The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-02-22
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even of ferocity, I had no Intention tC
I leave the matter where it stood | was
resolved to confront fate and to enter
the lists against those undetermined
enemies. SO far they had kept very
silent, working only in the dark, but
swore then and there to meet them.
drag them forth into the broad daylight
and contest my rights in the hidden
treasure, if it existed, against dozen
sorry knaves. | am patient man
and not overquick to take resolution.
but l do not easily lay down a task
which l have once undertaken
swore upon the spot to undertake this.
In the circuit of my fancy / came
uddenly upon this consideration which
pulled me up quite sharply, even with
little breathlessness. These unknown
antagonists were still banded in arms
against me, and l was alone. / had
had repeated evidence that l was pur.
sued by their ingenuity and in two
ways. On the one hand l was to be
evicted from my own house, and stimuli.
taneously my bureau was rified, as ]
could not now doubt, for the purpose of
securing my remnant of the precious
document. What would be the next
! step which these insolent tricksters
would essay? l had no one in the cas-
tie beyond the estimable Mrs. Main
and a neat hOusemaid, neither of whom
was to be counted in a warfare such
as the situation promised to my imagi.
nation.
The one man that was daily visible
about the place slept at Llanellan, as
Mr.. Kesteven had informed me. What
puzzled me at this point was the isoi;i
ton in which my host had enwrappe
himself. He had taken no pains l
protect himself Exposed. as he mu.
have known he was, to the trcachef
of an unscrupulous foe, he was thrown
absolutely upon his own resources IN
less indeed he relied upon the neas
proximity of Hood in times of elner-
,ency. But Hood perplexed me, re-
curing in my thoughts, haunting fig
ure, provoking only vague uneasiness
md great uncertainty. And once
.ain and the innkeeper returned before
ny eyes. One thing was certain tc
my newly awakened wits Il must
have some companion in my conf
lence. There We're several friends
among my old acquaintance who
would serve me, but the year was
drawing on and the holiday season was
oth hai. rIlt hot I
should discover Pengelly or Rogers OF
Sheppard was far enough from Lon
don by this | wanted aid forthwith
and forthwith must have it. SO it fel
that my mind required to Montgomery
He was not very much to my taste
certainly not congenal company, but
he was obviously honest, and l could
twear that he would be faithful.
And so indeed he proved. | rode OveI
next morning to the farm which con.
Stituted now all that was left of the
old estate of the family. He was plait
ing whip in his dining room-a higL
wainscoted chamber, very dingy ana
untidy and heaped with all the I'm
imaginable rubbish Of a young mans
fancy. On my entrance he rose. MS
silly face beaming red, and grasped my
hand with an awkward sentence OF
welcome.
It's good of you to come so SOON
said he.
I've come to take you back said
He stared at he. oh, all right he
said, as if this mission of mine haC
been matter of course. Come an0
have Il drink
1t was but II in the morning, though
the breakfast things still numbered his
table, and SO | refused his hospitality
a refusal which did not prevent his
pouring himself out a glass of beer.
Montgomery said |, leave that
alone and keep your head clear. II
want you"