Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-04
CHAPTER VII.

a few days. But there was no saying
 how soon he might relapse. And in
 any case I needed wiser head than
 bis to oppose the cunning of the enemy,
 not to say that We should welcome two
 more strong arms should 1t come to the fact of war. That the captain and his
 friends, whoever they were. were in
 deep earnest and would stick at little
 was by this time fully convinced. It
 was very plain that we were none of
 us in a position to demand assistance
 from the law. We were adventures
 all, and now that l had had time to
 face the thought confessed it with
 out blush, resolved, if anything, that
 1t was virtuous action to bafie such a pack of hardened scoundreis. But 5 several duties importuned me greatly of which one was b determine how < far this plot had run and the particu- lars and persons of our enemies. Ser combe himself was one, and I had z no doubt that he was cooperating 7 cordially with Hood. that sleek and 2 impassive scamp Questions upon Bar nett also 1ickered in my mind, and for the rest I must keep my senses brisk z and my wits awake.
 !. But the most instant task lay before me that mogning and had been decided z ere I went to bed the previous evening Fl must have Sheppard or Rogers 10 help me against these odds, and that fortnight. Here again I was con fronted with a third necessity and 5 luckily saw a means to conjoin both. These rascels were after my piece of parchment, without which their own fragment was useless. I must dispose of this at once and get rid of So much peril at the least It was true that I might possibly drag Sheppard down by ~the telegraph. but then again this was sfmost uncertain in a man of his tenn perament- He would want the persua- sion of sudden impulse and above all [ stirring narrative to thrill his pulses such as might be presented to him in a personal interview.
 Moreover, if I went to London my pa per should go with me. And what was easier than to persuade Sheppard and secure my document at one throw: These considerations pointed 10 jour ney to town. and that I must take at once and before either Montgomery's ardor had failed or the enemy had pre- pared a blow. Ireckoned upon an inter -al of time after the recent exchanges between myself and the captain. What quickenei my intentions was an incl dent which occurred shortly after breakfast and while was still debst- irg the dangers of the situation. I went 10 my room at II and began t0 pack a yalise nethodically ir the man ner of a man who has all his life been used to his own labors. The last and the most important particular in this
 work was 10 put up my writing case securely. To make sure of my precious paper I unlocked the ease and toOk cut ethe sheet. l was upon the point of re- Splacing 1t when suddenly decided 10 yput it in my pocket. which accomplish ed buttoned my coat tightly.
 At this moment I heard the noise C. snapping bough and hastily looked forth by the window. The lowermosc branch of a sycamore that stood uoor the edge of the moat hung swinging in the air and showing a great gap Of na- ked white wood. sprang up, put my bead our of the window and could just catch a 1ght of some one vanishing round the corner of the bgiIding. This news of the enemy came vecy sharply upon me. and without stopping b com plete my packing ran out Of the door and took the stairs three steps al q time. But 10 stranger was visible when I emerged upon the park, and was driven back upon Mrs. Ns.1 Here I had q clew. for certainly a stranger had come up 10 the castle b the gates half an hour before. but ao- eordinz To the housekeepe-. 10 nys- tery enveIoped him. He had rung man fully at the bell and deuended Mr Williams. and had been sent on uo the farm buildings b Mrs. Main herself. who had oyerseen his Interview with the hOUseuaid
 What was this man likes- I asked.
 He was a short. dark young fellow. sir" said she. and something odi about hin But what tka- piireSs was she could Tt tel. and complete the picture by aseEibing 1o nm a squiHt and sonethink funnT-Eke h h:s walk adding agalR and with 2 suidea sistioa. Like what g sailor uigl- te
 strode Jff 70 a1i Williams at tle stables The stranger had been there. Of that there was 10 question VII S1ms. a sharp. g1deTsizesf and b.acE svisei We--Lus1. with a passion of sentiment ia bis mea-er I-odv. cJ.l- frle1 rle description given by Mrs Nan The nan had iuquirz5 # there was any EEzlee 7f a j0b. but seeueI fso thguzht Williams. l-eo-siderzbly ro1cerEe-i as ry EbetLe- there Eas O. was ns-- He added -hat Lhe i1-ruzzr rss f5-e-zr- tgt to tEzs sfateua1t l pad 10 a--e--s-- as 70 tEs Welsh srd inde=l 70 ell country people the word talpIss E-rIe 49-e -baa st-anzz-- It vaS plain h1Esre-. -lz1 r5e fe.FyE vss ny ar5e-eal spy. and thzt was all | wartaz- @s- la fsct- U vzs Eo-e than sn0CEA sl7E1- that -zs szzsegrcs-t- ed t1t the El-e r=sglgts to 9 fo-vard vith EE L81f5z szpe5l151z- I have s@ii th4r I re1k9z7i upaz az iate-vaI Of truce- Mv kIezs were dz-ne1 ts q r11e sub-ESI
 Ii Ezs 11 wbsa s-arEzi b rlIe |, into RzTzz1 for ~r7n s-e1-F ,