The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-01-22
L tho apparent farce Of the proceed

OF tho apparent farce OF the procse0-
ings.
The captain flushed with vexation at
cutting ~ sorry figure and was In
doubt whether TO vent his anger on
me or on Air Burton.
"'rhcre was some one there. know"
snid tho latter. trying to bluff 1t of.
"Do I understand that you make an
Insinuntion Ut fnisebood against me.
Sir Burton prendergast" l asked, fac
Ing him aud speaking sternly. This
matter In now personal ~ me-" And.
not reliahing my stare and having no
stomach for quarrel. lie fiinehed and
with n ahrug Of the shoulders said to
| the officer:
81 am very sorry. Captain Hilary. but
II seems I WIS wrong"
what do you propose 10 do next.
| captainY" / asked. I'VE are Mt your
commands. but you will understand
that our Christmas keeping II not like
ly to be the merrier for any pf6i0hging
Of this matter"
~ shall hold you responsible for This.
SlT buTlOH. lou hHfs Esps ''E ''s'"
while things have been arranged for
the prisoners escape. ! withdraw my
men and shall make my report" Thus
| the interfering bully found himself
PROSTATE between the two OF us and In
danger Of kicks from In both. III the
prisoner was In concealment there and
you knew 1t you have prevented my
capturing him. Why didn't you tell me.
sir?'
1 smiled at this turn, but It was not
our cue to let the captain believe we
bad ever concealed any one.
"Rest your mind easy and do not
blame even this meddling mischief
maker causelessly. We have no one at
| the Grange whom we wish to conceal"
And this was true, for by this time
Master Lovelace was we'll ON his way
| to the boat.
Captain Hilary went away then,
grumbling and smarting with the irri-
tation Of a man who feels he has been
tricked, but cannot lay finger on the
proof, and as soon as he was gone l
signaled to Audrey and Gorham to
lead the guests away while 1 detained
the cowardly traitor who had come so
near to causing serious mischief.
"A word with you, Sir Burton" 1
said shortly. "You have acted tonight
| the part of coward and spy, and in
doing it you have cast 1mputatiOns on
! me. Tonight l do not make it a per-
sonal matter, but tomorrow, if you are
still in the county Of Sussex, or if with
in six months you show your face here,
give you my honor that l will horse
whip you first and shoot afterward. You
know whether am a man to keep my
word"
He turned pallid with fear, said not
| syllable and without more than one
| sneaking furtive, frightened look at
me skunk away and the next morning
left the country for his health's sake
was still lettering in the hall when
Gorham came and told me how he had
managed to get Master Lovelace away,
and as I was praising him for his
smartness Awdrey came
us all safe now, Geoffrey"
'Yes, sweetheart; you can dance with
free heart"
"A free heart" she echoed, playing
on my words and smiling.
$50 far as all that is concerned"
"'All that was very terrible while it
lasted. But you did splendidly."
"a penitent had to earn his forgive
ness, Audrey. Is it earned"
"Not quite earned yet. You gave me
up very readily to Sir Burton, you
know" she cried and withdrew the
hand she had slipped into mine, moved