The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-12-30
CHAPTER XXI.
A STRANGE ALLIANCE.

1
A STRANGE ALLIANCE.
It was but a fleeting vision that
we had of Marske, for no sooner
did the ray from Herzog's lantern
fall upon him than he ducked down
and disappeared. 1t lasted long
enough, however. to explain the
purpose of his midnight visit, for in
his mouth, carried there doubtless
to free his hands for the climb, was
a long bowie knife.
I joined Herzog as he strobe to
the window, and peered down into
the gloom, but of the intruder there
was no sign. He had completely
vanished, and was presumably
making his way through the shrubs
back to the grounds of "Ardmore.
"Humph! Clambered up by that
Virginia creeper," said Herzog
shutting the window and proceed.
ing to light the candle on the dress
ing table. 81 think you owe me
] lHdukS, my lTIeHu.
l hated to be beholden to him, SO
l answered surlily enough that |
should not have been taken by sur
prise, as l had been wide awake
and ready to give a good account. of
myself
Herzog chuckled and I noticed
now that he seemed in high good
humor.
well, WE'LL" he said, lat any
rate l warned you that you would
be in danger. and you profited by
my advice to be vigilant. l was in
two minds whether your peril
would take this form or that of an
incursion by police officers. l am
delighted that 1t came in the shape
of Mr.. Roger Marske. for now l can
play the game with knowledge of
my opponents cards. Just cast
your eye over this telegram that l
received this evening"
saw that it had been handed in
at the Charing Cross postoffice at
O'Clock, and, besides the address,
contained only the two words:
Business Off"
That" proceeded Herzog, as he
carefully restored the message to
his pocketbook, refers to your lit
tie affair, ar rather to what would
have been your affair If you had
been the truculent ruffian you were
supposed to be. 1t is prearranged
signal informing me that the
scheme has been abandoned. Lord
Alphington's life is no longer
threatened, and, personally. l re-
joice, for am not by nature a
bloodthirsty man. Now l am going
to be perfectly frank with you, Riv-
ington, in the hope of tempting you
to equal frankness. That telegram
was sent by, or on behalf of, Sir
Gideon Marske, the chancellor of
the excheQuer, and one of my SUI
periors, in the unpleasantness we
nave Deen engaged In.
Roger Marshes father?" l ex-
claimed, more concerned with the
intimate bearing Of his revelation
on my owne fate than with the tre-
mendous fact that cabinet minis
tiers should have conspired against
the life of colleague.
"Ah. you begin to see the connec-
ton of things" Herzog said. Eyes,
IL Roger Marske had not been play
ing lone hand, about which you
will, perhaps, enlighten me pres
emily. should have stood in a very
different relation toward you from
what l do at this minute"
And depositing his heavy frame
in one Of Mrs. Krance's unreliable
chairs, while sat on the bed. he
told me the secret history OF his
mission to release me in order to
assassinate Lord Alphington. How,
with the connivance of the home
secretary, he had worked the bust
ness at the prison; how he had
doubted my fitness for the job, al
most from the first interview with
me at Southampton; AMI how he
had begun to scent an entirely un-
foreseen combination of private in.
fluences the moment he perceived
Lady Muriel's interest in the case
ON the boat on the day of our ar.
rival at Totland. It had not taken
him long to specify Janet Chilmark
as the friend" mentioned by Lady
Muriel, and thenceonward his aim
had been, not rs l had believed, to
turn me loose as savage MUIR
derer on Lord Alphington. but to
trace out the intricacies of Roger
Marshes hostility to me. as evil
denced by his pitiless talk on the
boat.
He told me. with fat wheeZe OF
enjoyment, that he had arranged
the excursion to Bournemouth for
the express purpose OF proving to
himself his suspicion that Roger
Marske had not only guessed my
identity. but had private reasons of
his own for desiring either my
death OF recapture.
II had hard work to keep him
uujat there I'm tba piue wood and