Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-25
= EARNING A COMMISSION r.

vine. 9TH have the truth of you. Answer me-
Who sent you hither? What were you to do?
know the ways of you; L know you Cavalier
rakeshells would do me hurt for that fled your
city of destruction and followed the inward light
Come, confess the plot, else I'll handle you worse
than before"
Il had no purpose to harm you when came
here" Fenwicke repeated, his voice low, lost his
torme1tor catch the new note in it.
You lie!" Scalby cried, and lifted his hand
to strike him.
Beneath the raised arm Fenwicke stabbed at
him, and, even as he stabbed, cast his left arm
about the man and held him by the sash where
it crossed his back. He could feel against his
shoulder the pressure of the reeling FORM the
fingers grasping at his neck, more weakly as he
swung the knife again and yet again, and then,
upon his own flesh, a gush of hot blood.
Through it all he heard tense voice crying,
"NIy God, God! Help" till it sank to mere
sobbing in the chest
'It is no use calling, Peter Scalby," Fenwcke
said softly. "They'll not know that voice; they'll
think it's I you're maltreating as before" He
bent forward, the dead weight still against his
shoulder, and laid the bleeding body noseessly
on the panlking; the loft was dark; he could not
see the face, but the man still fought for BREATH
81 haves not killed you as a traitor" Fenwlcke
| pSHJ CiOSe W his eur TO Whisper. went 100
near to that myself. But I warned you 'twould
fare i'll with any man who set me on the timber
! horse"
! The gasping breaths had ceased. Fenwicke put
forth his hand Enthusiastically, because Of the
blood, and found the heart was still He stood
up, stretching his arms, then suddenly, even in
the gesture, paused. "On my soul, yes! After
all" he spoke, and began laughing softly and
nervously with his shoulders heaving almost as il
he sobbed But speedily he had himself in check,
and, kneeling by the body of Peter Scalby, felt
for the mutilated left hand. "a vile piece of
work." he muttered once; then, tearing off the
dead mans orange sash. wrapped it about some
thing.
farly in the morning, sixand- thirty
hours after Captain Scalby went into the loft at
Elmesthrope, a young man limped in beneath the
north gate of Feversham. A notwithstanding
fellow he was--unshaven, black beneath the eyes,
grimily pale-and. to that, he bareheadcd
and coatess, with his torn shirt stained with
reddish smears, and beneath arm he
ried a sgualid bundle wrapped in the remnants
of an orange sash. The porter at the Governors
door said instantly that my Lord Herbury would
speak to no such dirty groom
81 don't need your ushering, FRIEND" Fen
wicke retorted cooly, and, thrusting the man
back against the wall so his head thumped, clat-
| tered up the stairs.
He knew the way to the mornng-room, since
it was the fifteenth time he had come there,
| unerr1ngly he nung tne door open ana Steppeu
| in. Yonder by the fireplace my Lord, who had
sat late and luckless at cards the night before
and was in tinglingy nervous state in conse-
ouence sat picking at his breakfast. while Shuck-
burgh and VALENTINE stood listening to his
ders.
Fenwicke waited for their blank surprise to
| find vent in no words, good or i'll, but swung
across the room and cast his bundle on the break
fast-table "There, my lord he spoke, in
voice that strove to be civil, while he held his
head higher and sitter than ever, there is what
you sent me for May it give your Lordship
pleasure!"
Shuckburgh: but Valentyne with a deliberate
movement of curiosity, unrolled the sash. With
in the orange scarf lay clumsily severed hand
from which two fingers were missing.
Ny Lord Herbury gave great Jerk to his
chair that carried him good three feet trom
the table "Take it away' he gasped. MY
good VALENTINE, Shuckburgh, some one, take it
away!"
But shuckburgh had stridden across to Kel'
lam Fenwicke and fetched him a mighty clap
ON the shoulder. "You killed him? You
brought the token?' he exploded. by the Lord
you are tall lad!'
"An extraordinary young man. I make no
Doubt" ouavered my Lord s"Il give him to
you, Colonel. Only, prithee, take him away, my
good Shuckburgh. He can have guidon's com
mission. Only take him away-at least till ne
hath washed"
"My Lord" interrupted Fenwicke, fronting
him grimly across the brealfast-table Il should
prefer captains commission"
| "A captain?" quoth Herbury, rallyng for the
moment. "Nonsense What qualifications have
you"
"For one, my Lord" Fenwicke answered,
eveng the other squarely, 'I can read Latin"
Nv Lord gave piteous, gasping cough. Make
him a captain then, Shuckburgh," he choked'
"I'll sign the commission. And you, William,
take away the breakfast; somehow I've no stom-
ach to it," He leaned his head against the back
of his chair; his lips moved, and, as Shuckburggh
led Kellam Fenwcke from the room, he thought
to catch something that sounded like "Damna-
bilissimus juvens!"
| Copyright by j. B. Lippincott Co