Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-02-22
CHAPTER XIV.


guests. The dean gave a dinner party
that evening.
-Four or five weeks have elapsed since
the deans interview with Sir William
Chant, and the sweet month of June is
close at hand.
1t was to be formal dinner party this
evening; one given yearly by DIR. Baum
garten to a few nearly superannuated
lights of the church, who came in their
chariots, with their old wives beside
them. 1t was not at all one delighted in
by Lady Grace, who called the worthy
people ancient fogies." Neither Charles
nor Gertrude, If at home, would have
been admitted to it. Cyras would have
| been still more out of his element than
they. Cyras, who would soon be on the
wing again for distant land, was pay
ing a farewell visit to Charles at Ok
ford; Gertrude was spending the day
with their friends in Eaton Place-the
| Dynevors.
The dean stood with his elbow leaning
on the mantepiece, the hand supporting
his head. A strange weight of care sat
upon his brow; so great, so strange, that
|
rs anything the matter, Ryle? You
do no look WE'LL"
well? Oh yes; am quite we'll. The
day has been very hot, and heat always
makes me feel languid, you know"
A servant was crossing the saloon with
a coffee cup; he halted for a moment near
his master, and spoke in a tone imper-
ceptible to other ears. 1t was Moore,
who had lived so long in the family.
"Mr. Fuller is come again, sir; and
another gentleman with him. l have
shown them into the library"
Drawing toward the door, unconscious
ly as it were, with a word to one, smile
for another, the dean presently passed
out of it, unnoticed, for they were engag-
ed with their coffee. In the library were
two gentlemen, and further off, sitting
on the edge of a handsome chair, was a
shabby-looking man. The man had been
there for several hours, and had had sub
stantial refreshments served to him more
than once.
Mr.. Fuller was the deans lawyer. The
gentleman he had now brought with him
was the deans banker, and the man was
the sheriff's officer.
The dean of Denham had been person
ally arrested! Such calamities have oc-
CURED to divines even higher in the
church than he. AS he came up to his
door that afternoon, and put his foot
upon his doorsill to enter it, he was touch
ed upon the shoulder by the man sitting
now in that uneasy chair, who had said
The Reverend Ryle Baumgarten, dear
of Denham, | believe. Sir, you are my
prisoner"
Staggered, shocked almost bewildered
the dean induced the man to enter hi:
house, and wait while he sent for his
lawyer. The lawyer came. Arrange
ment appeared hopeless, for the dean was
worse than out of funds, and of revenues
to fall back upon he had none. There
was consultation. The dean said receive
the bishops that night, as had been decid
ed he must; an awfulsickness fell upon
him at the prospect of going to prison
Mr. Fuller threw out a word of sugges
tion touching Lord Avon. But Lord
Avon had gone to EPSON races he might
not be home till midnight, if then. Mr.
Fuller knew the dean to be man OF
honor, whose word was not to be ques-
toned, and he passed it, to go quietly
to his destination the following morn.
ing, provided he could remain at liberty
in his house for that night
MIR. Fuller gave an undertaking to the
capturer, answering for the deans good
faith, and the man was made at home in
the library, Moore alone being cognizant
of his business. Meanwhile the dean
wrote note to his banker, of which Mr..
Fuller took charge.
The banker, wishing to be courteous,
answered it in person, and sat now at
the library table. But of what use was
his coming? He had been privately say
ing to the lawyer that he and his house
were in for it too deeply as it was, and
not a shilling more would they advance.
He intimated somewhat of the same now
to the dean, though in more courtly
terms.
They consulted together In subdued
tones, not to be audible to the man at
the other end of the room, but to no
earthly effect; it all came round to the
same point; the dean had neither money
nor moneys worth; even the very fur
niture of the house he was in was not
his; 1t had been settled by Lord Avon
on his sister. The furniture at the dean
cry, the furniture at Great Whtton rec
tory was already mortgaged
| I'll try to see Lord Avon In the morn
ing; he'll be back by that time" re-
marked Mr.. Fuller.
And only to find that he has gone of
: to Paris by to-night's train,' said the
dean. He talked of going over this
| week."
Nothing could be done then; nothing
whatever. The lawyer was unable to
help, the banker would not do so, and
the conference closed. Mr.. Fuller PROM
ised to be there again in the morning.
DR.. Baumgarten, upon thorns in more
ways than one, went back to his won
dering bishops, the comforting assurance
ha ak l.. IL