was just discern
ible and beyond that the lights of a
house.
'This is the place." said Sheppard.
"But see no signs Of the others. Yet
they must have got here before U.S."
"Let us wait" l suggested, and
meanwhile we are better in hiding"
We concealed ourselves among the
trees and passed ten minutes in some
anxiety. "Was it possible" 1 asked
myself, that Montgomery and Ser
combe had already encountered Hood
and his scoundrels, with tragic re-
suit? Or, again, had Jones happened
upon them and taken Sercombe? Per
haps even the captain had been dealing
treacherously with US all through"
But these speculations were scatter.
ed at the approach of voices and a
noise of oars in the water, which here
ran deep and wide, a mile from it's
junction with the Ray. We listened
with increased excitement, but as yet
nothing was visible In the darkness.
The boat seemed to draw up at tho
foot of the path below us, and there
was the noise Of two people landing.
Its all right" whispered to Shep.
pard. Here they are"
And l was on the point Of jumping
up when l heard new sound oppo-
site, and figure rose and stood in
the pathway AS we strained our eyes
to make out what this might he l heard
the approaching feet of the others.
Then somewhere out Of the night these
words hoated to us: Captain Ser
combe, arrest you in the name of the
queen"
There was a violent exclamation and
the noise Of struggle and afterward
a shot .,7 ,-.-..s1 ,.--l.l-
HnH- (;;ck s ws