Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-02-08


would essay? / had no one in the cas-
tie beyond the estimable Mrs. Main
and d neat housemaid, neither Of whom
was TO be counted in warfare such
as the situation promised to my imagi
nation
The one man that was daily visible
! about the place slept at Llanellan, as
| Mr.. Kesteyen had informed me. What
puzzled me ait this point was the isoia-
ton in which my host had enwrapped
himself. He had taken. no pains to
protect himself. Exposed, as he must
have known he was. to the treachery
/ of an INSCRIPTIONS foe, he was thrown
absolutely upon his own resources UNI
less indeed he relied upon the near
proximity of Hood in times Of emer-
gency But Hood perplexed me, rel
curing in my thoughts, haunting fg.
ure, provoking only a vague uneasiness
and a great uncertainty. And once
again the odd conjunction Of the cap
! tain and the innkeeper returned before
my eyes. One thing was certain 10
my newly awakened wits Il must
have some companion in my conf
dence. There were several friends
among my old acquaintances who
would serve me, but the year was
drawing on and the holiday season was
at his height. The odds were that
should discover Pengelly or Rogers or
Sheppard was far enough from Lon
don by this. I wanted aid forthwith,
and forthwith must have it. SO it fell
that my mind required to Montgomery
/ He was not very much to my taste,
certainly not congenial company, but
he was obviously honest, and could
swear that he would be faithful.
And so indeed he proved. rode over
next morning to the farm which con-
stituted now all that was left of the
old estate Of the family. He was plait-
ing a whip in his dining room-a high
wainscoted chamber, very dingy and
untidy and heaped with all the UNI
maginable rubbish of young mans
! fancy. On my entrance he rose, his
i silly face beaming red, and grasped my
hand with an awkward sentence OF
welcome.
sIts good of you to come SO soon"
said he.
sI'ye come to take you back" said /.
He stared at me. "Oh, all rightr' he
said. as if this mission of mine had
been a matter of course "Come and
have a drink"
1t was but II in the morning, though
the breakfast things still numbered his
table, and so 1 refused his hospitality,
refusal which did not prevent his
pouring himself out glass of beer.
/ Montgomery said I, ''leave that
alone and keep your head clear. I
want you"
/ The boy bounded to his feet sheep
ishly enough to what he doubtless con-
sidered my rebuke, but with show OF
eagerness which pleased me.
'sGot your horse?7 asked.
He nodded, all attention now, and /
continued:
"Then fling your legs up and be off,
and ask your servant to send on your
bags. I'm going to keep you for a
week"
ssBully.o he said and clamored out OF
the room in a CHEEKY fashion.
j / had already made up my mind not
to be too explicit with Montgomery.
He was too recent an acquaintance, de
i spite my conviction of his fidelity, to
intrust with a precious secret. Indeed,
the first occasion of our encounter
would not have commended him to
many particular people. What told
him, therefore, as we rode back en-
braced but the general atmosphere OF
intrigue in which was involved. The
/. word that stuck in his mind was sbur-
glary," and it greatly excited him.
ssShall we have the police over?' ne
asked anxiously.
But, strangely enough, although the
thought had occurred to me more than
once, it was almost in old Kesteyen's
words that I replied:
ssThere are none nearer than Ray
mond.'' To that / added, Besides, !
think we two are in no need Of assist
ance against ruffian or two
The next two days passed very peace
ably. As I am fond of laying my plans
ahead, I wrote to Sheppard at his
chambers asking him if he were still
in town and if he felt disposed to pay
me a visit, referring briefly to the
strange turn which my fortunes had
taken. l saw nothing of the captain,
at least at the castle, and for some
reason or other felt no desire to re-
isit him Just now. He had evidently
forootten nv invitation. nor did | re-
mind him of it when we met casually
upon the road the day after Montgom-
US arrival. He gave me civil
greeting, cooking his eye at my COM
panion in his good humored, cynical
way, and when we had passed, on
looking back, ] saw him standing at
the crossroads, rod in hand, gazing IN
tently after US. Seeing me do SO, ne
waved his hand and moved off upon