Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-01-11

could not persuade him to turn back with me- ar1 we completed our con- versation over a pint of ale at the lit- tie hostelry in Llanellan. The transac ton was comprised in a brief time, and that finished turned my horses head forthrght for home.
 AS I drew near the park gates it wanted a little of f by my watch. The sun beamed sharply overhead. and the great ilex ny the stone pillars of the gateway threw black blot of shadow across the drive I headed the horse across the sward, making for the sta- bles which lay among the farm build- illgs to the north of the castle. Leav ing the animal in charge of the handy man, Williams, 1 walked back by way of the park. skirting the western wing of the building. Cpon this side, as 1 have said, lay q dense Shrubbery. through which the little brook stream ed over it's pebbly bottom to the Wa terfal upon the southern decliyity of the hill. \ pathway ran clrcuitouSly through this growth ot laurel and box. eVIdently of comparatively recent ori- gin and winding by several pretty spots, bordered with tue rivulet. final + emerged Epon the boundary ot the park and jolned d cross track from the gateway by | ieafy aRenue of lines.
 As 1t was early aud I was jn no mood to face Montgomery all at ance. I >fruck ptO the shrubbery and saun. Ttred 4Hletly aIong the pathway. Sud- aenIg at . bend before me and slipping softly round the elbow l DeLeld the ngure of ulau. but It was gone ere my SeGSeS were fulv awake in that saltry afternoon. stood still a mo- Hent. stirred somewhat strangely, and theb ran quickly to the corner. Peer iug round. l caught sight of Il figure stealing among the shrubs. It paused q moment and then. as 1t seemed to me, slipped stealthily through the bushes and disappeared.
 The next instant l had recognized Hood. Tbere was nothing very remark able in this, but What moved my blood was a more curious recognition. Swift as the flight of swallow there darted
 
 other vision I identified the memory It came back upon me With an odd sense of perpieyity and q still stranger feeling of fear where and when bad first encountered that lean and stealthy body had seen the man disappear ln the same furtive fashion upon the banks of the stream in the valley be- T L.l +l,o vague memory now also again attack ed it, but this time with certain knowl- edge This was the man who bad been with Mir. Kesteven upon the day ol which I had first encountered him in the wood
 The fact astounded me. thrilled through my warm limbs to the very marrow of my bones. And yet it seem ed too absurd to be accepted on the spur of moments fancy. stood pondering in state of excitement and then, hastily turning about, ran in the direction of the castle.
 What was Hodd's business thereE I asked myself the question without the assurance of an answer There was re- ally but little to arouse my suspicious, and yet I was agoe with curiosity I entered the castle courtyard and open ed the door of the dining hall. The first object that met my eyes was Mont gomerv spra wing npon the table and stertorous with drunken sleep Plates were laid for two and empty bottles upon the table testified to a generous lunch Leaving him for a moment, ] ran upstairs and pushed open my doc silently. As I did so there was an ex- clamation. and I entered and came face to face with Captain Sercomb be.