Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-04-19

sooner. Maybe you and l would have
been spared n useless tramp"
II We slept soundly that night ii was
owing more to the lahors of the eXpe-
dition than to any peace of mind or
satisfaction OF spirit. We We're thor
oughly out of tune with ourselves. and
for the next two days our tempers
came near TO swapping. Even Mont
gomery looked SOU and moroSe, but,
to give him his due, he was all the
more set on pursuing the adventure to
an end; and it was in this II that
we spent the last day before the cul-
mination of this strange and tragic
history.
The first event i'll that continuous
chain that drew us heuceforward
fortnight to the dreadful close fell
that evening and when we were the
least expecting so odd a turn TO the af-
fair. We had spent the night hunting
Sercombe, and so, too, had Jones. We
were now to find him. 1t was some
time after 6 o'clock of a very black and
ominous day that l spied him from the
windows of my library crossing the
drawbridge and passing under the
archway of the guardroom. At 5 Shep-
pard pointed o to me the face Of q
man looking from the bushes, and just
upon that comes in Montgomery with
the tidingS that a police officer was in
waiting by the gates.
What the deuce does he wantf" l
growled. I'll let them know better
than to trespass on my grounds"
II thought l knew the face" said
Sheppard. Lets settle him. 1t means
that we're watched"
We hurried out, but the picket was
gone. Perhaps he had his orders, or it
might be that he had already exceeded
them.
Six o'clock, as l say, had struck, and
it must have been twenty minutes lat
er when Sercombe came up the drive.
| ran down the stairway to meet him.
with the II thought in my head that
he had escaped the police by a few
minutes. l wanted to warn him of his
danger. l have never to this day be-
lieved that Sercombe had any hand in
Williams death nor that lie was privy
to it. In fact. l am quite certain that
neither he nor Hood knew anything
about the assassination and that they
We're equally startled with ourselves
and perhaps quite as much put about.
The Greeks alone We're responsible,
4- fha ,,,or lro-- ,,,,, ~, 7 ,,-, g.
the first time the change upon his face.
The color. which was always high, had
fallen Sickly and presented either a
CHASTITY green or pallid redness to the
eye. Ills great mustache was ragged
and blew in wisps about his mouth.
His clothes. which he was wont to
wear in excellent style and condition,
We're dusty, torn and soiled. He had,
to my astorished eye, the air of q
drunken lunatic. and his suffered
oaths and his uncertain gait deepened
the impression on NE. He came up to
the door and put out a hand. as if crop
ing for the bell: but. though l stood by,
he did not seem to notice me.
~"SercOmbe" I called in amaZement.
He passed his hand across his eyes
rs that YOU. Mr.. G~reatorex: Excuse
me, sir; see badly. My eyes Get
me in. for Gods sake he concluded
almost in a whine.
l took his arm and assisted him into
the nearest room. when he sank into a
chair. breathing his exhaustion.
"1ll tell YOU what. Mr.. Greatorex.'
he said presently. staring about him.
you're a good sort-if that's news,
But what price would YOU put upon
Hood now"
The MAI was plainly beyond himself
with fatigue or pain, Or both, and 50
produced a glass and some brandy
from the cupboard aud poured out a
dose. seemed to see at a bound the
color jump into his G~i>te.apered face.
1t swung back into bis cheeks. and lis
~bloodSh0t eyes beaMel on me.
Il feel better for that" he said gen.
tally. land | could do with some food
| too"
You shall have some directly"
answered. 1t is preparing now. But
see here. Captain Sercombe. l must
warn you that YOU are in danger"
Danger" he echoed and appeared
to start in his chair. l could see that
the mans nerve was altogether broken
Yes; the police have a warrant GU,
for you. Something to do with vii
liams. l believe"
Sercombe's head dropped OF his knee
Il see it now" he muttered. "Tha,
was his game" He looked I'D at INC
and curled his mustache with his fin
! gers.
We'll, fancy, MI. Greatorex, tina,
I've come from greater danger than
that. | can't quite count the police
Oh. no." And he laughed a little.
They are outside keeping guard up
on the CASTLE" explained. and l NOV.
ed to the window and looked out. 81
cannot think how you escaped them"
What. Are you. too. in disgrace?'
laughed Sercombe in his old fashion
then, more quietly: II tell you. I'm MOI
afraid Of the police. What have
done? l defy them to pin a suspicion
nc sank tntD Il chair. Lrcnthing his or