The Washington herald., 1907-12-01
BY
FLORENCE WARDEN

Do you know Of q short cut 20 Ders-
ley?" he asked.
Yes. sir. There's one across the fields.
But It's for foot passengers. not for
'Orses."
James Ince asked for the direction and
wren the fly had reached the spot where
the path across the fields began. he and
Miss Densley and Saunders got out oF
the vehicle and started at q rapid pace
by the short cut in order 20 reach Miss
Grey s cottage before Monsieur Leblanc
and his unknown companion.
The ny was 70 come on slowly. and 70
wait al point outside the village in
case it should 5e wanted.
lnce had St Quiutin's overcoat on his
arm. aud led the way al a flying pace.
while Miss Densley proved almost equally
feet OF foot. and the tall, muscuIar-Iook-
ing Saunders brought up the rear. nor
many feet away In silence they went.
just able 20 pick their way by the light
OF a misty moon across q country that
was fortunately very open.
They succeeded in reaching DansIe,-
before the appearance Of the fly which
contained Monsieur Leblanc and HIS COM
panion. and they dashed up % the cot
tage. where there was q light burning
In the top front room.
They knocked. and James Inee. think
ing that the solitary female occupant
might, perhaps be alarmed 10 sec So
many nocturnal visitors directed Saun-
ders 10 take Up a position at the rear q
the cottage, where ne would be wanted
later. II things turned out as expected.
Then Ince and his pretty girl cOiapsn-
ion waited FOR q few moments, until they
heard female voice on the other side
of the front door.
WHO'S it, asked the voice. CUeruI0usIy.
It's + Don't you remember Miss
DensIey2' said the girl
Miss Grey drew sack the bolts and let
her and her companion in at once.
"L0f', Mss Densley; I've had such a
day Of ii. with gentlemen coming and
going, And ] thinking you and madame
weren't come after all Where is she
HOws"
I've not come with Nine. Leblanc
answered The girl. quickly with an III
voluntary shuGder.
Wen. come in and go upstairs. TIE
got your room ready"
And Miss Grey turned cUriously 10 the
gentlemon by her side
And who IS this gentleman"
Ny name is lnce- I've come 10 try
70 find friend OF mine. AIr ST Quintia.
Have you seen anything Of him2"
Mr.. :. QU.u-in, On. dear. yes. Hes
been in and out all the afternoon. He
and Monsieur Leblanc and 1Ir- Williams.
Mr. Williams ehT~
Both Ince and the girl turned curiousIv
al the name This was the man. then.
who had been spoken of as her guardian.
the man on whose opinion So much de-
pended. They looked al each other.
We'll, ! want 10 meet them when they
come back They told me they should
come here said Ince 20 Miss Grey
Sue trowued and looked worried.
oh, no. not here" she said. They've
gone away for good as I understand.
They've been abGu- az the evening. as I
say. smoking and drinking. and going in
and out But they'Ie gone now. thank
goodness. hope I'm not offending you,
si-. bat really there was such a cornmo-
ton going on. what with them ard Mr.
ST Quintin. that I'm very glad 70 have
the house quiet again"
They're coming back. though" said
Iacc. quietly And now. Miss Grey, I
want YOU 20 help me, if you can. by let
tins me know al you can about their do
ings this afternoon I'm sorry To- say
there's doubt about their being all that
one would wish them 10 De. and that We.
may want very particularly 20 know al
about them"
Miss Grey. an elderly woman or the
small farmer class. looked ar him
shrewdlv.
II knew there was something wrong
about them. she said sharply. "4nd If
they come back here. shan't let them in
begging your pardon. Miss De-s-ey. for
having 20 say such a thing Of your own
uncle"
Hes not my uncle" said the girl.
And I've just found out that my names
not Densley AZ all
Again Miss Grey looked shrewd. and
Ince broke in.
When they come hack as they VIII. 7
want You 10 show them into q room. and
] want You 90 lock Up this coat some
where in IT, They'll ask for IT, and You
VIII say 1Ir. Iuce left II for them"
And you're sure they'll come back2'
asked Miss Grey. appreEersively.
quite sure"
And viii they so away againc'
I don't know. But I should think 50.
Now VIII YOU tel me when YOU last saw
AIr. 81. Quiutue"
He left here Al \ O'Clock fa~ Darcas-
ter she said. and the other two gentle
men began 10 shift lot Of their heavy
luggage from here 10 the Red Lion AT
least, that was what they said they were
going 20 do, but they didn't so % the
Red Lion. I noted. They Went the other
way. toward the back OF the park"
Her hearers listened. breathIess
And presently she went on. Mr.. s
Quinun came back from DonCaster and
asked for the gentlemen And told him
they We're out. and h. went the same way
as they did. and I've never set ewes on
him.SinCe- But fancy they must. some
OF them. have been looking over the big
house. Densley Place, for 7 saw lights IN
lives I'm the house
James IDce uttered a low crv- Miss
Densley' looked ar him with wild eyes.
Miss Grey went on:
Monsieur Leblanc and Mr.. Williams
came back presently. and they brought
Mr.. St. Quiutin'S coat and said he was
gone 20 meet the ladies': but as Mr.. Will
Jams had 10 go hack 20 London they
couldn't wait 70 see them. but would
pass them on the road, they said and
give Mr.. s.. Quintin his coat
let us go 10 the house. I know the
way said the girl breaJhlessly. read
ing Alright the anxiety in her compan-
ions eyes.
James Ince nodded
Yes" said he; well 60 there tOgeth-
er if YOU know the way. How shall We get
in o.
Wen manage IL somehow said the
girl. who was IN a fever Of nameless
dread. Ince turned 10 Miss Grey.
''ShOw me the sitting-room where YOU
VIII bring these gentlemen. said he.
She led him into the little room where
they had all sat that evening. The fire
was low and the lamp turned down. but
there was light enough for him 70 see
that the little window was suffered and
barred and that there was Il key I'm the
lock OF the door. He transferred # from
Inside 10 outside.
Now said he quickly. 10 Miss Grey.