The Washington herald., 1907-12-15

would find them.
Master told me 10 lay down the tray
said Gregson Junior. still through the
| crack % the door. HE had his big
motor-cOat, that goes down to his heels,
all furry, lying over chair"
"Ah" said Walter Grinding.
Yes. sir; and when ! went 10 take the
tray again after he was gone a while
the big safe was shut. It's shut now
THANK you, young Gregson," said
\ Grinding.
4 hope You. think I did right, sir?"
the boy called out after him.
Perfectly right-this time,' said Wal
ter Grinding. Il may have 10 trouble
you again. however-when I get the war
rants and powers mentioned in THE
Boys Penny Thriller
! Turning his back on the Caravan
serai, Grinding, who had something of
the man Of action in him. rode straight
| as he could through the village Of Kirk
| town, leaving the Works 20 one side.
! and so took the hill road with its many
windings which conducted him through
the woods to CORN Castle
Here also the master was not at home.
But Gregson in person assured him that
from his knowledge OF his employer, and
| from certain conferences with the coach
man, Mr.. Grinding would be almost sure
| to find Mr.. ROmer on the Heueh OF Porto
garten. occupied in inspecting the new
mine they We're opening there-near the
lighthouse old Dick Finnan was building
on the Point Of lne Rough Isle
! Here GregsOn permitted himself 10
smile respectfully and induigently He
/ also was evidently OF the opinion that
| his master could not keep himself from
| mining speculation in some shape or
form II was, according 20 Gregson. an
/ amiable weakness. We have all our fail
/ ings, even buffers
As soon as Walter Grinding knew this
he turned his horses head about and set
/ OF in the direction Of Portogarten Hith-
erto the name had excited only mirth at
the great Incubus Ofices-from which
! they controlled fheir haif-score Of pits
and their whole regiments Of men. But
| II. having sold out Of the Kirktown col
/ lieries. Mr.. Jacob ROmer was inclined 10
/ interest himself in POrtOgarten. the af-
fair took on quite another aspect for
Walter Grinding.
What had been but the folly OF a
couple Of ignorant old lighthousemen
suddenly became worth looking into. But
in the meantime however. something
was still better worth looking into. AS
he rode, Grinding had before him the
nasty toilet of James Kahn, the scarcely
touched lunch tray, the door of the big
safe, first open, then shut-especiaIv the
great motoring-coat flung over the sofs
He knew that coat 1t was full Of inside
pockets In the lining-pOcsets which but
toned down. each with its great flap OF
skin II James Kahn had disappeared.
what did these pockets contain?
As Walter Grinding rode through the
I l4l rr~frf fsI, IL IA
edges he became conscious Of the subtle
change in the atmosphere which comes
with the nearness TO the sea.
But the great Heugh OF Portogarten
stood up before him. shutting out the
view. Only little railway cars trundled
by. and Walter Grinding examined the
piled ore with a professional eve.
They've struck our Carron main lode.
or I'm Dutchman"' he cried, sIapping
his mare with the fat OF his hand so
that she dashed away.
But the next moment he had something
else to think Of Above him AT the tor
Of a little hili was the well-known CORN
Castle turnout Grinding knew It afar
on Once, before the days OF Kahn. he
had often been asked by the Chief" to
help him choose his horses. and even
now though in way passed by, he stlH
took an interest.
He Checked his horse, still inclined IN
dance n little. The coachman was on
his proper side. one wheel in a nook va
Gated by a stOne-breaker. So. Ike we'll
bred Jehu. he never once turned his
head as the sounds approached
sir. Romer anywhere abOut?'' inouir-
ed Grinding I have ridden over from
the offices. I went up TO the castle. and
Gregson sent me o. here"
Yes, sir, said the coachman, speak
ing over the multiplicity OF his chIns
and the curving comfort OF his lower
waisteoat: you will find Mt Romer up
the hill-somewhere about that there new
pitt"
But what am I 10 Go with my horse?''
said Grinding; IF I We're to ride round
by the Cove I might miss him"
There is what they call a road. I be-
leVe' said the cOacaman, Jerking his
thumb TO the right I've never tried II.
IL 1 might advise, sir, I think she would
be all right in the shepherds house there
l see a ring let in by the door"
The house WAS empty and roofess
But there seemed to be nothing else for
it. SO Grinding dismounted and tied
up his mare
III keep an eye on the chestnut. sir"
SAID the coachman; "she seems fdgety.'
she's all right" said Grinding. get
ing over the stile, but she can't bear
hand laid on her when she does not ex-
pect it-I-was thinking Of something
else" .
You mustn't. sir, Not with horses
sir; you didn't ought really" the coach
man rebuked him gravely. IT'S enough
Tor any grown man to be up to the tricks
OF one horse-let alone mare, and chest
nut at that"
But Grinding had no time for theory
He was bound to have immediate speech
with Jacob ROmer, and there. as he
mounted the Heugh of POrtogarten. he
saw his ancient master in close and IA
miliar talk with Phil Calmont.
There was a certain doglike fidelity
about Grinding. His faiIings were of
quite different order from those of
Hector McKill. He leaped at once to the
conclusion that there was a plot against
his old chief" All the new hands,
We're in it-Kahn. Casimir, and now this
Phil Calmont was holding his master in
talk while his accomplices got away with
the booty.
Accordingly as he came on the levels
or the moor he qIickened his pace tn a
run, and arrived rurple-visaged and ont
OF breath before the cool, quiet figure
Of the man in gray.
Mr. Romer-Mr Romer-sirr' he pant
ed, I'VE have been roohed-you have been
robbed-robbed, sir, by a gang. a
gang"
Here words failed him. and Jacob
Romer turned on him the bold hawke
Deak and dominating eye of other years
What is this. Grindling?" he said:
out with 1t, man! Don't stand STAN
mering there"
For indeed the poor acting SUPER
lntendent was swaying from side TO
SIDE wrlnglng his short. plump hands.