Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-04-24

and after that-Here's the Stable Dcss
p'raps they can tell you about it, sir"
He threw open the door and the
three boys came in.
WHO was with Lord Strathgate las,
night?" questioned Darlington fiercsly
The stable boys shuffied uneasily.
Each looked furtlvely to the others,
and they made no answer.
by heaven!" cried Darlington In
tones Of thunder, answer me or. I'll
have you logged all over the place. .
Twas a.'slight young man." said
one Of them, finally. I'VE didn't rec.
-ognise who 1t was" he continued,
boldly lying. Lord Straihgate is a
very imperious map ard he covered us
with his pistol and swore II we made
a sound he'd blow our brains out. and
the young man tied our hands and the
two Of 'em, gagged u.s." !.
Couldn't you see who. the young
man was? =. -
mo, my lud; not in. the dark"
."And you allowed Lord strathgats
and one young stripping to overcome
your -.
/. ::sWe be nightly afeard Of firearms,
your .lordship," answered another
stable boy. They looked awful big
and 'monstrous In the night.
- Which team did they takegi said
Darlington; cutting In. ="
He. knew all he had to know, and
he would waste no more time, on these
men: e :.
"The bays, my lud."' =. = e.
+The bays! The best team In the
stable! and the travelling carriage?".
|. your lordship, yes, SIR. returned
the coachman. -
THAT will do. Go you and saddle
Sailor and the best rider among you
boys saddle. the best horse left in the
stable and make ready to come with
me- See that your pistols are in the
holsters. Where Is the lodgekeeper?"
Here; SIR" answered that individ
ual, entering the library and making
scrape.r:' >:
What do you know about this az
fair?" =. - =.
What affair, my ludw
The fight Of the earl Of strath
gate" ,$i- &. = q.
/ '"He came,to the lodge about. two
o'clock and said som'v'at about. q
wager with your lordship and babe me
open the gate" 2H.4 : .:'f ',
| And you opened II, you .fool!"
Yes, my :lud."
| "Jepson,p. said Darlington to the but
lei, tell. Mr.. Wilson, my steward, t.
discharge every man. before me Ell
| cept. the one. who rides with me
They are either .knaves or fools, and
Iwant none Of them about me- Which
way did: the carriage turnT continued
Darlington once more facing the lodge
keeper. .: -. -. g.
/ ''"If I'm no longer in your iordship'l
employ, l don't know as Lean remem
l:ber. that" the man answered imperti
nently. 20. -.
eYou villain% cried the. infuriatet
earl, making q dash at him, but tn,
man did not wait He stood not upor
the order Of his going, but fed a
once with the others from the room
t. A. moment later there was a timiC
knock on the door and at Carrington'i
bidding the woman who looked aftel
Mistress Deborah entered. =:
your lordship, Mistress Slocum'l
room is empty"
WAS her bed slept in last night!'
Eyes, my lud." -.
"And she is not there now"
mo, my lud." 81
<"she; did not summon you this morn
ing%
mo, my lud. But, then, she Otter
dresses herself, and there's nothin,
peculiar about that" IS
"HaYe you looked for her. else
WHEREBY q.
NO.. my lud."
Search the house for her at once
and tell. her l want to see her."
Yes, my lud."
Now; go!" cried Carrihgtonr j.
The, maid disappeared, only to giv'
place to Admiral Kephard.
What's the trouble, my lad?" salt
the admiral, rolling into the room, Civ
ing evidence in the disorder of hi
costume of the haste in which he. hat
made his toilet. -.
I Admiral, you are the only friend.
have In Gods world, believe" p.
We'll, am your friend, my lad
Count on that without fail. What
the trouble?" -
Lady Darlington has gone. She lef
me this" =. -.
He drew from the pocket Of hi,
waistcoat the note, added the chequ,
to 1t, and extended them to the ad
miral.
The old man took them, read then
slowly, folded them up and returned
them to the injured husband.
Darlington" he said, you've beef
Q fool"
II know It," returned the other.
THE idea" said the admiral, 20
your giving look to. that painted oil