The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-11-10
HbetWeen Two FireSa
BY ANTHONY HOPE
will make opportunities
he finds Francis

dining room, where we soon had IN ex-
cellent meal. When we had got through
most Of It, broke the silence By asking /:
What are you going to do with him ?"
Colonel.
ION what charger"
'Treachery," he replied.
''That would hardly do, would itf'
SWELL, then, embezzlement Of public
funds"
We had a little talk about the Presi-
dents destiny, and l tried to persuade
the Colonel to milder measures. In fact,
l was determined to prevent such q MUIR
der if could without ruin to myself.
well, we'll consider it when we've seen
him." said the Colonel, rising. We've
wasted an hour breakfasting-it' seven
o'clock"
l followed him along the path, and we
the President. The sentries were still
there, each seated in an armchair. They
were not asleep. but looked little
drowsy.
"All right?" said the Colonel.
Yes, excellency," said one Of them.
HE is there in bed"
He went into the inner room and began
to undo the shutters, letting in the early
sun. We passed through the half-opened
doc: and saw a peaceful figure lying in
the bed, whence proceeded gentle snore.
Good nerve, hasn't he?" said the Colo
mel.
Yes; but what a queer nightcap,"
said,. for the Presidents head was swath-
ed in white linen.
The Colonel STROBE quickly up to the
bed.
Done !" he cried. "It's Johnny Carr !"
It was true; there lay Johnny. His
excellency was nowhere to be seen. The
Colonel shook Johnny roughly BY the
arm. The latter opened his eyes and said.
sleepily:
"Steady there! Kindly remember I'm
trife fragile"
whats this plot1 Where's Whiting
ham"
"Ah, it's McGregor." said Johnny with
bland smile, "and Martin. How are you.
old fellow? Some beasts hit me on the
head"
Where's Whittingham? reiterated the
Colonel savagely shaking Johnny's arm.
"Gently!' said L; latter all, he's a sick
man."
The Colonel dropped the arm, and
Johnny said sweetly:
"Quits. isn't it, Colonel?'
The Colonel turned from him, and said
to his men sternly:
Have you had any hand in this?"
They protested vehemently that they
were as astonished as we we're; and so
they were, unless they acted consummate-
ly. They denied that anyone had entered
the outer room or that any sound had
proceeded from the inner. They had KEEP:
vig.lant watch. and must have seen any
intruder. Both the men inside were the
Colonels personal servants, and he believ
ed in their honesty, but what Of their
vigilance? Carr heard him sternly ques-
tioning them, and said:
''Those chaps aren't to blame, Colonel
I didn't come in that way. If you'll take
a look behind the bed you'll see another
door. They brought me in there. l was
rather queer and only half knew what
was up"
We looked and saw door where he
said. Pushing the bed aside, we opened
it, and found ourselves on the back stair
case of the premises. Clearly the Presi
dent had noiselessly opened this door and
got out. But how had Carr got in with
out noise? The sentry came up. saying:
Every five minutes, SIR. l looked and
saw him on the bed. He lay for the first
hour in his clothes. The next look, he
was undressed. 1t struck me he'd been
pretty quick and quiet about it, but
thought no more"
depend on it, the dressed man was the
President, the undressed man Carr!
When was that?"
about half-past two. sir; just after
the doctor came"
''The doctorv' we cried.
''Yes, sir; DR.. Anderson"
"You never told me be had been here"
"He never went into the Presidents
into General Whittingham's room, sir:
bit he came in here for five minutes, to
get some water, and stood talking with us
for time. Half an hour after he came
in for some more"
We began to see how it was done. That
wretched little doctor was in the plot
Somehow or other he had communicated
with the President; probably he knew of
the door. Then, / fancied, they must
have worked something in this way. The
doctor comes in to distract the sentries,
while his excellency moves the bed. Find
ing that they took a look every Eve min
utes, he told the President. Then he
went and got Johnny Carr ready. Re
turning, he takes the Presidents place
on the bed. and in that character under
goes an inspection. The moment this il
over he leaps up and goes out. Between
them they bring in Carr, put him into
bed. and slip out through the narrow
space Of open door behind the bedstead
When all was done, the doctor had come
back to see If any suspicion had been
aroused.
II have 1t now!" cried the Colonel.
That doctors done US both. He aldn't
get Whittingham out Of the house with
out leave, 20 he's taken him as Carr!
Swindled me into giving nay leave. All.
look out il we meet, Mr.. Doctor!"
We rushed ont Of the house and found
this conjecture was true. The man who
purported to be Carr had been carried
out, enveloped in blankets. just - we sat
down to breakfast: the doctor had put
him into the carriage. followed himself.