Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-04-18
CHAPTER x


nc GENNl 10 fflellA OF oNfdLnuatC.
AS my Lord Darlington rode with
increasing satisfaction and Sir
Charles Seton sailed in growing
sense OF Observation-Disclosures in that he
alone was on the right track. my lord
OF Strathsate was FUN OF bewilder-
ment Like Darlington. ne too. made
Inquiries az every posting station. az
every waysido inn. from every passer-
by. as 20 the whereabouts OF the two
who had escaped him. and everywhere
he had been met by an absolute lack
or Information
A dozen times ne had hestated-
mentally that is-as 20 his course. yet
in every case he had persuaded him.
self that the fugiuvcs must be head
ed for Portsmouth. Ellen had made 10
quite clear 90 him that there was her
destination. There had not been the
least secrecy as 20 her plans There
was nothing whatever 20 be gained by
pursuing the way Strathgate had
taken them when the. 60 him. unfor-
tunate accident 90 the carriage had
occurred. They must have rctraced
their steps, but n they had done so.
where had they coneT They seemed
20 have disappeared as completely as
~ the earth had swallowed them
Il was possible. OF course. that
Ellen might have thought better OK
her escapade and returned 20 Caring
ton. although knowing what sort OF a
reception would probably greet her.
Strathgate thought this was hardly
likely. At any rate. since he could
not return 20 Darlington. and since he
had no trace OF his quarry. he rea-
soned clearly enough that the best
thing for him 10 do was to get 10
Portsmouth as soon as possible. He
had missed them somehow on the
road. but II. as he believed. Ports
mouth was their ultimate destination.
he would be In a position TO mature
his plans and make ready to inter
cept them when they did arrive.
Strathgate was a man who did not
believe in doing things by halves. and
he rode 10 Portsmouth as II on
wager. His interest in Ellen was
that which might have been expected
from man OF his time and condition.
bnt the fact that she was not TO fan
into his hands. that she had already
banned him; that she had shown such
tremendous spirit in endeavoring 70
XIII him. added Joy to the adventure
which immensely tickled his faded
soul He had started out on the IN.
dertaking and he was determined TO
see II through at all hazards. OF
course, he realized that Lord Caring
ton would enter the game as soon as
he could get within reach OF the table.
but Strathgate Sas as brave as he
was vicious. and he rather welcomed
the added player.
II he had known. and. indeed. II did
dawn upon him after a time he would
have the more enjoyed the fact that
his own rapid progress greatly min.
dered Darlington advance Indeed.
toward the latter part OF the after.
noon he threw many obstacles In the
way OF a possible pgrsuer. on the
chance that II might be Darlington
or even Seton-by securing all the
post horses that we're worth anything
at every station and mounting hostlers
and post boys on them. with instruc-
tons 70 ride 10 the next station at his
expense. Consequently. while Strath-
gates progress was faster and faster
Carrington's advance became slower
and slower
Strathgate. by hard riding. reached
Portsmouth about nightfall Caring.
ton was not TO arrive. although he
pressed on all night. until the follow
ing morning Strathsate was morally
certain that the people he was chas-
ing could not have reached Ports
mouth before him. Indeed. he had
made record breaking trip from Car.
rington. so he was not hurried In his
preparations for the night A bath.
royal supper. clean clothes. all OF
which his money and his rank made
easy 10 procure, greatly refreshed
him
Therefore although he had been up