Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-09
CHAPTER XVII.
E1iCht-


spur replied. He paced up and down the
studio immersed in his own gloomy
thoughts Then gradually his face
cleared, his eyes flashed with resolution.
Il begin to see my way he said. 1T
is not for my sake. but that of the child
l hope you will believe me when 1 say l
am no coward. If it were six months
hence 1 could laugh at the danger, be-
cause, whatever happened to me, l should
have succeeded in my purpose. In six
months time Vera will be Of age. At the
expiration Of that period she can become
a naturalzed British subject. Then the
crown will look after her interests. and
see that the estates which she will some
day inherit are properly administered.
Six months hence Vera will be her own
mistress. She has already been informed
what her mother is like. and she will
know how to behave toward that woman
1t will be satisfaction for me to know
that we have baff1ed those bloodthirsty
wretches after ALL
And in the meantime?" Walter asked.
Don't you think we should have Silva
arrested, so that at any rate we should be
safe as far as he is concerned? We
could easily find him."
Il don't think So" Ravenspur said
thoughtfuly. II know my enemy by
great advantage. II another assassin
comes along he will have a tremendous
pull over me. Besides, you made a sug
gestion just now which gave me a bril-
liant idea. You said that it was a pity
we hadn't got the dogs here. We will
have couple Of bloodhounds up the first
thing in the morning, and one Of them
shall sleep in my bedroom. the other In
the studio. The hounds are not r. the
least dangerous to those who know them.
But pity the midnight intruder who
comes along and gets introduced to one Of
them. That will be one way Of protect
ing myself for time. and it will give the
scoundrels something to do to devise
fresh means of putting an end to me- l
have thought 1t all out. and the best
thing we can do is to disappear.">
Disappear Walter cried. What do
you mean?"
Il mean exactly what say. The thing
can be done tomorrow night There is
nothing easier"
But tomorrow night we are going to
Lady Ringmars great reception" Walter
urged. II understand that it is to be one
of the biggest things Of the season. and
know that Vera is looking forward to
it with the greatest possible pleasure"
trifle impatiently Now my scheme is
this-we go to Lady Ringmar's. and stay
there till about 2 o'clock in the morning.
We take certain wraps with us. and we
leave the house. not in one of the car
riages. but in a hired fly, which will SUBJ
sequently take US to Waterloo station.
BY special train we will go down to
Weymouth, and at that point hire a
yacht to convey us to Jersey. There We
shall be able to stay a few days and set
tie our plans. The servants can easily
get all we want together early tomorrow
morning. and send the bags down to
Weymouth as luggage in advance. The
next day the papers will contain the in
formation that Lord Rayenspur mas sud
denly been attacked with a mysterious i'll
ness, and that he has been ordered to
leave London at once. As perfect rest
and quietness are prescribed. he Is keep
Ing his address secret, and has given
strict orders that no communication of
any kind is. to be forwarded. Even the
servants in Park lane will profess not to
know where we have gone, which will be
nothing less than the truth. How does
the idea strike your"
Walter murmured something in reply.
AS matter of fact. he was not in the
least in love with the scheme, though
Lord Ravenspur appeared to be so eager
and happy about it, that he had not the
heart to throw cold water on the pro-
gram. From his more youthful point Of
view the idea of flight seemed cowardly.
He would have placed the matter in the
hands Of the police. He would not have
SiII uiih lIOIu the uIulOSt But
still. there was Vera to be considered.
The girls future was Of the first i'm
portance
Very we'll" he said. IT will give up
my time tomorrow to getting ready. I
suppose now that you won't want me to
telegraph to the Hampshire place for the
dogs?"
"Oh. think you had better" Raven
spur said. Zone never knows what may
turn up. And there is always the chance
let us go to bed and try to get some
sleep. l haven't had q nights rest for a
week. 1 am longing to find myself on
board yacht again. I shall be safe
boy
1t was after lunch the following day
that Vera came into the billiard room in
search Of Walter. The latter had prac-
tically finished his preparations He had
done everything that his uncle had in
trusted to him. and there was nothing
now but to wait the turn of.events. In
well-regulated establishment like that of
Lord Ravenspur's everything had pro-
ceeded smoothly enough. By luncheon
manteaus had been packed and the lug
gage dispatched. Still there was q per
picked look in Vera's eyes as she came
into the billiard room.
II have been looking for you every
know what is the meaning of all this
mystery. I have seen enough baggage
leave the house to supply us with all we
want for a season In Scotland. When 1
asked my maid what she was doing she
simply said that she had been instructed
by the housekeeper to get my things
ready. OF course I raised no objection,
but l should certainly like to know what
it all MEANS"
Walter looked trifle embarrassed. He
had quite forgotten that Vera might show
a natural curiosity.
I'VE are going away for a little time"
he explained. THE fact of the matter Is
your guardian has not been at all well
lately. But you must have noticed that
or yourself. He has had a great deal to
try him, too. and he is afraid of
breakdown. We are going to Weymouth
direct from Lord Ringmar's house, and
not soul Is to know anything about 1t.
You see, If we stay and make elaborate
preparations, 1t will take quite week
to make a start. 1t Is far better to let
people know afterward that Lord Raven
spur has been ordered away peremptorily
and that he is to have perfect rest for
the next month or so. Only can't suffi-
GENTLY impress upon you the necessity
of keeping this thing absolutely secret"
Even from Lady Ringmar?- Vera
cried.
From everybody" Walter said, some
what sternly. Vera. your guardian is in
great danger You are in great danger
yourself. l dare not tell you more now,
but perhaps 1 shall be permitted to say
1T later on Go about your business or
pleasure today just as If nothing had
happened"