Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-02-15

SSkNiNi Will l1tSN. SlSl SlSSh anu
impassive scamp. Questions upon Bar
nett also hickered in my mind. and for
the rest l must keep my senses brisk
and my wits awake.
But the most instant task lay before
me thar morning and had been decided
r went to bed the previous evening.
l mus have Sheppard or Rogers 10
help me against these odds. and that
fortnight. Here again l was con-
frcnted with 4 third necessity and
luckily saw a means to ~conioin both.
These raScals were after my piece of
parchment. without which their own
fragment was useless. l must dispose
Of this AT nee and get rid OF so much
peril ST the least. 1t was true that l
might possibly drag Sheppard down by
the telegraph. but then again this was
most uncertain in i man Of his tenn
permanent, He would want the perSua-
sion of 3 sudden impulse and above all
q stirring narrative to thrill his pulses
such as might be presented to him in
a personal interview.
Moreover, IL I went TO London my pa
per should go With NE. And what was
easier than to persuade Sheppard and
secure my document at one throw:
These considerations pointed TO a jour
ney TO town. and that l must take at
nee and before either Montgomery'S
ardor had failed or the enemy had pre-
pared q blow. Ireckoned upon an inter-
val Of time after the recent exchanges
between myself and the captain. What
~Quickened my intentions was an Incl
dent which occurred shortly after
breakfast and While l was still dehat-
ing the dangers of the situation. I
to my room at IL and began to
pack q valise methodically in the man
ner Of a mar who has all his life been
used to his wv 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 l unlocked the case and took ont
the sheet. | was upon the point of re-
placing ii when l suddenly decided TO
put it i'll my pocket. which accomplish
ed buttoned my coat tightly.
Al this moment heard the noise Of
a swapping bough and hastily looked
forth by the window. The lowerno,t
branch Of a sycamore that stood upon
the edge of the moat hung swinging n
the air ami Showing. I great gap of ~
ked white wood. s..,-ang w. pa II.
head out of the window and could Just
catch q sight of some one vanishing
round the orner of the building. This
news Of the enemy came very sharply
upon me. and without stopping to com
plete my packing I ran OFT Of the door
and took the stairs three steps 1T 4
time. But no stranger was visible
when I emerged upon the park. and l
was driven back upon Mrs. Main.
Here l had i clew. for certainly Il
stranger had come up to the castle b.
the gates half an hour before: but. ac-
cording TO the househeeper. no mys-
terry enveloped him. he had runs man
fully ST the bell and demanded Mi.
Williams. and had been sent on 10 the
farm buildings by Mrs. Main herself.
LIZ !ltt w SCtll LIS lllttEN lew Win
the h~ousenlaid.
What was this man like" I asked.
H was q short, dark young fellow.
sir" said she, and something obi
about him" But what that oddrcss
was she could not tell. and completed
the picture by ascribing 10 him =;
squint and somethink funny-like in h.
walk adding again and with i sudden
elation, Like what a sailor might ar."
strobe of to find Williams at Tie
stables. Inc stranger had been there.
VI that there was no question. Viii
liams. q sharp, understood and hi&cl
ayi;el Wc,SLMan, with 4 passion Of
senriDe1t n his measer holy. c0:.-
nrlel tic description given by Ms.
Main. he man had inquired if there
vas al, chance Of 4 joh. bur seemed
$50 thrls4- Williams, inconsidcrably
coace.1c4 - 10 whether there was OF
was not, He added that the intruder
was Z foreigner. but to this statement
l paid no attention. as to the Welsh
and indeed 70 all country people the
word l~Ll...es Little more than stranger.
1t was plain. however. that the fellow
was My arooreal spy. and that was ali
l wanted. a.. il fact. it was more than
enough. admit That | vas d~isconce-t-
ed, but the more resoIute TO 90 forward
with my London expedition. l have
said that l rechoned UPON an interval
OF truce. My ideas We're destined 10 !;
rude SubyerSal.
1t was upon 5 when l started to ride
into Raymond. for upon second
thought l decided TO leave my valise
behind and put up with the provision
OF ny own chambers in the Temple. AS
l reached the Woodman the thin fig
ure OF Hood was d~iscernible smoking
in front Of lis door. From the distance
/ saw that he was talking with Il com
panion, hut '"hen l drew level with the
inn the second man had disappeared.
Hood Strengthened himself on The sight
of me. took his pipe from his mouth
and touched his hat with his habitual
respect.u!ncss. | had been wondering
how The nan would dcmean himself.
aware as | was Of his connection in
some way with tho pIp- aunirs- mo