Putnam patriot., 1909-11-05

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 l the passage had been blown away by
 the terrific eoueussion. Tue subterra- | nean passage al this place WAS com 1 pletely filled with earth and stone. Deppingham stared al the closed i mouth of the passage. They've cut of our exit. but they've also secured us from invasion from this source. | l wonder If the beggars were clever 1 enough to carry the piunder above the | flood line If not they've had their work for nothing
 "Selim says there Is a cave near the | mouth of the passage. said Chase. i The tunnel comes out halfway up the
 i side of the mountain overlooking the 1 sea. and the hole Is very carefully screened by the thick shrubbery. 1 Trust Non Blitz to do the safe thing" "I don't mind Non Biitz escaping so I much. Chase said his lordship ear l nestly. "as i dc the unfortunate clos l ing of what may have been our way to i leave the chateau In the end = 1 You must think me an uagrateful l fool" said Chase bitterly He had al | ready stated his position clearly. 1 Not at all. old chap Don't get that into your head 1 only meant that a I hole in the ground Is worth two war ships that won't come when we need en-
 Chase looked up quickly. You don't believe that l can call the cruisers :e "Oh. come now. Chase; I'm not Q 1or.,pad nar;,.a vnu The other grinned amiabiy. Well. you just wait. as the boy says" After satisfying themselves that there was no possibility of the enemy ever being able 10 enter the chateau through the eoiIapsed passage the trio returned to the upper world Robert Browne and Lady Agnes were seated on the edge of the foun- tain in Apollos grotto. conversing ear nestly. even eagerly. with Mir. Bowies. who stood before them in an onmis- takable attitude of indecision and per. turba alton Deppingham gave Chase a look which plainly revealed his uu- easiness.
 You don't mean to say. Lord Dep bingham. that you're afraid tue heirs wili follow the advice of that rattle headed Saunders" said Chase. with q laugh. Why. it wouldn't hO1d tn court for a second Ask Britt" Britt cleared his throat. Not for half second" he said. I'm only wondering If Bowies has authority te grant divorces."
 .l dare say he has," said Depping ham. tugging at his mustache. Hes he's magistrate"
 "It doesn't follow" said Chase, -that he has unlimited legal powers. But what are they rigging hiG about down here. Chase? blurted out the unhappy Deppingham-
 Come In and have drink" said Chase suddenly. Deppingham was shiyering You've got a chill tn that damp cellar can assure you posi- lively as representative of the oppo- sition that the grandchildren of Skaggz and Wyckholme are not going to al vorce or marry anybody while I'm here. Britt and Saunders and Bowles to the contrary And Lady Depping- ham Is no fool Come on and have something 10 warm the cookies"
 "All right. old chap" Deppingha ID | said. with u laugh. T am chilled to the bone. I'll join you In few min l utes To their surprise. be started ofi | across the terrace in the direction of
 the consulting trio
 Just the same. Chase. said Britt | after long silence. he's worried. and | not about marriage or divorce either | He's jealous didn't believe II was iil | him"
 ..See here. Britt: you've uo right to stir him up with those confounded remarks about divorce You know l fhat it's rot Don't do it-"
 | ..sfy dear Chase" said Britt waving ! .is hand screneiy 'I can't help laugh | ing at the position you're in at pres ent IL doesn't matter what you get | on to fn connection with our side Of | the case. you're where you can't take | advantage of it without getting killed oy your own clients. Horrible para | dox, eh?f'
 | When Deppingham rejoined them be | was Tsaie and very nervous. His Wife. | who tad been weeping. came up with ! him. while Browne went on toward the | stables with the ex-bauker-
 | What do yau think has happened?
 l denanded his Iordship. addressing The | txa men. who stood by irresoiuteiy
 somebody's trying to poison us. Lady \ penofncitan n's dog Is dead-poisonsd
 I perflemen.- He was wiping the nots-
 | ture from his brow
 | -pm sorry. Lady Deppingham-" said | Chase earnestly He was a nice dog | Ruf I hardly think he could have eaten | what was intended for any Of us. II | he was poisoned fhe poison was I meant for him and for Do one else I He tEr ope of the stable boys yester. day It+- :. .-Thaf mar all be very true. Chase I nrefestt=f his lordship. but don't you see ii goes to show sbst some one has | \ stock of poison on hand. and we l may he rhe next to get IL He died | nssf an hour afrer eating -affer eating l biscuit ttaf was intended fcf ne | y,'~-ff.S ,senInled uncomfortable. to 1 say the least
 -Esxu sur4 sou need fiae brandy after | an fhis Come along Nill you join us. Lady DrppinehsEay sad Chase
 -So I'm going fo bedT She start
 s.s awsy. shea stopped and looked Al | tser eustarsd her eyes wide H4th ssta den comprehension -oh. beppy'