Gloucester County Democrat., 1909-06-24


prescribed by italian law for those for
tunate and impulsive individuals who
connive at the escape or concealment
Of certain unfortunates who are want
ed by the police"
Daniel looked at him, with smile.
$50 you're all worked up about that,
are you?" Hawcastle glared at him,
but went on.
$50 deeply that I ascertained the
penalty for it. For the person whose
kind heart has SO betrayed him the
penalty is two years in prison, and
Italian prisons, am credibly informed.
are-unpleasant."
Pike ruminated and folded his letter.
"Being in Jail amt much like an
Elks' carnival" he observed
Even a citizen of your admirable
country could not escape # his COM
plicity were proved-if he were caught
in the act will be plain with you"
These last words had an ominous
note. sLet us imagine that badly
wanted man appeared upon the per-
COLA here and made an appeal to one
of your countrymen who, for the pur-
poses of argument is at work upon
this car Say that the too amiable
American conceals the fugitive under
the automobile and afterward, with
the connivance of a friend, deceives
the officers of the law and shelters the
criminal, say, in a room of that lower
suit there
He looked about in the growing twi-
light and pointed dramatically to the
window. Pike, now thoroughly inter-
ested and with his pulse beating a
rapid tattoo. followed his finger The
earl went on:
Imagine, for instance, that the shad-
ow which appears upon that curtain
were that of the wanted man. Would
you not agree then to reasonable re-
quest?"
Daniel swallowed painfully, for he
saw in some manner that that sway
ing window curtain which had caught
his eye an hour ago had held a dis
tinct menace. 1t seemed too bad that
this should be the end of 1t all-all the
defenses he had raised for the girl of
his dead friend should be swept away
in an instant by bit of folly.
What would be the nature of that
request?" he asked.
"It would concern a certain alliance
might concern certain settlement"
the earl replied softly.
If the request were refused, what
would the consequences beY Pike
went on, with lowered eyes, for he
would not trust himself to meet those
of the nobleman.
1.-TWO years at least in prison for
the American"
Looks bad for-that American, eh?"
Pike inquired whimsically.
Lord Hawcastle stepped close to
him.
If this fellow countryman of yours
were assured that the law would be
permitted to take its course If a favor
able answer to certain question were
not received in an hour within that
hotel. what. in your opinion, would
the answer be?'
Pike looked up from the letter he
was twisting In his hands, and his
thin shoulders took on squarer atti-
tude. He looked his antagonist square
ly in the eye, but he did not raise the
tone of his voice.
ut would depend a good deal on
which OF my countrymen you caught
If it depended on, the one 1 know best
he'd tell you he'd see you in hades
first"
For an instant the earl looked fixed
ly at Daniel, and his face went red
and white by turns. There was dam
gerous flash in his eyes, and he step
ped a trife closer and half raised
his walking stick. Then, with a NUT
tered oath. he dropped 1t, picked up
his hat from the bench where he had
thrown it and walked to the hotel
steps.
You. have an hour" he said, menac-
ingly turning. ''At the end Of that
time-we will know what to do."
Daniel must have stood there ten
minutes after Hawcastle had gone,
duO LIE tW1tlS III S0ll1S uOWu duQ Sufcl-
oped him with its softness. AS the
lights came out here and there he turn
ed and looked over at the windows Of
Won Grollerhagen's suit and noted the
shadow still on the window blind.
Looks to me like docs in this thing
and ought to be told," he murmured.
He found his way slowly across the
grass and up the steps and in another
moment tapped upon the door Of the
Germans rooms. The door was opened
by Ribiere, who informed him that
Won Grollerhagen was dressing. He
found his friend adjusting his white
cravat before mirror.
Within five minutes he had acquaint-
ed the other with all that had passed
and had received smile in return.
Won Grollerhagen refused to take the
matter seriously.
.'Poufy' he said. "Surely you can