The Washington herald., 1907-12-08

AAOAAOACA Lu4nCN. anu Will O4C v &llU
in Ince. If this young lady aud-I can't
save him together doctor. nobody could
we'd both give our lives FOR him.
wouldn't we?'
The girl bowed her head in silence. her
lip quivering. and her eyes looking very
large and dark
Well" said the doctor. gently. there
viii be three OF us then for III stay here
TIL the morning. and by that time we
shall probably know how the case is likely
TO go on"
The doubt suggested was a terrible
shock 70 the girl. who bore it braveiy
however, and did not give way 60 sobs
or even tears.
The night was an anxious one. but to-
ward morning thereewas a slight change
in the condition of the patient and as
the doctor and Dorcas were still watch
ing. James Inee, on the advice Of the
former, 20 whom he had conhded that
he had a heavy days work before him,
retired FOR a short rest
As ne expected, police inspector
from Doncaster called To see him at "a
very early hour, and 70 him James Ince
narrated. as far as he could. the facts
Of the previous days crime and attempt
ed crime.
Already. in his penclled note to the
police, hc had given brief details. not
only OF the crimes committed by Le-
blanc and his accomplice. but OF their
personal appearance. Mr- Williams, 70
under his real name of Robert Gurney,"
was already well known 20 the agents
OF the law. having served more ,aan
one term of Imprisonment for forgery
and embeZZlement. James Ince was able
10 state in which direction they had
started, but the police officer was able
10 carry this information still further.
Already his subordinates had Deen OF
tie track Of the two rOgues. but, though
they had found the fy-sOme miles away
from Densley and not lar from q rail-
way station. the horse tired out and
showing signs of excessive punishment.
and the vehicle covered with dirt and
Gust-the criminals themselves hal dis
appeared. No doubt was entertained Of
t!seir having taken the train that had
stopped at the station that morning.
though inquiries had not yet succeeded
IN tracking them.
In the meantime. however. James Ince
had more work for |the police. He re-
lated the circumstances OF their finding
his friend in the empty mansion. and The
words he had uttered about the pond
The inspector agreed with him In think
ing they might find valuable clew 10
some Of the doings OF the rascals who
had assaulted him. and it was decided
TO drag the pond that very morning.
Leaving St. Quintin. therefore to the
care OF his devoted nurse, James Iuce
went with the inspector TO the park. and
finding the pond without difficulty, noted
at once that in one corner of it the weeds
on the surface had recently been dis
turbed
OF course. a small knot Of idIers had
followed the two men through the vari-
Gus gaps in the park wall, ard now
stood at little distance, wondering what
was going 70 happen.
1t was a cold autumn day. and the
mist clung about the trees of the park
and in Il thin veil over the slimv.
evil-smelling water. The old mansion, nor
far away, looked unspeakably desoiate
with the fresh damage done 10 its lower
windows in the doings Of the previous
night. and the leaves which had been
shaken from the creepers lay in heaps
under the walls
James Ince was seized with 4 feeling
Of sickness and horror as he looked about
him and thought that the mystery which
he felt sure they were about 10 unravel
had perhaps been the cause OF the in
sanity or death Of his dearest friend.
He felt convinced, beyond all doubt. that
there really was a secret hidden beneath
their feet which would give the clew to
the assault upon St. Quintin
Meanwhile the Inspector was probing
beneath the surface Of weed and slime.
and before long his stick touched some
thing that he knew must be a box.
There's something hidden in the
water" he said in low voice to Ince.
WED better get these yokels to give
US a hand in getting it out"
He called some of the idlers to the
edge of the pond. and finding among
them one or two sturdy enough 10 ven
ture into the Shiny depths, sent for a
pitchfOrk and such other implements as
seemed the most likely to be OF service
in dragging the concealed box to the
shore
There was short space of intense
suspense as the first man to venture into
the pond announced that he had got
something. He was armed with hay
rake with which ne tugged at the un-
seen Object below the green and black
water.
I've moved it, sir; it's coming; but it's