Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-21
CHAPTER xxx.
The Hound Again.

The clamor ceased. Just for a moment
an intense silence followed. Then there
came the murmur of voices from without
and the crash of splntering wood Silva
cursed himself for his folly. He had been
that he had not looked for this Their
was no time to be lost Silva caught
Vera as if she had been a feather-w weight
and ran with her swiftly up the stairs. II
was the work of a moment to unlock a
door thrust her inside and then fast IN
the door once more No sooner was this
done than Silva wa downstairs again.
with his hand on the lock of the back
entrance of the houSn. All this time he
could hear the steady splintering Of wood
as an effort was being made to fore one
of the drawingroom windows Silva
smiled to himself for here was the lay
which was so essent al to him. once tn,
attackers were In the drawing room there
would yet he another door to force bnfor
they were upon him. He wi he'd with al
his heart that he had his revolver with
him. But. then. he had not expected so
swift vengeance as this, and he had
come down from town without any
weapon at all. Still. it was idle t. vast
N4'i' ~ AiSSt Si'tS. seeing lIidi there
was other and stern work before him
Inc back entrance of the house was
opened at last, and Sl"a sped back to thu
dining room He half dragged. half car
ried Walters unconscious body down the
garden path, until he reached bed of
asparagus. where he deposited his bur
den. Painting with his eXertions he cam
back again to the house. He wiped the
beads OF perspiration from his face. He
reached eagerly for glass of wine, but
not from the same decantar from which
he had helped Walter. Then he sat down
coolly enough to smoke a cigarette till
the enemy should put in an appearance.
A succession of sounds like pistol shots
testified to the attack on the dra wing
room door, and Il moment later tue at
lacking force burst into the dining room
This Is an unexpected pleasure" Silva
said, with smile. But why have you
not come In the ordinary way? And now
perhaps. you will be good enough to tell
me what you are after?'
You are wasting our time" Lord
Ravenspur said sternly. I'VE are in
search o. Miss Vera Rayne. as you know
perfectly well. There is not the slightest
occasion to lie about it, because l heard
her voice just now. Take us to her at
once"
Your lordship's hearing 10 remarkably
good" Silva sneered: but the scream of
one angry woman is 80 like that of an
ether that l am not prepared to agree
with your statement. However, as / ap-
pear to be only one to three of you. /
suppose you will have your own way and
search the house,
THAT most assuredly." Venables put In
Then l VIII make no attempt to stop
you. l will stay here while you make
your search, and perhaps when you have
found out that you are mistaken you will
apologize to me-"
The speaker was perfectly cool and
self-possessed. With wave of his hand
he fntimated that the house was quite at
the disposal of the intruders He sat
there with his leg; crossed, apparently in
the enjoyment of a cigarette, but when
once the party had scattered his attitude
changed entirely. He darted across the
hall and out into the garden. His task
was not yet finished. There was deal
to do before he could face his enemies
again. He was not a bit downcast.
though his plot had partially failed, and
though he knew now that before long
Vera Rayno would be in the hands Of her
friends again. All he thirsted for now
was a weapon by which he could take tie
vengeance for which he had painted all
these years. Slowly he dragged the I'M
conscious body of his victim in the direc-
ton of the little gate leading to the lane
Meanwhile Ravenspur and his COM
panions were scattered over the house
Ravenspur called Vera by name, and to
his great joy and relief. he heard her an
swering cry from behind one of the bed
room doors. He was not surprised to