Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-18
The AdyenturerS-
 By H. B. MARRIOTT WATSON . COPYRIGHT, 1898. BY HARPER (, BROTHERS

By H. B. MARRIOTT. WATSON

~ IulQk there was Httle conversation
 between us on our journey back. Tn,
 sergeant used us very curtly, as if ht
 would imply that we were defendant:
 upon our trial But one. thing he die
 say. and that, as Sheppard remarked x'Afterward, without giving us the GUS & t4mary warning.
 W VI should like to ask you, MT. Great
 orex," he said, what you want with
 Captain Sercombe?"
 T want good deal" I answered s,hluntly. T want to warn him that he ts wanted on fatuous charge by a
 very obstinate and blind eyed officer"
 Il don't think he needs that warning
 mir" said Jones after a pause and
 somewhat dryly.
 s Besides, you forget, Ned" put in
 Sheppard, "that he owes me f2O." gss "Ah!'' said the sergeant in a tone
 Which implied that he was not to be
 startled by anything that Sercombe s-0Wed. sa.s-s .yq.. .a.- ..
 And now," said, in my turn, you will perhaps be good enough to tell me , how you came to find usf' .s MT. Hood heard yoH,'' he answered, eivilly enough this time.
 Tt was good of MT. Hood-very sharp of MT. Hood" returned, ""and take leave to thank Mir. Hood and to wish that he had discovered us a little sooner. Maybe you and I would have . been spared useless tramp If we slept soundly that night it was ewing more to the labors of the expe- , oition than to any peace, of mind or : satisfaction of spirit. We were thor oughly out of tune with ourselves, and ; for the next two days our tempers came near to snapping..9 Even, Mont gomery looked sour and morose, but , to give him his due, he was all, the more set on pursuing the adventure to Ap end; and it was in this manner that we spent the last day before the cul- imitation of this strange and tragic history. .
 The first event in that continuous chain that drew us henceforward fortnight to the dreadful close fell that evening and when we were the least expecting so odd turn to thesaf- fair. We had speng 4k light hhhfAg Eercombe, and so, too, had Jones. We were now to find him. It was some time after o'clock of very black and ominous day that spied him from the windows of my library crossing the drawbridge and passing under the archway of the guardroom. At Shep- pard pointed out to me the face of a man looking from the bushes, and just upon that comes in Montgomery with the tidings that police officer was in waiting by the gates, .
 What the deuce deey he want" I yrowled. 'I'll let them know better han to trespass on my grounds"
 ''I thought I knew the face" said Sheppard. Lets settle him. It means hat 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 say, had struck, ana 1t must have been twenty minutes lat er when Sercombe came up the drive. I ran down the stairway to meet him, with the one thought in my head that he had escaped the police by a few minutes. I wanted to warn him of his danger. I have never to this day be- lieved that Sercombe had any hand in Williams death nor that he was privy to it. In fact. am quite certain that neither he nor Hood knew anything about the assassination and that they were equally startled with ourselves and perhaps quite as much put about. The Greeks alone were responsible.
 As the man drew near me saw for the first time the change upon his face fallen sickly and presented either a ghastly green or pallid redness to the eye. His great mustache was ragged and blew in wisps about his mouth His clothes, which he was wont 10 wear in excellent style and condition, were dusty. torn and soiled. He had. to my astonished eye, the air of a drunken lunatic. and his stuttered baths and his uncertain gait deepened the impression on me. He came ID to the door and put out hand. as if grOp- ing for the bell; but. though stood by. he did not seem to notice me.
 "Sercombe"' called in amazemprt.
 He passed his hand across his eyes. s1s that you. MT. Greatorex? Excuse me, sir; I see badly. My eyes Get me in, for Gods sake.' he concluded. almost in a whine
 I took his arm and assisted him into the nearest room. when be sank into a chair. breathing his exhaustion.
 'T'n tell you what, NIT. Creator he said presently. staring about "you're a good sort-if that's nc But what price would you put IT Hood nowT
 The man was plainly beyond himself with fatigue or pain. or both, and so I produced a glass and some brandy from the cupboard and poured out a dose I seemed to see at bound the color jump into his distempered face. It swung back into his cheeks. and his bloodshot eyes besmed on me
 'T feel better for that" he said gen tally. "and I could do with some food too
 You shall have some directly I It is preparing now But see here. Captain Sereombe. I must warn you that you are in danger