The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1909-08-27

7 you ask me. And, besides we car
say we were only sky-larking, nor dit
we touch the man, after all. 1t wal
neatly done, though very neatl!
done, / wonder what he was up to
and if he was really trying to lister
at the door of the other cabn?'
The best thing to do," Grant an
swered, would be TO get forward, b!
the small smoking-room. Then We
can command the whole port-side o
the deck and watch the doors of the
cabins We have another two hours
yet before we make Ostend. If we dt
that nothing can happen without oul
knowing Of it, at any rate"
Marriott agreed, and together the
two friends kept their vigil through
the night
Nothing occurred at all. and as the
steamer slowly felt it's way into The
harbour the companions made their
preparations for landing. They were
in doubt as to whether they should
speak TO the Duchess and warn her
Of what they suspected. They de-
cdcd, however, that upon the whole
it would be better to preserve the at.
titude originally decided upon, which
was that the two parties should be
apparently unconscious of each other.
The great trains which start from
Ostend to Germany are drawn close
III, tn t,n ,pCr
ing from the boat have only 30 cross
the railway line before mounting to
their carriages.
There was twenty minutes at least
before the Rapide would start, and
Marriott, who knew the station well
watched the Duchess, Daisy, and the
maid go 10 their reserved compart.
mcnt He and Michael saw, from a
coign of vantage behind a pillar, that
a slceping-car attendant was looking
after them. and then Basil suggested
that they should make a dash for the
buffet and see if coffee was available.
They did SO, and found a few travel
crs hurriedly inQuiring for refresh.
ments, while a sleepy Flemish waiter
attended TO their wants.
Il don't see our friend with the
beard anywhere" Grant said. q ex.
pect we have given him a bit of
fright"
That may be So" Basil answered
but if he is the sort of gentleman
| take him for-and | shall know
more about him when | have had time
to get the contents of this flask an
alyzed-I don't think he would be
easily frightened To tell you the
truth, Grant, | believe sincerely we
shall have to be on our guard every
moment of this journey. | believe we
are in actual danger. and if we don't
keep a very constant and bright look
out we shall run foul of some very
odd craft indeed. By Jove!" He
stopped suddenly.
What is it?" Grant asked anxious
ly.
Why" Basil replied, your man.
williamson"
Good LOrd!' Grant answered. Il
had forgotten all about him, | was
so occupied in seeing that the Ouch.
ess and Miss Hobson got safely into
their carriage. But the steward must
surely have pulled him around by
now. I'll go and see. Extraordinary
that l should have forgotten such a
thing; but, really. the excitement of
the last few hours makes it most diff
cult to think of everything"
He turned to leave the buffet, and
even as he did so the door opened and
himself entered. The
man went up to his master.
Il am much better now. sir" he
said, though his face was the colour
Of ashes and his lips twitched. Il
had very bad attack Of sickness,
sir, and the brandy made me sleepy,
but the steward came up to me, sir.
and pulled me round"
Grant nodded. That's all right"
he said. We'll. you had better get
into the train now"
He looked quickly at Basil, and the
latter understood that he was to say
nothing of the fact that the brandy
had obviously been drugged
(To be continued)