Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-10-20
CHAPTER XIII.
THE D1seu1Errse END OF poNo


" ATER on he and Deppingham
visited the underground cham
lii Der. accompanied by Mr.. Britt.
~ They found that the door to
the passage had been blown away by
the terrific concussion. The subterra-
mean passage at this place was COM
pletely filed with earth and stone.
Deppingham stared ut the closed
mouth Of the passage. They've cut
Off our exit. but they've also secured
us from invasion from this source.
wonder If the beggars were clever
enough to carry the plumber above the
flood line II not they've had their
work for nothing
'Sellm says there is IL cave near the
mouth of the passage" said Chase.
THE tunnel comes out halfway up the
side of the mountain overlooking the
sea. and the hole is very carefully
screened by the thick shrubbery.
Trust Won Blitz to do the safe thing"
II don't mind Won Blitz escaping so
much, Chase" said his lordship ear
nestly, "as l do the unfortunate clos
ing Of what may have been our way to
leave the chateau in the end"
You must think me an ungrateful
fool" said Chase bitterly. He had al-
ready stated his position clearly.
Not at all. old chap. Don't get that
Into your head. only meant that a
hole in the ground is worth two war.
ships that won't come when we need
'em."
Chase looked up quickly. "You don't
believe thai ! can call the cruisers?"
.Oh. come now. Chase: Pm not q
demmed native. you know"
The other grinned amiably. well
you just wait, as the boy says"
After satisfying themselves thai
there was no possibility of the enemy
ever being able to enter the chatea,
through the collapsed passage the trio
returned to the upper world.
Robert Browne and Lady Agnes
We're seated OH the edge of the foun.
tain in Apollo's grotto. conversing ear.
nestly. even eagerly. with Mr.. Bowles
who stood before them in an unmis.
taxable attitude of indecision and per
turbation. Deppingham gave Chase O
look which plainly revealed his un-
easiness
You don't mean to say, Lord Dep.
bingham. that you're afraid the heirs
will follow the advice of that rattle
headed Saunders" said Chase, with a
laugh. why 1t wouldn't hold in
court for second Ask Britt"
Britt cleared his throat. mot for
half second" he said. I'm only
wondering II Bowles has authority tc
grant divorces"
II dare say he has. said Depping
ham. Juggling at his mustache. "He's
he's a magistrate.
ut doesn't follow" said Chase. .'that
he has unlimited legal powers"
But what are they Raging hin
about down here. ChuseY" blurted oul
the unhappy Deppingham.
Come III and have drink" said
Chase suddenly. Deppingham was
slivering. You've got chill in thai
damp cellar. can assure you posi-
lively MS representative of the oppo
sition that the grandchildren OF Skagg
and Wyckholme are not going to di
vorce or marry anybody while In
here. Britt and Saunders and Bowle
to the contrary. And Lady Depping
ham is no fool. Come on and have
something to warm the cookies"
"All right. old chap" Deppinghan
said. with a laugh. II am chilled IL
the bone. I'll join you in few min
ntes." 10 their surprise. he started OF
across the terrace in the direction OF
the consulting TRIO.
lust the same. Chase" said Brit
after Il long silence. hes worried. anc
not about marriage or divorce either
He's jealous didn't believe 1t was ii
him.
See here. Britt; you've no right tc
stir him up with those COMPOUNDED
remarks about divorce. You know
thar it's rot. Don't do It,"
'My dear Chase" said Britt. waving
his hand serenely. ~ can't help laugh.
ing at the position you're in at pres.
ent. 1t doesn't matter what you get
on to in connection with our side of
the case. you're where you can't take
advantage of it without getting killed
by your own clients. Horrible para
dox, chg"
When Deppingham rejoined them he
was pale and very nervous His wife
who had been weeping, came up witt
him, while Browne went off toward the
stables with the ex-banker.
what do you think has happened? 2
demanded his lordship, addressing the
two men. who stood by irresolutely
Somebody's trying to poison us! Lady
Deppingham's dog is dead-poisoned
gentlemen" He was wiping the mois
ture from his brow.
''I'm sorry. Lady Deppingham," said
Chase earnestly. He was q nice dog
But hardly think he could have eater
what was intended for any of us. II
he WIS poisoned. the poison was
meant for him and for no one else
He bit one Of the stable boys yester
day. It,
THAT may all be very true, Chase
protested his lordship, but don't yor
see it goes to show that some one has
a stock of poison on hand. and We
may be the next to get it. He dlet
half an hour after eating-after eatin:
biscuit that was intended for me
LISTS demmed uncomfortable, tt
say the least"
Pm sure you need the brandy afte
all this. Come along. Will you joil
us, Lady Deppingham?" said Chase.
mo. Pm going to bedw She start
ed away, then stopped and looked a
her husband. her eyes wide with sud
den comprehension. .Oh, Deppy.
should have died! l should have died (.
my dear!'
Il couldn't have lived if
But. my dear, didn't eat it-nn
here we are. God bless you" h
turned abruptly and walked off besid
her. ignoring the two distressed Amer
leans AS they passed through tb
French window Deppinshnm put hi
arm about MS wite's waist. Chls
turned TO Eriti.