The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-05-02

CHAPTER xx.-(continued.)

L
should return; and, during that time
a curious thing happened.
| There sat next to him a tall, thin in
Idjvidual, with melancholy visage-
a man who had not, curiously enough
taken any part in the actual fray, bu
who, nevertheless, had thrust himself
forward eagerly when the men who
were to guard the prisoner were select
| ed. Once or twice Philip was under
the curious impression that the man
was striving to attract his attention
he lunged out one of his thin legs al
him sideways, once or twice, while the
Inspector happened to be engaged In
conversation with the constable and
the other men. At last he found an
excuse TO get up from his chair and
pass in front of Philip; tripped-pur'
posely, as it seemed-over the prison
er's feet, and turned swiftly to make
an apology.
Begin yer pardon, sir, I'm sure
'adn't no intention of'-the words died
away, in a sort of growl; but at the
end of them, as the man bent his head
to speak, Philip heard distinctly the
whisper: "Cap'n Quist.'
Philip was so astounded, and his
heart began TO beat so fast at the prob
able thought that friend was near at
hand, that he could scarcely control
himself. But he managed to keep his
eyes fixed, apparently on the floor,
even while he turned toward the man,
who had resumed his seat. His aston
ishment was greater than ever when
he saw that man, on the pretext of
scratching his arm, pull up his sleeve
a little way and disclose so that
Philip alone saw them-certain heavy
tattoo marks, such as would scarcely
be likely to be on the skin of anyone
but sailor
At that moment wheels were heard
at the front of the house. and, the door
being unfastened by Toby--who had
gone with Betty into the bar-a man
came II and walked straight through
to where Tokely was standing.
Couldn't get trap, sir, anywhere:
but | managed to get tly-and it's at
the door"
"All right-a fly will do better than
anything; Wen have him safer there
than elsewhere"
The man with the melancholy Wis.
age suddenly emitted a most extra
sound-a sound which, had
it moved any part of his face in any
way, might have been described as a
laugh; but as his countenance APP
peared as melancholy after as before,
it did not seem possible that it arose
from nirth.
What's the matter?" asked Tokely,
turning toward the man.
Nothing, guv'nor. It's rather
nasty corf, that ketches me now and
agin," replied the man.
Philip was thrust into the vehicle,
together with the man of the melan-
choly conference.-the stuck close
to him, and even held his arm, as
though afraid of losing him-and Toxic
ly. When one of the watchers sug-
gested that he might want other assis-
tance, in view of the prisoner proving
Tokely admitted that it
might be better for one of them to get
ON the box with the driver; but, imme-
diately afterward, thinking apparently
that such extra precaution might be
put down to cowardice on his part, he
the order; so that the
prisoner drove off, with only the mel
aneholy-looking man and Tokely inside
and the driver on the box.
Philips mind was chiefly occupied
with wonder as to what was going to
happen. That the melancholy man was
an emissary of Captain Quist, he did
not doubt; at the same time, lest he
should alarm the inspector and so frus-
trate any plan which might have been
formed for his own rescue, he sat still
In corner of the fly, apparently in a
sulky humor. but really alert and
watchful.
The moment came at last A shrill
whistle sounded somewhere out of the
blackness of the night. 1t was an
swered In an instant by the melan-
choly man, who on the instant leapt
upon Tokely and seemed to be doing
extraordinary, in the midst
of violent struggle, with that gentle
mans arms. In less time than IL
takes to tell a figure appeared,
through the glass on one window, rae
ing along beside the vehicle; the door
was wrenched open and Philip was
tumbled out. with the melancholy man
literally on top Of him, into the road;
the door was slammed, and the horse,
maddcned by a cut across his
launches from long whip. fairly took
the bit in his teeth and dashed straight
down the road like racer. The last
that Philip saw of the vehicle, as he
sat up In the road and looked after 1t,
was 1t swaying from side to side OF the
road, while the unfortunate Tokely
Whose arms had been pinioned behind
him with true sailor-like adroitness)
had his head thrust out Of one window,
and was vainly shouting to the driver.
Then = familiar voice broke upon
Philips ear, and Captain Quist, look.
ing ruefully at tall silk hat which lay
battered In the roadway, and on which
: