The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-24
CHAPTER XX-(Continued)

CHAPTER XX-(Continued)
St Quintin heaved a high Of relief when
he got outside the door Penned up in
the cottage with two strong men, both OF
whom he believed TO be consummate
rogues. he had passed a very uneasy ten
minutes. And when he had only the one
to deal with, his troubles had. If any
thing, increased rather than diminished.
Once IN the open air. he felt that he
was safe
True. the night was dark, the little
village road deserted and not light 70
be seen in any Of the windows Even
the Red Lion had turned out the latest
OF its roisterers and was as dark and
desolate looking as the rest
But still there were human beings in
those shut-up houses, and St. Quintin
felt that a shout would reach the ears
OF somebody or other in case his com
panion Should turn upon him before they
reached the crossroads where the dy
was waiting.
Once there. he knew that he was out
of the clutches Of both his dubious
friends
In the meantime Mr. Williams talked
and laughed and smoked his pipe and
rolled easily along with his hands in the
pockets of his big overcoat. a garment.
St. Quintin felt, which looked reassur-
ingly unlike the sort Of thing man
would incumber himself with if he
meant 10 commit brutal assault upon
another man.
They strOlled through the village. St
Quintin growing more relieved at every
turn in the road that brought him nearer
to the fly and deliverance
He stin contriyed to keep UP an inter
mittent conversation with his compan-
ion, but his replies grew shorter as the
village was left behind and they were
together and alone on the open road.
a qualm Of doubt suddenly entered his
mind concerning the fly he had left
waiting for him. What If the man should
have grown tired Of waiting and have
gone little farther away, or
The thought had scarcely formed itself
IL his mind when they reached a bend
OF the road that brought them in sight
of the spot where ST. Quintin had left
the vehicle which brought him from Don
caster.
But It was not there.
Quickening his pace, and i'll at ease. ST
Quintin began to wish that he had some
weapon Of defense about him. It was not
that there was anything menacing OF
alarming about the demeanOr Of his port
ly companion On the contrary, Mr.. Will
Jams was still conversing cheerily and
still smoking. with his hands in his peck
cts. But under all his rough good humor
st. Quintin had begun to detect a name
less something, a sort OF cold readiness
for emergencies. which was perturbing
in the circumstances.
What If the two men should decide that
he guessed too much? What if they
should have made up their minds that he
was better out of the way?
ST. Quintin. even while these thoughts
passed through his mind. wondered at his
own cowardice. For why should he sup
pose they were so eager TO take upon
themselves a crime by which they could
gain so little?
But there had been that in the manner
md looks OF both men, though It was
Inly at odd moments that it made itself
-oiceable, which was a surer danger sig
lal than anything more definite. more
.angible. would have been.
St Quintin said nothing about the dis
appearance Of the fly, but walking a little
.aster hoped that he might catch sight
81 it, as soon as he reached the cross
Dads. II might be a little farther away
nd out OF sight round one Of the angles.
perhaps the horse might be feeding by
he roadside, or the driver might have
.rawn up at a spot a little wider than
he place where he had been left. ANY
hing, surely, was more probable than
nat he should have gone away,
But the cross roads were reached and
he vehicle was nowhere TO be seen.
i must go back and put up at the inn, -
said St Quintin. trying not 10 show
anxiety. My man has given me the slip.
! see"
Even as he spoke he felt sure that this
disappearance was the result OF an act of
treachery. and when Mr.. Williams thrust
strong hand through his arm, and led
him in the direction of the park wall,
which was close by. saying. Perhaps
he's gone this way" st. Quintin felt that
q crisis was approaching
There was by this time enough moon
light for the young man to be able to see
that there was a gap in the stone wall of
the park leading out of a field on their
left Mr.. Williams led him close to the
low hedge. which divided the field from
the road They had got quite close to the
beginning Of the wall when suddenly.
without a moments warning. St Ouintin
found himself tripped up from behind and
lying on his back at the side Of the road
Help, Help" cried he.
The next instant a hand was placed
upon his mouth. his jaws were forced
apart. and a gag was thrust I'm and tied
behind his head. with neat. strong, slim
fingers. which he knew by the touch to be
those OF NJ. Leblanc.
Mr.. Williams lent his assistance in
keeping the young mans hands down,