The Washington herald., 1907-12-08
CHAPTER XxIv-(COntinued).

CHAPTER XXIv-(Continued).
He led the trembling girl out of the cot
tage. made Saunders hide among The
bushes. with orders 10 prevent any at
tempt at escape on the part of either Of
the men If he could. but in any case to
be sure 10 note the companion OF Mon
sieur Leblanc, so as TO be able TO identify
him later.
Then he and the unhappy little heir
ess' started for the Eearest gap in the
ruined wall
I've been here before. you know" she
whispered and they told me all this
place was mine I'm glad it isn't though.
It's gloomy-dreadful"
She talked intermittently. her voice get
ting more tremulous every moment. until
they drew near the great, gaunt, deserted
mansion.
Then they stopped and looked at it.
looked at the broken windows cleaning
IN the faint moonlight, at the struggling
bushes the ragged trees pressing their
branches against the stained masonry.
And then James Ince suddetay raised
the primitive lantern when ne had bor-
rowed from Miss Grey.
And as they stood. and he flashed the
light of the lantern to and fro, they heard
a faint moan from inside the build
ing.
Massey" shrieked the girl. as she
made a dash for the nearest OF the
broken windows. and climbing to the
sill IA al.
glass away with her gloved hands until
she had made passage through for
her slim figure
James Ince followed more cautiously,
and together they hunted. calling as they
went, their voices echoing strangely in
the empty rooms. until they came to the
great dining-room. where St QUintin lay,
in pool Of blood, in the middle of the
floor
The girl did not scream. She uttered
a long moan as she rushed forward and
raised the poor. bruised body in her arms.
Thank God, he's alive. he's alive."
she whispered, as she pressed her lips
upon his forehead. which was dishgured
with horrible stains.
But St Quintin, if he heard her, did
not understand. He had been lying limp
and mOtiOnless when they came IN. But
the sound of their voices reused him.
and he opened dull eyes to say in
hoarse whisper:
The pond. the pond, Search the pond,
You are murderers. both of you. III
have the pond dragged tomorrow"
The girl burst into tears.
They've driven him mad. mad. Oh.
Massey. Massey, my darling, don't you
know me? Don't you remember me?
You must. you must,'
James Ince had to gulp down his own
tears as he looked at the piteous sight
and knew that his friend had, indeed.
lost his senses.
Kneeling on the floor. he examined St.
Quintin's body, and ascertained that be-
yond frightful injury to the head.
which had bled prOfusely, he appeared to
have sustained little bodily injury.
Have you got the pluck" he asked the
girl TO stay with him. all by yourself,
while l bring a doctor? / want you not
20 be alarmed. This may pass off. I say
ii may. Let him keep quiet Don't try
10 rouse him. I'll make him as COM
Portable as l can with my coat Keep
his head low; and just wait and watch
patiently till 1 come back"
She was tender. submissive. wise
enough TO restrain her misery and to do
as she was told. Ince undid his friends
collar, placed him on his back on the out
spread overcoat. and left him with his
sad little nurse
He had another and a more arduous
task before him. Returning to the cot
tage at a rapid pace, he found. as he had
expected. that Monsieur Leblanc's fly had
arrived. and that the vwo men had al
ready entered the little house. He heard
the front door shut as he came up Saun-
ders sprang up from the bushes as he
went quickly Up into the little garden.
MI Ince. sir. 1 can't do it. I can't do
it. You mustn't look for me to help you,'
cried he, as the barrister ran up the path.
why not7''
Because I've never rounded on a pal
and 1 can't begin now
"A pal eh2 Who's the paI?"
The man was silent
James Ince looked round. and then
beckoned 10 the driver Of the fly. The
man was Il sturdy young Yorkshirenaan
thick-set and muscular. He climbed
down of his box and came up to the
garden gate.
DO you want to earn a ten-pound
note?" asked Ince, quietly.
The man grinned
Go and fetch help-a couple of men
as many as you can get from the inn or
anywhere. And tell the man who would
be Of the least use to us to run and bring
q doctor straight up TO the big house in
the park. There's a man lying wounded
there. half-murdered by the two scoun-
drels you drove here from Doncaster"
Right. sir" said the man.
And he was away before Saunders could