The Washington herald., 1906-12-12

What's 10 be dOne2 III go out and have
a look round. He may come back again. ="
Jerry was too young 10 be so exact as
he should be- There were several flaws
in his argument But he was too ex-
cited 20 think over these. II never struck
him that Miss Plantagenet could have
smuggled Gore easier into the house by
bringing him in her carriage after swear
ing James 10 secrecy, than by letting
him approach the house in the eharac-
ter OF a tramp But it was credtable
to the lads observation that he so quick
ly cOnjectured the mysterious stranger
at the castle should be Bernard. Jerry
knew that Conniston was a close friend
of Cores. and saw at once that Bernard
had sought refuge at the castle. where he
would remain undiscovered But for Vic
! toria's hint Jerry would never have
guessed this Ii was his duty 10 COM
municate this knowledge 10 Beryl but for
reasons Of his own connected with the
chance Of a reward or a bribe TO hold
his tongue, from some one who could pay
better than Beryl-say Lord COnniston-
Jerry determined TO wait quietly to see
how things would turn out Meanwhile
he str0lled round TO the fowls, where he
thought IL likely the tramp-if he was
tramp-might come. If not a tramp he
might come this way also as the easiest
TO enter the grounds
The poultry yard was carved out of a
large meadow by the side Of the gardens.
II ran back a considerable distance from
the high road, and at the far end was
fenced with a thin plantation OF elms.
Wire netting and stout fences surrounded
the yard, and there was a gate opening
on To the meadow aforesaid. Jerry how
cred round these precincts watching. but
he did not expect any luck However. the
boy. being a born bloodhound. waited for
the sheer excitement of the thing
Now IL happened that Miss Berengaria
had left the house Of pair Of Cochin
fowls unlocked. She would have gone
out to lock It herself, but that she was
SO weary. All the same she would not
delegate the duty 10 her servants. as she
considered they might not execute the
commission properly Finally Alice offer
ed 10 go, and, after putting on Il thick
waterproof and a large pair Of rubber
boots which belonged 10 Miss PlantaRe-
net, she ventured out Thus II was that
she padded round 20 the yard with a Ian
tern and came into the ueighborhood OF
Jerry. That suspicious young man inn
mediately thought she had heard Of Ber-
nard's coming and had come out TO meet
him. He snuggled into a corner near
the gate and watched as best he could IN
the darkness.
It was pouring rain. and the sky was
black with swiftly-moving clouds. These
stTeamed across the face Of haggard-
looking moon. and in the flaws Of the
wind down came the rain In perfect
dreDch
Alice with her dress drawn up a Ian
tern in one hand and an umbrella Cf the
Camp species extended above her head
ventured into the yard. and locked I'D
the precious fowls. Then she came back
round by the gate TO see II it was barred
To her surprise IL was open. Rather an
noyed she closed il again. and put up
the bar. Then she took her way round
by thAside of the house 20 enter by the
front Fbor
Jerry followed with the step Of a red
Indian He was rewarded
Just as Alice turned the corner Of the
house. she heard a groan, aud almost
stumbled over a body lying on the flow
er-bed under the wall OF the house Al
first she gave a slight shrek. but before
she could step back the man clutched her
feet-"AliCe, Alice moaned the man.
save me,-it's Bernard
Bernard here" said Alice. with a
shUdder. and wondered how he had come
from the castle. She turned the light on
20 his face. and then started back This
was not Bernard.
In the circle OF light she saw-and Jer-
~ sinking along with the side Of the
fence saw alsO-a pale. thin face with a
wild look on It, The hair was long and
matted there was a scrubby growth on
the chin. and the eyes were sunken for
want Of food Still IL was Bernard's face.
-r.a
very afternoon she would have been de-
ceived, until she had made a closer ac-
quaintanCe with the tramp. But Alice.
having heard the story OF Mrs. Gilroy's
son, knew at once that this miserable
creature was Michael. He was represent
inE himself 10 her as Bernard. and,
mindful of Durhams advice. after the
first start Of alarm she determined TO
treat him as though she believed he was
her lover
Can you get to your feet?" she said.
touching him. although her soul shudder-
ed within her when she thought what
the man had done.
Yes" said Michael hoarsely. and
tried TO rise.
She assisted him to his feet. but his
weight almost made her sink 'T must
get the servants said she, trying 10 dis
engage herself.
NO. no. said the man in "a voice of
hoarse terror. They will give me up.
Remember what I have done"
Alice did remember, indeed, and shud-
dered again. But it was needful for the
clearing Of Bernard that she should carry
on the comedy so as 10 detain the man.
A word from her that she knew who he
really was, and he would fly at once
when all chance of saving Gore would be
at an end. Therefore, she half led, half
dragged him round the corner Of the
house In the driving rain. Jerry waited
Till the two disappeared and the last
CLEAN OF the lantern vanished. Then ne
went back TO the kitchen unconcernedly.
Where have you been?" asked James,
sternly.
Looking to see If the poultry gate was
all right said Jerry. You see, Mr..
James, a tramp might come in there"
1T was your duty to shut it."
Il have shut it," said Jerry. with as
sUmed sulkiness.
Now don't you give me your lip, young
sir, or III knock your head off-do you
hear? Any tramps about?''
No, said Jerry, mendaciousIy; "aITs
safe" And, with a wonderful sense in a
lad Of his age. he said no more. Then he
sat down to cards with the cook, and
never made solitary mention of what
was gcing on in front Of the house. As
he quite expected Miss Plantagenet new
er sent for any of the servants. They'll |
manage the job themselves, thought !
Jerry, playing cheerfully- When he re- |
tired to bed he had wonderful lot to /
think about, and more than ever he de |
termined to watch which way the wind /
Dlew. so as to make as much money out /
Of his knowledge as possible. Jerry was 1
a maTvelously precOCiOus criminal. and 4
knew much more than was good for him /
Miss Berengaria would have fainted-un- /