The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-21

my chop is done, ne ODSeTPeu, iiSh',
ing another cigar and staggering QUIZ
with his hands in his pockets, highly
delighted with his own importance
and the smartness of his attire.
At the doorway of the inn, how
ever, he came to a standstill, n his
swagger took another shape.
His eye rested on a grimy, dirty
figure Just lurching out of the public
bar, and he recognized it with an
oath.
It was the man who three days
previously had been caught by the
French maid at Bromley Manor as a
thief.
Laxon went up to him and struck
his hand heavily on the others shout
der.
, What are you doing here, Jim
Coates?" he asked, in a short, angry
way.
Jim Coates had taken just enough
beer to be pugnacious.
"Oh, it's you, is it, Mister Laxon?
Well, and what's it to do with you
why I'm here?"
THAT amt a plain answer. You
know me, Coates; I amt n to be
fooled. Speak out; what are yer do
in here, eh?"
The other looked at him with a
drunken grin.
Suppose I'm here on the same
herrand as you is, Mister George
Laxon?" he said in a mysterious fash
ion.
Laxon's grip closed on his Shout
der.
Now out with it, you old snake;
ccnfound you! If you don't speak,
I'll break every bone in your body"
80 it! Do it! don't care! The
countess up at the big house 'ull save
me-" Z
Laxon suddenly dragged him out of
the hearing of the various men scat
tered about, and when they were
alone, he shook him like a dog.
The action reused Coates, and he
looked at his adversary with not a
little fear in his dirty face; he knew
what Laxon's temper was; he had
seen exhibitions of it before, and he
shrunk from the angry glitter of
those handsome blue eyes as from
some deadly weapon.
Nov speak out! Tell me the
truth, dye ear? I amt goin' to
listen to no lies!"
With that grip on his shoulder, Jim
Coates felt in no mood for telling lies,
and in a few seconds Laxon knew the
reason of his presence in Groom
bridge town, so close to the home Of
the Earl and the Countess of Derri-
man.
Laxon listened carefully.
II know you amt no fool, jim
he said, planting his hands deep in
the pockets of his loud looking coat
and c%linching them to keep them from
striking at the dirty wretch before
him; land that's what makes a chap
wonder why you stay on here with
the chance of somebody sayin' some
thin nasty about thievin' an SO on.
A country place amt like a town, yer
gets a bad name in a minnit. Now,
if I was you, I'd make a cut for the
borough; you're safe enough there"
He piled the man with drink, und
so eager was he to get, what seemed
to him, the half-witted creature, back
to his old haunts, that he went with
him up to the station, and saw him
safely into the London train, having
first bought his ticket and given him
a sovereign into the bargain.
After her return from Groombridge
station, Enid went up to the gallery
and sat down to her painting, and as
she sat a sense of desolation crept
over her.
Most of tie party had gone to a
meet of the hounds not very far away,
but Dorothy, urged by Gervais, had
promised to remain at home for this
day at least.
To Ends surprise, however, she
1OuA0 SdpIdlh ASlSCoISI OnO VI ShS
luncheon party, and her surprise was
not altogether touched with pleasure,
for she did not like the young man,
and resented the familiar air with
which he appropriated her, as it were,
arranging himself as a cavalier at
every turn.
She went quickly to her room, put
on a hat and cloak, and determined
to make her way 10 the grounds.
Her feet moved unconsciously on
the path Gervais had led her in that
first momentous riding lesson, and
she was already a good distance, lav-
ing quickened her steps from the
chilly nature of the air, when to her
extreme vexation she heard some one
following her, and was overtaken by
Captain Leicester.
To be Continued.