Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-10

next morning to tho farm which con
stt,ltcd now all that was left or inc
old estate of the family. He was plail
Ing whip in hls dining rooiile~a h'RH
wainscotCd chamber, very dingy ana
untidy and heapcd with all the ''i
Imaginable rubbish Of n young man
fancy. On my entrance he rose. ms
silly face benming red, and grnspcd III!
hand with I'm awkward sentence OF
welcome
"It's good of you to come 30 soon,
said he.
Eve come to take you back said J.
He stared ut me. "Oh, all right ne
said. az II this mission OF mine hhu
been n matter of course. Come anu
have drink
1t was but II In the morning. thousA
the breakfast things still numbered his
table. and so | refused his hospitality,
n refusal which did not prevent MS
pouring himself out II glass of beer.
Montgomery" said 1. leave that
alone and keep your head clear. J
want you"
The boy bounded to his feet sheep
ishly enough to what lie doubtless con
sidered my rebulic. but with show o.
eagerness which pleased me.
Got your horse?" asked.
He nodded, all attention now, ana
continued
"Then fling your legs up and be OH.
md ask your servant to send ON your
bags. I'm going to keep you for u
week"
"Bully!" he said and clamored out OF
the room In CHEEKY fashion.
| had already made UP my mind not
to be too explicit with Montgomery.
He was too recent an acquaintance, de
spite my conviction OF his fidelity. to
intrust with precious secret. Indeed,
the first occasion Of our encounter
would not have commended him to
many particular people. What | tola
him, therefore, as we rode back EN-
braced but the general atmosphere Of
intrigue In which l WAS involved. The
word that stuck In his mind was bur
glary," and 1t greatly excited him.
"Shall we have the police over" he
asked anxiously.
But, strangely enough, although the
thought had occurred to me more than
once. IL was almost in old Kesteven's
words that l replied:
",rhere are none nearer than Ray
mond.", To that added, Besides,
think we two are in no need Of assist
ance against ruffian or two"
The next two days passed very peace
ably. AS am fond Of laying my plans
ahead, wrote to Sheppard at his
chambers asking him II he were still
In town and IL he felt disposed to pay
me visit, referring briefly to the
strange turn which my fortunes had
taken. saw nothing of the captain,
at least at the castle, and for some
reason or other 1 felt no desire to re-
visit him just now He had evidently
forgotten my invitation, nor did re-
mind him of 1t when we met casually
upon the road the day after Montgom-
ery's arrival. He gave me civil
greeting, cooking his eye ut my COM
panion in his good humored, cynical
way, and when we had passed, on
looking back, saw him standing ut
the crossroads, rod in hand. gazing in
tently after us. Seeing me do SO, he
waved his hand and moved off upon
his journey. Montgomery was as doc
lie as spaniel, submitting readily. /
suppose, to the superior will, and
had no complaint to make Of him save
that he wearied me good deal He
himself, however, had complaint,
for he was grievously disappointed
that there had been no bloodshed. We
saw not show of a burglar, and |
fancy he thought me in his private
mind something Of an impostor, which
possibly was the very reason which
made him strike up an acquaintance
with Sercombe I certainly had no
right to protest, for the captain was a
pleasant fellow and so far as l knew
harmless, and, moreover, life at the cas-
tie was not enlivening. But all the
same was little annoyed to find
them upon such close terms with one
another.
The third day after Montgomery
arrival l resolved to ride into Ray
mond to see the little lawyer, and,
mounting the black horse which had
come to me us. part Of my inheritance,
I left the castle shortly before lunch.
The nag was a steady creature though
not very handsome to the eyes, and
shortly was upon the other side Of
Llanellan and cantering down into the
long stretch of forest which lies to-
ward the little town. Here, as it chanc-
ed very oddly, whom should meet but
Greenstreet himself, driving out 70 the
castle upon the very point of business
on which I was bound for Raymond
Encountering thus we agreed to make
a convenience of the locality, since
could not persuade him to turn back
with me, and we completed our con-
versation over a pint Of ale at the lit
tie hostelry in Llanellan. The transac-
ton was comprised in brief time, and
that finished turned my horses head
fortnight for home.
AS I drew near the park gates it
wanted little Of by my watch. The
sun beamed sharply overhead, and the
great Hex by the stone pillars Of the
gateway threw black blot Of shadow
across the drive. I headed the horse
across the sward, making for the sta.