Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-13
CHAPTER VII.


Il few days. But there was no saying
how soon he might relapse And In
any case l needed Il wiser head than
his to oppose the cunning of the enemy,
not to say that we should welcome two
more strong arms should it come to the
fact of war. That the captain and his
friends, whoever they were. were in
deep earnest and would stick ut little
was by this time fully convinced. 1t
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 | bad hiid time to
face the thought l confessed 1t with
out blush, resolved, IL anything, that
it was virtuous action to battle such
A pack OF hardened scoundrels. But
several duties importuned me greatly
Of which one was to determine how
lar this plot had run and the particu-
lars and persons of our enemies. Ser
no doubt that be was cooperating
cordially with Hood. that sleek and
impassive scamp. Questions upon Bar
nett also fckered In my mind, and for
the rest must keep my senses brisk
and my wits awake.
But the most instant task lay before
me that morning and had been decided
ere went to bed the previous evening.
l must have Sheppard or Rogers to
help me against these odds, and that
Fortnight. Here again ! was con-
fronted with Va third necessity and
luckily saw u means to conjoin both.
These rascals were after my piece Of
parchment, without which their own
fragment was useless. / must dispose
of this at once and get rid Of so much
peril at the least. 1t was true that l
might possibly drag Sheppard down by
the telegraph, but then again this was
most uncertain in man Of his tenn
permanent 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
personal interview.
Moreover if I went to London my pa
per should so with me. And what was
easier than 20 persuade Sheppard and
secure my document at one throw?
These considerations pointed to jour
ney to town. and that l must take at
once and before either Montgomery's
ardor had failed or the enemy had pre-
pared a blow. / reckoned 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 was still debat-
Ing the dangers of the situation. l
went to my room at IL and began to
pack a valise methodlcally in the man.
ner of man who has all his life been
used to his own labors. The last and
the most important particular In this
work was to put up my writing case
securely. To make sure Of my precious
paper unlocked the case and took out
the sheet. was upon the point OF re-
placing it when l suddenly decided to
put 1t in my pocket, which accomplish
ed buttoned my coat tightly.
At this moment l heard the noise Of
a swapping bough and hastily looked
forth by the window. The lOWermOst
branch of sycamore that stood upon
the edge of the moat hung swinging in
the air and showing great gap of ma
ked white wood. l sprang up, put my
head out Of the window and could just
catch a sight of some one vanishing
round the corner of the building. This
news of the enemy came very sharply
upon me, and without stopping to COM
plete my packing ran out Of the door
and took the stairs three steps at
time. But no stranger was visible
when emerged upon the park, and l
was driven back upon Mrs. Main.
Here l had clew, for certainly a
stranger had come up to the castle by
the gates half an hour before; but, &C
cording to the housekeeper, no mys-
terry enveloped him. he had rung man.
fully at the bell and demanded Mr.
Williams, and had been sent on to the
farm buildings by Mrs. Main herself,
who had overseen his interview with
the housemaid.
what was this man like" asked.
"He was a short, dark young fellow,
SIR" said she, 'and something odd
about him" But what that oddness
was she could not tell, and completed
the picture by ascribing to him "a
squint and somethink funny-llke in his
walk" adding again and with sudden
citation, Like what sailor might be-"
l strobe off to find Williams at the
stables. The stranger had been there
OF that there was no question. Will
liams, sharp, understood and black
ayised Welshman, with a passion of
sentiment in his meager body, con-
firmed the description given by Mrs.
Main. The man had inquired If there
was any chance Of job, but seemed
$50 thought Williams lnconsiderably
concerned as to whether there was or
was not. He added that the intruder
was foreigner but to this statement
/ paid no attention, as to the Welsh
and indeed to ali country people the
word implies little more than stranger
1t was plain however, that the fellow
was my arboreal spy, and that was all
wanted, as, in fact, it was more than
enough. l admit that was discomfort
ed, but the more reSolute to go forward
with my London expedition. l have
said that reckoned upon an interval
of truce. My ideas were destined to a