Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-01-23

petition into the Lwenr udu nau ns luck. There was no camp ill the bot tom. Evidences of the recent presence of strangers there were ill plenty. but hot q sign remained to indicate into what hiding place they had withdrawn. To move q number of persons with their effects, and the men foreigners, too. and thereby certain to attract the attention of the villagers, would seem impracticable without some public no- tice. But apparently no one had seen a trace of the fugitives. They had van- ished as completely as though the en- campment had been a mirage of our disordered brains.
 It was clear. however, that there would be no assault upon the csstis tia. night Jones and his troopers hung about the village, and tue fos- Tier was too Jealous to allow any dis order under his nose. Sercombe would not dare to risk q second attack That much Was for our comfort He had put it to me ingeniously that the inter ference of the p5iice would embarrass him. and was heartily glad to hear it, for We needed some further re- sources for our defense. That was plain enough. We had been able to resist the enemy OH lis first two at tempts but We had Il most cunning and deadly foe. and I began 10 doubt if We could hold cut against q renewal of hostilitieS unless. indeed We broke our silent compact and called in the assistance of the law. We had de- cided to discard Williams from our SO ciety. He was too hazardous an ally. and we could not hope to circumvent the police a second tinIe As it was, l saw that some suspicious were breed ing in the sergeant's mind. I suppose We took too lightly what was bruited about the country for a great "sensa- ton The storming of the castle eveE in the distorted narrative which Will Hams had delivered to his friends sounded remarkable in so dull and un- eventfu place as that countryside Pieces of rumor concerning it crept into the London papers subsequently,. and We Were most unwillinsly become the figures in tragic and heroic ad- venture.
 We resolved despite the promised respite to pretermit no one of the pre- cautions. and Montgomery mounted guard at $ o'clock on the keep tower. AS Sheppard and l sat over our wine we were interrupted by Mrs. Main, who had been greatly stirred by the visit of a justice. She came ostensibly with question, but in reality to breathe the air of our central excite. ment
 Il am to give Williams bis supper tonight as last night, sir!" she asked.
 l told her .No," and her wits wan dered to the events of the day without more ado.
 But presently she came back linen I'm not to prepare supper for Will Hams. sir:'
 Williams will not be sleeping here tonight I replied. He left at the usual hour-6 o'clock"
 Her face wore a blank look, as of one struggling with perplexity, and, as suming that she had fears on her own account to combat, I went on, You see, we shall be perfectly safe with the police looking after Us
 "Oh. Lord. sir, 'tisn't that" she made answer. as though deprecating my re- hection on her courage, but Williams isn't gone. sir.
 But he is,' said Sheppard. Il saw him myself two hours ago halfway to Llanellan."
 Mrs. Main looked her incredulity. "If it wasn't his back I saw ao more than two blessed minutes ago, l put it to you, whose was it. sir:'
 I sat up, and we stared at each other. Where was this:' asked
 T was leaving the kitchen for the pantry. sir, just preparatory with some dishes like, and, the blinds being down against the window that faces the courtyard, see Williams shadow -leastWays what l took to be Will liams'-pass across the blind, sir
 Tt couldn't be Williams" said after a pause. Williams has never been in the castle since o'clock, and. besides, the drawbridge is up."
 Did you see his face:" asked Shep- pard.
 'No sir: it was on the blind like. but happening to have a question to put to him l just drops the dishes on the sideboard, and I run to the door, but when I'd got it open Williams was gone.''
 Tt was not Williams" repeated testify.
 What took to be Williams, sir" corrected Mrs. Main, with gentle ob- stinacy
 Did you hear any sound of foot steps,"
 No. sir but then I was making a noise with the dishes like, and Will Hams walks very gentle"
 "Oh. we'll" I murInured at length you must have been deceived. and if Williams was here he has gone since and at any rate he won't want his