Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-23
CHAPTER XIII.
lERCOMBE'S frankness proved of

piece WIFI LIS COuOuSl ullACA
q to. I could not imagine the old
soldier making bad blunder,
and tie news that came to US later
the method in his candor.
Sheppard encountered the sergeant
near Llanellan and found that his ex-
petition into the Gwent had had no
luck. There was no camp in the bot
tom. Evidences of the recent presence
of strangers there were in plenty, but
not sign remained to indicate into
what hiding place they had withdrawn.
To move 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.
ice But apparently no one mad seen
A trace of the fugitives. They had van
shed as completely as though the en-
campment had been mirage Of our
lisordered brains.
1t was clear, however, that there
would be no assault upon the castle
that night. Jones and his troopers
hung about the village, and the for
mer was too Jealous to allow any dis
order under his nose Sercombe would
not dare to risk second attack. That
much was for our comfort. He had
put it to me ingeniouslI that the inter-
ference of the police would embarrass
him, and l 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 on his first two at
tempts. but we had most cunning
and deadly foe and l began to doubt
IL we could hold out against 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 circumveni
the police second time. AS it was,
saw that some suspicious were breed
ing in the sergeant's mind. suppose
we took too lightly what was bruitet'
about the country for great "sensa
ton" The storming of the castle even
in the distorted narrative which VIII
liams had delivered to his friends
sounded remarkable in so dull and un
eventful place as that countryside
Pieces of rumor concerning it crept
into the London papers subsequently
and we were most unwillingly become
~ IN, %ro rvio RI
venture.
We resolved despite the promised
respite to pretermit no one of the pre-
cautions, and Montgomery mounted
guard at O'Clock Oh the keep tower
AS Sheppard and sat over our wine
we were interrupted by Mrs. Main,
who Lad been greatly stirred by the
visit of a Justice. She came ostensibly
with a question, but In reality to
breathe the air of our central excite.
ment.
II am to give Williams his supper
tonight, as last night, sir?" she asked.
told her NO." and her wits wan
dered to the events Of the day without
more ado.
But presently she came back. Then
I'm not to prepare supper for VII.
ltams, sir?"
civilians will not be sleeping here
tonight" replied. "He left at the
usual hour-6 O'clock"
Her face wore blank look, as Of
one struggling with perplexity, and, as
Stunning that she had fears, on her own
account to combat, / went on, "You
see, we shall be perfectly safe with
the police looking after u.s."
"Oh, Lord, sir, 'tisn't that" she made
answer, as though deprecating my re
Election on her courage, "but Williams
isn't gone, sir"
But he is" said Sheppard. II saw
him myself two hours ago halfway to
Llanellan."
Mrs. Main looked her incredulity. TT
it wasn't his back saw no more than
two blessed minutes ago, put it to
you, whose was it. sir?"
sat up, and we stared at each other.
where was this?" I asked.
II 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
what l took to be Will
across the blind, sir"
ut couldn't be Williams" said l
after a pause. Williams has never
been in the castle since o'clock, and,
besides, the drawbridge Is up"
did you see his facet" asked Shep-
pard.
mo, sir; it was on the blind like, but
happening to have question to put to
him l just drops the dishes on the
and l run to the door, but
when I'd got it open Williams was
gone"
"1t was not Williams" 1 repeated
testify.
what I took to be Williams, sir"
Mrs. Main, with gentle OBJ
stinacy.
did you hear any sound of foot
Bteps?"
mo, sir, but then l was making
noise with the dishes like, and Will
liams walks very gentle.''
"Oh, WE'LL" l murmured 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
supper"
When the housekeeper had retired l
found Sheppard watching me. what
do Won m ala Of Il Nod 90