The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-12-15

'Ardmore, the mansion where Lord
Alphington is to spend his leisure.
The other is that there is only &C
cOmmodation for one other set of
dodgers, the present ones being PEG.
pie who are not at all likely to in
terfere with our plans. A retired
Indian staff corps colonel nursing a
deranged liver with the aid OF a
devoted daughter is not a combina.
ton that should prove dangerous
The colonel's liver! How !
blessed that tremendous factor in
my fortunes. 1t was owing to that
disorganized organ that my engage
ment to Janet was secret one.
Nobody knew of it but ourselves
and my solicitor. ! had only met
Colonel Chilmark twice, but those
two occasions had been enough to
convince me that Janet paid just
tribute to his temper in not wish
ing to divulge our mutual compact
till we were in a position to marry.
After my arrest she had written to
beg to be allowed to show her faith
in me by proclaiming our engage
ment, but my legal advisers had
been against it. Not only would it
have furnished the prosecution
with an additional motive for my
alleged crime, but it would have
doomed the girl to lifelong dis
grace.
Five minutes walk brought us to
"Springthorpe." At the open win
dow facing us sat Colonel Chill
mark, smoking and reading a news
paper. He looked up at our ap-
proach, and showed no signs of
recognizing me.
The landlady darted out to meet
us. How do you do, Mrs. Krance?
l have brought my patient up to
time, you see," said Herzog. Our
rooms are ready, presume?"
Mrs. France ushered us in. Yes,
DR.. Barrables, the rooms are quite
ready" she said, jerkily, as she
opened the door of the room op-
posite that in which Colonel Chill
mark was sitting. There is only
one alteration | have been obliged
to make in the arrangements you
stipulated for. cannot possibly put
you both in the same bedroom"
But that was the essential part
of the bargain, Mrs. Krance," said
Herzog.
Il cannot help it, SIR" the land
lady replied "The village is so full
and there has been such a demand
for extra bedsteads on hire that
could not procure two small ones to
go into the bedroom you chose, in
place of the full sized bedstead
there. And there isn't space for the
only other bedstead l have, also a
full sized one, to be moved In. Mr..
Martin will have to occupy the next
room to yours-unless you would
prefer to look elsewhere"
"The room you propose for Mr..
Martin has the same aspect as
mine?' said Herzog.
Exactly the same, SIR"
"Very we'll. we must make the
best of It," concluded Herzog.
As soon as we were alone in the
sitting room, Herzog came up to
me, and, resting his hands on my
shoulders. looked me full in the
eyes. Finally he broke into dis
agreeable laugh.
| Il do not think you are so foolish
as to try to take advantage Of the
changed conditions, my friend, but
If there is anything of that sort in
your mind do not forget that sue
cess in giving me the slip would
also mean success in getting your
self hanged" he replied.
"Why do you keep harping on
that?" / replied. so long as my
bed room window gives fair shot
into the 'Ardmore grounds you will
have no reason to grumble. l am
playing for a bigger stake than you,
you know"
He appeared to be satisfied, and
proposed that we should go up
stairs. l accompanied him to the
upper floor. where. after a glance
into the room he had originally Sc
lected for our joint use, he led me
into slightly smaller apartment.
1t was the window that inter.
ested him. Immediately beneath 1t
was the small back garden of the
house we were in: but beyond that,
separated by the terminal hedge,
was lovely vista of well kept
lawns and strawberries, with a peep
of large, modern mansion.
Look at that seat under the lime
tree by the fountain" | whispered
THE distance, l Judge. to be 12Q
yards. If Lord Alphington sits there
l could pick hi moff with a sporting
rifle to a certainty. That is"
added doubtfully, ''if you mean to
intrust me with firearms"
He gave me one of his quick
glances, then broke into the low
chuckled comment: II shall find q
1