Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-01-19


 soothing fictons. The housemaid was i Mrs. Mains hirelng, and We need scarcely include her in our calcula- | tiOnS.
 We were new, as conceived. adc quately fortified against g surprise From < o'clock until dawn uporl tHn next morning we should Re stretched upon the rack of snSp"nSc but each C IIS was sturdiIy resolved to accompl.>E lis duty at all hazards. That an attarl would be delivered l had few doubts hut my anxiety lay rathef as to 1Hs watch i'll which it would be delivered l had sent Montgomery It. IlIS pG@j carly, as it seemed wiser for more fe spoasible heads than his b take t,lo deeper and darker honrs ef tie night. Prom $ till 1 his time f'an, aHd yet they might be upon uS ere that. lie was fed With some sandwiches and cheered with a little wine. white l., low Sheppard and waited ill d conel ton of tension.
 oh, hang it"' exclaimed Sheppard presently, after dinner II can't stand this Let us go and join him."
 You would be much wiser" said l, ito get an hours sleep"
 Sheppard shrugged his shoulders, It's my turn next, yoN say, and Tn not used to be awakened in my beauty sleep It's bad for me No, I'll go to bed when you relieve he. But l rec ommend your own advice to yourself
 And will take it." 1 answered. See that Montgomery gets his supper and goes to bed like q sensible person. I'll be with you 1t : punctually.'
 cannot say that 1 enjoyed Il peace ful sleep. Although 1 was dog tired, partly from the exertion of the days work and partly because l had had no rest the previous night, 1 still slum- bered very ftfully. Finally l awolle in q fever and. throwing the hot blankets from me. stepped to the open window. My bedroom faced the north, and the cool airs that heralded the dawn wan dered over me, reducing the fume and fire of my nerves. Far away some roiStering bird was calling. not ill his spring notes, but raucouS now with the Somber beat of autumn. The curtain of the dawn was lifting. It was time for me to relieve Sheppard. My watch marked q quarter to ,. Having dress ed l went down to the great bali and, thrusting the western windows open. looked out Trees, like great ghosts. invisible, whispered in the night to- gether The stars glimmered down be- low. and I recollected suddenly that was peering into the water of tine fosse. The stiffness hung so deep that l Was possessed of a sudden with a hundred fears. Was Sheppard murdered? And were the castle and it's treasure now in the hands of those abominable assas- sins? listened for a cry, but there was none, only the gentle wash of the waters against those ancient foun- llations and the swiShing of the leafage on the neighboring trees. The park lay. as one might have fancied under the imminent hand of death. I stole upstairs, clambering with a lantern to the keep Upon the tower a silent figure turned and low voice spoke.
 sIs that you. Ned?"
 The sound almost startled me, occur ring upon the stiffness.
 Any news:" l asked
 Well, have two things to com municate. Do you see that tree:" I peered into the darkness in the di- rection he had indicated.
 ''I hear it." l observed doubtfully.
 Well. I've seen it.' he retorted.
 Your eyes are better than mine, then" I answered.
 Maybe" said Sheppard cheerfully. maybe not But don't profess to see through q wall That tree is fifty paces away, and it is an oak, very large and i umbrageous.'
 i "I believe you are right" I answered. ''l think recoiect it.
 Il didn't" he went on But l reck- on to see by match light as we'll as any"
 l was puzzled. .Match lightw quered You haven't been"-
 "Oh. dear no," he exclaimed. My tower has been the central patch of