Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-12

sir" he answered promptly.
 "Then upon what terms shall I offer you release?" His eyes dropped, and there was silence. Remember" said I, that no one outside ourselves is aware of your existence here.y 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- pose"
 Hood shifted his gaze to my face. Anything that's convenient to you, sir. I'd rather leave it to you, sir"
 experienced a strange impulse to cry out with some emotion, but wheth- CT this was astonishment, anger or a mere sense of the'ridiculous, or wheth- CT it was a combination of all three, I could not have said. I rose from my seat. controlling my voice with diff culty. ........
 Very well. Hood" I said Tt sfan be ieft to me, as you suggest. II t And with that stalked out Of the. dungeon and locked the door. a
 It was impossible to transact busi- ness with such a man.. felt the need of reciprocity, whereas dealing with Hood reminded me of nothing so much as of digging at a piece of rubber that will fly gently back when the pressure is removed And so it must be with Sercombe that I should arrange the de tails of a compromise, or at least the terms of 6 truce if not of permanent peace <
 Sercombe was absent from the inn, but learned that he was in Raymond, and, taking our horses, Montgomery and I 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, mopping his red forehead for the day was very suitry),. 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"
 l accepted with nod, and presently we were seated in the commercial room by the window that looked out upon the courtyard, slipping cooling draft.
 ''I prefer" says the captain hospita- bly,, "to drink in company rather than alone And that's the distinction be- tween thinker and druIlkard, Mas ter Montgomery. Take it from me- With which he threw back his head and took a long pull at his glass. Il have not felt so warm since I was in Abyssinia." he remarked.
 ''Ah." said I. you are right. captain. Hot is the word. I'm sure from my heart l envy Hood.'
 Sercombe pricked up his ears, re- garding me inquisitively.
 Yes" 1 went on, leaning back in my chair; ''cool, damp floors, cold stone walls and neither the sun nor the moon to smite him-that's my notion of con- fort this weather"
 Sercombe paused in the act of drink ing and put down his glass. What is this conundrum. MT. Greatorex he asked in puzzled way.
 'Tis no cOnundrum," I replied airi- ly. By the way, where did you say your friend Hood was?'
 He looked at me under his red eye  brows. MT. Hood" he said. ''is on business of his own. He is a gentle man at large. but he has affairs
 No doubt. no doubt" I remarked This is an excellent cool lng drink. captain"
 SercOmbe puffed at his cigar. con tinuing 10 study our faces. Upon Mont gOmery's, l dare say. he perceived a smile of triumph for he suddenly put down his cigar and folded his hands on his head
 T fancy we've got to come to an Mir Greatorex." he said slowly. I'm slow of wit. no doubt. but begin 10 see daylight. But wlll call on you tO observe that I am not responsible for MT. Hoods move ments."
 'I have never imagined SO" I an swcrcl Ion the contrary
 \ frowu, rather than a scowl. cross ed his face Has 1t ever fallen 10 you. Mir. 'ireaiprox. to bc tied in q leash 10 be But [ rarkOn as a bar rister you are not particular about your css,s You have messed up with many a dirty attorney
 You fclicitaie me 100 much" said [. with bow I am unfortunate enough never Go have had a brief.
 '-Ah~' sad fine captain and was for moment silent. "YOu have HoOd?' he asked
 The man $ intelligence was quick; his wits were plying even more quickly.
 We hay" the honor to possess a of war. saiII
 ' congratulate, you. sir. said he '-ITsan an event had always antici- ratszI Then again be was quiet alrsori.aI in thought. but sud daniy lie <si ,ip See here. Mr. Great orex. he sait [ wilt be frank with you. This thing has mol gone accord ing tp my notions. snd that's fat As