The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-06-28
CHAPTER XX.

J
MR. FIELDING IN A NEW ROLE
Runton was apparently enjoying the
relaXa ton of having got rid of prac-
tically the whole of its guests for the
day The women servants were going
about their duties faithfully enough,
but with a marked absence of any SUI
perfluOus energy. Mr. Harrison. the
butler, was enjoying a quiet pipe i'm
his room and a leisurely perusal of the
morning paper. Mrs. Ellis. the much
respected housekeeper, was also in her
room comfortably ensconsed in an easy
chair, and studying a new volume of
collected menus which a friend had sent
her from Paris. The servants were
not exactly neglecuinf. their work, but
every one was approaching a certain
sense of peace which the emptyins. of
the house from a crowd of more or less
exacting guests had brought about.
In one room only things were diff
ferent. and neither Mrs. Ellis nor Mr..
Harrison. nor any of the household.
knew anything about that. 1t was the
principal guest chamber on the first
flOOr-a large and handsomely furnished
apartment Barely an hour ago it had
been left in SpOtless order by a couple
Of painstaking servants. Just now it
had another aspect.
In the middle of the room a man lay
stretched upon the floor face down
ward. The blood was slowly trickling
from "a wound i'm the side of the head
down on to the carpet. With nearly
every breath he drew he groaned. Over
turned chairs and tables showed that
he had taken part in no ordinary strug-
gle. The condition of the other man
also testified this.
The other man was Mr.. Fielding. He
was down on his knees upon the floor
rapidly going through the contents OF
a dark mahogany box, which was ap-
parently full of papers. Scattered over
the carpet by his side were various
strange looking tools. by means of
which he had forced the lock Mr.
Fielding was not at all his usual self
His face was absolutely colorless, and
every few moments his hand went I'D
To his shoulder blade and a SILVER went
through his whole frame. There was
faint odor of gun powder in the room,
and somewhere near the feet of the
PROSTATE man lay a small shining re-
VOlVer Nevertheless, Mr.. Fielding per
severed i'm his task
Suddenly there came an interruption.
Footsteps outside in the corridor had
paused. There was a sharp tapping at
the door. The PROSTATE man groaned
louder than ever, and half turned over.
proving that he was not wholly I'M
conscious. Mr.. Fielding closed the box
and staggered TO his feet
He stood for a moment staring Wild
ly at the door. Who could il be? He
had asked as a special favor that he
might not be disturbed. and Mr.. Field
ing knew how TO ask favors of serv-
ants. Interruption now meant disaster
absolute and unqualified-the end. per-
haps, of a career in which he had
achieved some success Big drops of
perspiratiOn stood out upon his fore
head drawn there by the pain and this
new fear. Slowly, and on tiptoe, he
drew near the door.
"Who is that?" he asked with Won
derful calmness.
1T is l. Let me inr' came the swift
answer, and Mr.. Fielding drew a lit
tie breath of relief. Nevertheless he
was angry. He opened the door and
drew the girl in.
You fool" he exclaimed Il sent
you out of the way on purpose. Why
have you come back?"
She opened her lips. but no words
came. The man on the floor groaned
She swayed upon her feet. 1t was all
so horrible.
Speak. can't your" he r1uttered be-
tween his teeth. Things have gone
badly here. I'm wounded, and I'm afraid
I've hurt that chap-pretty badly"
Il was in the park" she faltered,
land saw them. They are all coming
back"
Coming back?"
'They are almost here Sir George
Duncombe told me that they could not
shoot because of the wind.
1.-THE carp
Down stairs-waiting
He had forgotten his hurt. He caught
up his hat and a coat, and pushed her