The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-04-13

SHOW MIN lHto the library. ANA
when Mrs. Main was gone said:
This bring; the matter to a point.
Jones is here after you, captain. His
men We're watching
'Of course" put in Sheppard, there's
the outlet from the treasure chamber"
Now we're getting ut it," said Ser
conlbe easily.
"And the only path to that is by way
of the guar,lroom, and az like rs not
Jones men are without" | rctorted.
There's my room with the secret
staircase" interrupted Montgomery.
We looked at him. BY Jovew said
Sheppard.
You're right | said.
| With that | went off to visit Jones.
whom | found III a most portentous
mood and with lis Internal notebook
| to hand.
Il have reason to believe. sir" said
he coldly and in his best official voice.
that Il man for whom | have war
/ rant out is harborel liz the castle"
All" said | cooliy. And who might
that be, sergeant:'
lone Captain Sercombe, sir, seen en-
tering the castle an hour or so back
by Constable Buckle
You seem very well posted in the
affairs of my house" | answered and
lit Il cigarette. Perhaps You will be
good enough to find him." And turn
ed on my heel. | felt that this was the
only way in which to take my friend
Jones' official impertinences He reck-
oned us for Sercombe's companions.
The captain had been seen TO enter,
and had no defense save to leave the
police sergeant to his own devices.
Il beg your pardon, sir lie said: Il
have your leave to search the castle?'
Every inch of it," | answered indif-
ferently. How long do you propose
to take, Il fortnight:'
Jones coughed IF YOU will give me
your word of honor, sir. that Captain
Scrcomhe is not within the CASTLE
he began.
Il will give you nothing. not even
compliment on your imagined smart
ness | interrupted sharply. You are
as blind as Il bat. and | will leave you
to stumble about in your own way: but
one thing | will not have, and that is
Your men treSpaSSing on my premises.
as they did an hour or SO ago. If YOU
have business. have business. but if |
find any one hanging about the copscs
| will take my own way with him"
Jones started ut my angry rejonder.
and he appeared Il little embarrassed.
You have yuur remedy. sir" he said,
but | made no answer, merely moving
to the door. Il will take your word for
it. sir he repeated.
Il have not given it, said.
"Wcll. sir" said Jones. Il bid you
good evening"
| knew well enough that the prospect
of that interminable search had made
him Vince. 1t would lie folly for him
to undertake it. and 80 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 Serconlbe 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. ard if anything was TO he ac-
col pliShe;i we must he away. Our
preparations were accordingly pushed
I forward. nor were they very elaborate.
An encounter. maybe Il bloody one.
! might be looked for Certainly we
could not afford to dispense with our
weapons, but beyond them there was
little - delay or incumbcr us
Sheppard and 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
anG, following the road to the right for
Il 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, nut presently me NoOuS ntTGeu
the margins upon either side. and he
hlnd was open country. broken into
fields and pastures, with here and there
the shining windows of n farmhouse or
cottage. About this point il occurred
to Sheppard that we were being fol-
lowed
Il saw Il man cross from that last
stile," he declared land I'll swear |
heard n rustling in the bushes"
Very we'll" said |. If Jones Is
after us Jones will have a long tramp.