The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-06-24
CHAPTER XVII.

Pegram & Son were considerably as
tonished upon the return Of young Blinks,
their spy, with his information. The
boy had tracked Jack Phillimore to his
hotel, and contrived to get hold of his
name from some of the under servants,
and the knowledge that Jack Phillimore
in person had been playing the spy down
in Rydland set them thinking, to say
the least of il. Of course they knew per-
fectly well who Jack Phillimore was. Peg
ram senior had made it his business long
ago to know everything connected with
Lord Lakington's family that was to be
got at But what could have been Jack
Phillimore's object in seeking information
about old Krabbe. and, further, in going
to see him?
There is only one possible solution to
the question:" argued the old lawyer. Mr..
Phillimore could have no object in doing
this on his account: he must be simply
acting as the agent of Lord Lexington.
Now what on earth is his lordships mo-
tive? and what could have made him
think of wanting to know all about
Krabbe! Somebody must have got hold
Of the Viscount and been whispering
stories to our disparagement / suspect
that is about what il isl
But lawyer Pegram, as Hemmincby
said. was not the man to be frightened
put of his game lightly.
I'VE must be unrelaxing in our vigil
lance during the next three weeks" he
remarked 10 his son, .and we must siren
aously oppose any attempt to postpone the
marriage. In the meantime. l will Just
slip over to Slaclpool Super Mare. 1t is
just possible that inquiring young people
like Mr.. Phillimore may take il into their
head to follow old Krabbe all through
that little tour of ours. / should be sor-
~, Bob, if they did not get every possible
information; should not you? | will inst
make matters smooth for Them" and the
old gentleman chuckled slyly as be
thought of an unsophisticated tracker like
Phillimore seeking to follow trail that
he had been at some trouble to blind.
Next day Mr.. Hemmingby visited the
cottage to see Krabbe. but was not adj
mitted. Bob Pegram went out to the
cottage to hear about Hemmingby's visit.
and he found Mrs. Clark in no slight
state of perturbation
Its what I have always dreaded. ever
since you first told me that he had talked
Of coming out to see the old man. He
took me so much aback that / declare to
goodness | very nearly called him by his
name straight out. | had no time TO
change my cap for one of a deeper bor-
der, to bring my hair more down, nor
anything. / never dreamt of its being
him. and opened the door as l might have
done to any one. / did my best. After
the first glance l kept my eyes well down.
and no man ever got shorter answers to
his questions; 1 gave him as little chance
TO hear my voice as might be. But mark,
Robert; for all that, he knew me-"
DO you mean to say" exclaimed Bob
Pegram, that he recognized your"
He did. in way. He could not quite
put a name to be, but l know he felt
PERTAIN that / was some one be had seen
before
what is to be done?"
"Ahi that is just what I want you to
tell me. l thought you would be here.
or / should have sent a note up to say
that 1 wanted to see you. Mr.. Hem
mingby certainly did not recollect me pre-
cisely when ne went away. He might
call me to mind afterwards, though l
don't think he would; but if he sees me
once or twice mora he is sure TO recollect
me. Now. you know what my orders have
been, always to let anybody see Mr..
Krabbe when Mr.. Krabbe is ready to
receive
'You have managed admirably. Kitty,
% far; but this is awkward. The gov
ernor is from home, 100, to make matters
worse"
Il say. Bob dear. do you think he has
the slightest suspicion who / am?'
No, Kitty; he takes you simply for
what you represent yourself to be-takes
you simply for what all Rydland does, as
. nurse that picked up in London to