The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-02-02

and the valet would have taken the
opportunity to be off to the town.
Grinding knew as well as if he had
been on the spot where he would find
them.
Master told me to lay down the
tray said Gregson Junior still
through the crack of the door. He
had his big motor coat. that goes down
to his heels. all furry, lying over a
chair"
All" said Walter Grinding.
Yes, sir. and when l went to take
the tray again after he was gone
while the big safe was shut. It's shut
now
Thank you. young Gregson," sal
Grinding
Il hope You think I did right. sr?9
the boy called out after him.
Perfectly right-this time" said
Walter Grinding. I may have to tron-
Bile YOU again. however-when I get
the warrants and powers mentioned in
The Boys Penny Thrillern'f
Turning his back on the Caravan
serai," Grinding. who had somethin
of the man of action in him, rode
straight as he could through the viii
lage of Kirktown. leaving the works
to one side, and so took the hill road
with its many windings which con-
Quoted 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 coachman Mr., Grinding
would be almost sure to find Mr.. Ro-
mer on the Heugh of Portogartens oc-
cupied in inspecting the new mine they
were opening there-near the light
4 hui on
the Point of the Rough Isle.
Here Gregson permitted himself 10
smile respectfully and indulgently. He
also was evidently of the opinion that
his master could not keep himself from
mining speculation in some shape or
form. 1t was, according to Gregson,
an amiable weakness. We have all our
failings, even buffers.
As soon as Walter Grinding knew
this he turned his horses head about
and set off in the direction of Porto
garten. Hitherto the name had eX
cited only mirth at the great Incubus
offices-from which they controlled
their half-score of pits. and their whole
regiments of men. But if having sod
out of the Kirktown eolleries, Mr.. ia
cob Romer was inclined to interest
himself in Portogarten, the affair took
on quite another aspect for Walter
Grinding
What had been but the folly of
couple of ignorant old lighthouse men
suddenly became worth looking into
But in the meantime, however, some
thing was still better worth looking
into. AS he rode Grinding had before
him the hasty toilet of James Kahn,
the scarcely touched lunch tray. the
door of the big safe, first open, then
shut-especially the great motoring
coat flung over the sofa. He knew
that coat 1t was full of inside pockets
in the lining pockets which buttoned
| down, each with its great flap of skin.
If James Kahn had disappeared, what
did these pockets contain?
AS Walter Grinding rode through
the birchen glades which clouded the
moor-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 trun-
died by, and Walter Grinding exam
ined the piled ore with a professional
eye.
They've struck our Carron main
lode, or I'm a Dutchman" he cried.
slapping his mare with the fiat of his
hand so that she dashed away.
thing else to think of. Above him at
the top of little hill was the well
known CORN Castle turnout. Grind
ling knew it afar off. once, before the
days of Kahn. he had often been asked
by 1.-The Chief" to help him choose his
horses, and even now, though in a
way passed by, he still took an interest
He checked his horse, still inclined
to dance a little. The coachman was
n IL. a
nook vacated by a stone-breaker So,
| like a well-bred JelrN, he never once
J turned his head as the sounds APP
preached.
"Mr. Romer anywhere about?" in
auired Grinding. 81 have ridden over
| from the office. / went up to the
Castle and Gregson sent me on here"
Eyes, sir" said the ooachman, speak
ing over the multiplicity of his chins
and the .curving comfort of his lower
waiseoat; you will find Mr.. Romer up
the hill-somewhere about that there
new pitt"
but what am I to do with my
horse?" said Grinding; IF l were TO
ride round by the Cove I might miss
him"
| There is what they call a road. I
believe" said the coachman, jerking his
! thumb to the right. i've never tried
| it. If I might advise, sir, 1 think she
would be all right in the shepherd s
house there. l see a ring let in by the
door"
| The house was empty and roofiess.
| But there seemed to be nothing else
| for it. So Grinding dismounted and
tied up his mare.
! I'll keep an eye on the chestnut,
SIR" said the coachman; "she seems
| fdgetty."
"she's all right" said Grinding, al
ready getting over the stile, but she
| can't bear a hand laid on her when
| she does not expect it-I-was think
| ing of something else"
you mustn't, sir! Not with horses
| sir. you didn't ought really" the coach
man rebuked him gravely. 1T )
enough for any grown man to be up o
the tricks of one horse-let alone a
| mare and chestnut at that"
But Grinding had no time for tho
DRY. He was bound to have fmmediat :
| speech with Jacob Romer, and there
as he mounted the Heugh Portogartel
he saw his ancient master in close and
familiar talk with Phil Calmont.
There was a certain doglike fidelity
about Grinding. His failings were
of quite different order from those
of Hector McKill. He leaped at once
to the conclusion that there was plot
against his old chief" All the new
hands" were in it-Kahn. Casifr, and
now this Phil Calmont was holding his
master in talk while his accomplic IS
got away with the booty.
Accordingly as he came on the levels
of the moor he quickened his pace 70
a run, and arrived purple -visaged and
out of breath before the cool quiet