The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-11-11
CHAPTER V.

to start to Victoria, almost before ne
realized that it was so late.
He got to the station in excellent
time, tossed his bag into a first class
carriage, bought himself some after
noon papers, and then looked about for
Lord Netherville. There was no great
crowd on the platform; large family
of children going to the seaside, oc-
cupied the central position; a small
sprinlzling of passengers were quietly
taking their places, but he could see
nothing of his cousin.
A long way down the train. three
men, apparently third-class passen-
gers, were standing together in a
group-they stood with their backs to-
wards him, and close by him at the
book stall fingered thin. sallow-
faced boy, who was looking apparent
ly at the sensational pictures on the
outsides of the yellow backed novels.
The boy was near enough to see
him, but not within hearing. Perhaps
for reasons of his own he did not
want TO come too near. Rupert saw
him-as one sees things that make no
impression on ones mind one way or
the Ol1GE, out lie Olu IOl IOl1SC AiAAi
particularly. Presently man, in re-
spectacle dark clothes came up to him
and touched his hat to him.
Mr.. Carroll. sir?"
Yes, that is my name"
Il am Lord Netherville's valet, sir.
He has sent me to you with mes
sage
II never saw you before, my man;
how in the world did you find me
out?"
Not very difficult. sir" the man an
swered, with a smile. My lord and
you is as like as two peas. My lord
told me couldn't possibly mistake you
no more / could. If you will allow
me to say So it, it's the most extra
ordinary likeness 1 ever saw"
so people say. Well. and what
have you come to tell me?"
THAT his 1ordship is extremely sor-
ry that he is unable to go down to
Harrington by this train. but he will
come by the next-the 7:34."
Does he want me to wait for him?''
mo, sir: he most particularly wish
es that you should go on by this train
and explain to the ladies that he has
been unavoidably detained, and that
he is exceedingly sorry that he cannot
get down in time for dinner. He will
dine in town, sir, so that Miss Carroll
may not in any way be Inconvenience
by the alteration in his arrangements.
He hopes to arrive at the house about
a quarter before 9 o'clock
Very well, you Can tell him that
am very much disappointed not to
travel down with him, but we shall ex-
pect him later"
The valet touched his hat and walk
ed away down the platform. Mean
while Billy had left his post of obser-
walton at the book-stall.
That's 'im," he said to the Mar
quis in a whisper. jerking his thumb
backward over his shoulder.
The three men each in turn, one
after the other, but casually, not to
appear to be watching, turned half
round and took stock of the gentle
man at the further end of the plat
form, and then got into third class
carriage.
1t was nearly dusk when Rupert
Carroll got out at Harrington. 1t was
past half past o'clock. and the days
were shortening. The rain had ceased
and there was a red glow in the west
where the sun had gone stormily down
from under an opening in the heavy
clouds.
His sisters house was but half a
mile by the short cut from the station
and the pony carriage-her only con-
visitors, but the gardener had come up
with a barrow to wheel up the lug
gage. Carroll explained that he was
alone, and that Lord Netherville was
coming by the later train. The old
man took his bag an umbrella and
macintosh, and started off by the
road. which was rather longer than the
field path, and Rupert fingered for a
few minutes friendly chat with the old
stationmaster, who had known him as
a boy. Meanwhile, three travellers had
got out of third-ciass carriage at the
back of the train, and had passed
quickly out of the station in front OF
him.
(which is the way to the village %
inquired one of them of a country girl
who was lettering outside the station
yard in the hope of attracting the at
tention of Joe, the porter. with whom
she was keeping company.
"Over yon stile, and straight on by
the path You can go by the road, il
you like-but people mostly goes by
the field path-it is shorter"
And long before Carroll had left the
station the three men had flung them
selves over the stle. and became lost
to sight in the field beyond.
Rupert came swinging his stick gal
ly as he stepped out OF the station. Fol
q moment he paused at the stile. rs
though uncertain whether to take the
field path or the road If he had takel
the latter. his whole life would have
been altered. and this story woult
scarcely have been written. but after
brief hesitation. he decided i'm favor
of the short cut. and jumped lightly
over the stile.
There We're three grass fields be
tween his sisters garden wall and tho
station. The path ran across the cen
ter of the first Of them. and the sec
ond was entered by swing gate
Through this second meadow the path
followed the hedge. The hedge was
wide and hi@h ard struggling. AND
there was a deep ditch on one side al
1t. at the bottom Of which ran tiny
runnel Of muddy water, and greai
clulnps of alder bushes and brambles
struggled out irregularly from it. over
shadoNed by a line of trees. 1t was
quite impossible in the faint owls lighi
to distinguish clearly any objects
along the ragged hedgerow. and Car
roll looked neither to the right nor tC
the left, but walked quickly ahead
anxious only to reach his sisters
house.
Three forms crouched silently under
shadow of a large thorn bush. They
were absolutely motionless. so still