The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-14
CHAPTER XXXvI.
DISCOVERY,
By HEADON HILL

DISCOVERY.
In the1f-ter afternoon, wearied
with tbs gloom of living out the
anxious day behind drawn blinds,
] mounted to an attic at the top Of
the house on the seward side, and
seated myself at the window.
dared not open 1t for breath Of
fresh air. but as the blind here was
raised, had clear view without
any risk of being seen in the in
terror darkness of the room.
The afterglow of superb sunset
was lingering in the west, while in
the bay the lights OF yachts and
pilot cutters twinkled like fireflies.
The clearness of the atmosphere
on a night so calm presaged rain
and storm, lending probability to
Croals prediction that the dirty
weather would soon be repeated.
Suddenly among the shrubs in
the garden below, half way be-
tween the house and the brink of
the cliff, l saw the motionless fig
ure of man. 1t was nearly dark
now, and l could not distinguish
his features, nor even his style of
dress, but from his attitude he
seemed to be taking a leisurely
view of the house. Soon, without
being joined by anyone else, the
watcher advanced toward the
house, and as he stepped from the
obscurity OF the shrubs disclosed
the glow of a cigar.
It was best to be on the spot-to
confront this new development at
close grips-si / CROPPED my way
down stairs. AS was entering the
drawing room from the hall there
came a tap at the window, followed
by another and another. stood
still, scarcely breathing, and the
tapping ceased.
A gravel path ran close to the
Eindow, and, after pause that
beemed interminable, | heard the
, "crunch" of light footstep. And
then, just as l was crossing the ink
black darkness of the room to open
the window and end the suspense,
l paused in CONSERVATION at the
sound of my own name, spoken in
no hostile tone:
"Rivington! Are you there? Riv-
ington?"
who is it," l asked. breathless.
ut is Ralph Garden. You may
safely open to me, come as a
friend" was the reply which
caused me to undo the catch and
admit the speaker. He stepped
into the darkness of the room, but
not before l had caught glimpse
of his face and assured myself that
1t was really the young officer who
had recognized me at Lord Alph-
ington's.
This will surprise you, after the
way | treated you the other night"
he, said, when had refastened the
window. fact is that you
really have Lady Muriel to thank
for It,"
God bless her!" rejoined.
"What most surprises me is that
you should have discovered that !
was here"
ut is that that brought meat
Muriel's instance" he replied. 60
ing on to explain briefly that Croal
was the source of his information.
1t appeared that after my SEN
tence, but before my escape, Car
den had been out sea fishing in
Croal's boat. All England was then
talking of me and of my supposed
crime, and, In discussing the trial,
Garden mentioned that l had been
at Woolwich with him for a short
time.
That day Croal had come to Car
den and informed him that a man
who might be the escaped convict
was concealed in the vacant house
on the cliff. AS he was not sure,
and had been paid to supply the
mysterious hermit with food, he
would be glad II Garden would con-
trive to get look at him, SO that
II he proved to be Rivington he,
Croal, might claim the reward. II
not, there would be no harm done.
and he could go on making
smaller profit by carrying provis-
ions.
"Well," proceeded Garden. "this
put me in a, precious awkward posi-
ton. knew that you were Riving-
ton, and guessed that something
had occurred to make you 60 into
closer hiding. But l also knew how
interested Muriey was In you on
account of Miss Chilmark, and how
stanchly she believed in your In
nocence. well, the fact is,
have reasons for wishing to stand
well with Muriel--and knew she
would be furious II were instru-
mental in your recapture. So l
went straight at her and told her
what had happened. at the same
time assuring her that there was
no mistake about it--that you are