Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-16
WATERBURY EVENING DEMOCRAT. TUESDAY s 1906

gomery had taken up his position thert
 by light. but reported that there hat
 been no movement in the inn.
 Within our coign of vantage we rest
 ed. peeping through the interstices ol
 the foliage upon the Woodman. Int
 windows gleamed with light. but be
 yond that there was no mark of life
 Half an hour went by in this way
 and then a sound of voices rose from
 the inn, and presently there emerged
 from the doorway two men, who stood
 in conversation for a few minutes be
 fore the house. It was too dark to
 make them out distinctly, but one
 set down as Hood. After a time they
 separated, Hood, as supposed him to
 be, returning into the inn and his com panion walking down the road away
 from us. If we were to effect anything
 this man must be followed, and ]
 whispered as much to the others, deter
 mining to take the duty Qn myself
 Slipping through the copse, therefore, I struck downward through the fringe of wood that bordered the road. My progress was naturally slower than that of the man I was tracking, and soon was surprised to lose the sound of his feet. But moments reflection convinced me that he had turned off the roadway and was proceeding. like myself, through the forest. This con viction became certainty little later, when. pausing to resolve upon my di- rection. heard the noise of breaking sticks ahead of me and brushing among the foliage. Guided by these sounds, I shifted my path and went forward I imagine now that the man must have heard me just as I had news of him in the wood and that he knew he was being followed, At the time I thought myself undiscovered. for I moved with slight noise. Yet what happened was this: I suddenly ceased once more to get tidings of him. I paused and waited, but the valley (for we were now winding into the bot tom was stagnant with silence, save for the purling stream in the distance Slowly and cautiously I pushed on and came out into a more open space. where I stood silent, waiting again. l must have remained there. still and at tentive to all the tiny raptures of the nocturnal quietude, for more than half an hour. But I heard nothing of my man, and so in some disgust resolved to abandon the pursuit. Retracing my steps, climbed up to the road and re- joined my companions in the thicket. I found Sheppard in what for him was bad temper.
 ''Our sport is being spoiled" he said and to my questions add ed, Jones"
 "What is he about:' I asked.
 Apparently on the same errand as ourselves" he observed.
 I considered. Wed better go back" I said. "The less Jones sees of us the better, and, besides, he'll do our work for us.''
 I think we all welcomed the sugges- tion. for we were all nightly weary of the game, but We retreated to the cas- tie in some chagrin. Sheppard pulled at his pipe for some time in silence.
 well, what do you think of it?' he queried after a time.
 shook my head. "I felt better this afternoon"
 ''So did l." he returned.
 You're not going to give up?' asked 
 We both laughed. Not yet" I said. There's plenty of time for despair"
 Well, we'll consider the position F. said Sheppard. yawn F With which we got to bed. and I fc one slept like the graveyard dead.
 rode into Raymond next morr with Montgomery. taking the rc upon the south side of the valley, aw from the woodman, upon which S pard promised to keep his eyes. I was anxious to discover what progress Jones had made in his investigations. and, moreover. I felt slightly uneasy as to our own posture in the affair. Had the law got wind of us: And were we connected in Jones' mind with the mysterious transactions of the Gwent?
 AS luck had it. we did not find Jones. who had returned to Raymond very early in the morning. but had been hastily summoned back into the Gvent after breakfast. He had. my inform ant imagined, crossed us, but I ac- for not meeting him by the new route we had taken. Therefore. none the wiser for our excursion. we turned the horses homeward and, climbing tine rise beyond the river. clattered down into the forest.
 We had ridden halfway to Llanellan when Montgomery's mare fell lame. and he dismounted 10 examine her shoe. AS he was engaged for some time in the occupation. pulled my nag into the shade of the hig trees by the way and waited for him. Throwing myself of. I put my arm through the bride and walked over 10 the margin of the wood where the grass grew in abundance. now fading a drab yellow under the magnifcence of the autumn sun The road here took a sharp bend and in the act an abrupt peninsula or headlaDd of coppice stood out from the -aain continent of forest. As my horse aiDbled at the grass. heard a noise of wheels in the distance and glanced through the tangle along the highway. Down from Llanellsn a trap was be- Ing driven furiously toward us. The rate at which it rolled was pTOdigious. and clouds of dust few up and en- --rF--.r-F h-z. --.ls.r. rra a-s-.- r-