Evening star., 1909-04-30

CHAPTER xvI1I-continued.
By BRAN STOKER.

CHAPTER XVIII-Continued.
why, madam why" he almost
roared. while the discreet proprietor with
drew, closing the inner door of the hall
behind him-the luggage was being taken
in by the basement door.
'Tll tell you why IL you wish-though
perhaps you know 1t already. Because I
want to know under what circumstances
my daughter has gone out motoring with
some stranger-though. indeed, 1t may be
that he Is not quite a stranger-the mo-
ment my back was turned. Let me tell
you that it Is not usual for unmarried
young ladies to go out motoring into
far-away places with men. unchaperoned.
My honor-my honor through my daugh-
ter-is here concerned. And 1t is like
| that damned fellow to take her away In
such an underhand manner. You need
say nothing of him. It's no use trying
to palliate his conduct. True enough.
| don't know for certain that it Is he. or
| that she Is alone with any man: but l
have a conviction that it is SO; and l tell
you l shall lose no time in putting my
| convictions to the test. l mean to take
no chances with regard to that damned
ready afronted me, and has been tam
pering with the women Of my family. l
have borne even that with what temper
could because / was under obligation
to him. But IT, as It would seem. he has
run away with my daughter l shall brook
his insoleice no longer. He shall render
me full account OF his doings with me
and mine! He crammed his letters into
| his pocket and strOde upstairs. There
he rang the bell In such violent manner
that the proprietor himself attended to
1t. Col. Ogilvie asked him to have the
chauffeur sent up to him. and requested
the proprietor to come also himself, as
he wished to ask him some questions on
local matters. He had by now HIS tenn
per In hand. and was all the more dan
gerous because cold. In a few minutes
the proprietor brought In the chauffeur,
2 stolid. hard-featured. silent man. man.
ifestly one to obey orders and stand any
amount of fatigue. When Col. Ogilvie
had looked at his credentials and asked
| him some questions, all of which he did
with perfect self-control and courtesy, he
turned to the proprietor and asked:
| Can you tell me whereabout is a place
called Castle Douglass
In Scotland, colonel. In Galloway-the
part of Scotland just beyond the Firth
| Of Solway. 1t is, l think, in Kirkcud-
| brightshire.''
How far from here?'
Something over a hundred miles.
should say" The father started.
Good God." Judy's heart sank at the
exclamation and the tone: his voice was
chauffeur's mouth opened. He spoke
| as If every word was grudgingly shot
ost;:.
miles" Col. Ogilvie turned to him quickly.
| How do you know so accurately; have
you driven it,
Never. SIR
"Then how do you know
'In the train coming down I spent my
| time looking over the maps and the dis
| tance as given in the books of the Mo-
torists' Touring Club. / noted that"
Had you any reason for examining that
| particular route?' asked the colonel, sus-
| piciously. He was obseSsed by an idea
| that the damned fellow was corruptng
everybody so as to work against him.
Col. Ogilvie.
do my business well. l thought it likely
that you might want me to stay with
you a short time until you and your per-
manent chauffeur should become ac-
| new car. You see. l was told you were
an American. and the American makes
differ somewhat from our own. And as
/ am myself looking out for a permanent
situation. where should be well paid. made
comfortable and treated with whatever
| consideration Is due to q first-class mecha-
| nician and driver, thought that II 1
showed zeal In your temporary service
you might wish to retain me permanent
| 1y. In q certain sense, l took. l may say,
special note of at least part Of that par
l ticular route"
'why?' Col. ogilvie's suspicious came
| up afresh at the admission.
| "Simply because took it that you
| might want to drive into Scotland, and
| Galloway is perhaps the most promising
! region for motoring on this side of that
country All the motor roads from this
side OF England run through Carlisle.
Then you cross the border close to Gretna
ITO where?' The coloners voice was
full of passion. The chauffeur went on
calmly and explicitly:
'Gretna Green. That is where runaway
marriages used to be made. That place
was usually chosen because it was the
| first across the border where Scotch
law ruled. The simplifying Of our mar
riage law and the growth Of sanity among
parents OF marriageable daughters. gem
orally. has done away with the necessity
OF elopement. Now we 60 by there with
| out stopping. as Galloway is the modern
objective. Indeed. in going there you do
| 1t by on the right when you have crossed
the bridge over the Sark and are making
for AMMAN. And as to my knowledge Of
| mileages. that is part Of my trade 1t
Is Is, my u; business to arrange for the amount
ordered to make. l don't think that you
need disturb yourself abou.. that one
small item Of my knowledge. 1t may
set you more at ease IL l tell you that
half miles to Glasgow, hundred and one
| to Abbotsford. seventy-five and a half to
Dumfries, hundred and thirty-five and q
! half to Edinburgh, two hundred and sew
enty-four and half to Aberdeen, one
hundred and ffty-eight and three q.ar-
| ters TO-
Stop. Stop" cr..I Col. Ogilvie II am
obliged to you for your zeal in my serv-
Ice. and l think l can promise you that
II In every way you suit, you may look
on the permanent post as your own. /
shall want you to begin your duties this
very night. But this is a special job,
ana with special reward. for 1t is dim
am willing. sir. whatever 1t may be. .
| That Is well said. You are the sort of
man / want"
My orders. sir?'
Il want you to take me to Castle
| Douglas tonight-now-as soon as YOU can
get ready. / wish to get there as soon
as can. You will want to have eyery-
| thing right, for we must have no break
down II we can help. it. And you m st
i Twill be all right sir. We shan't.
! expect, break down. But II we do-the
motor is new one and l did not make
i'll shall put 1t right. am a first
rate mechanician and an accomplished
i driver"
"All right: but don't talk. Get the cor
ready. and We shall start at once
I'VE can start at once, SO far as the
car and | are concerned But we lack
something yet. We must have q pilot"
"A pilot! | thought you knew the
way" 'e
i 'On paper, yes: and doubt not could
get tnere all right-in time. But YOU want