Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-04-09

was-well. associated with famous
criminal named James Kilroy. who
gave the police long, hard chase be-
fore his capture. He had many
strings to his bow, not the least among
them the smuggling of diamonds and
other articles none too honestly &C.
| quired; since his arrest this woman
has directed the business. She is
clever-wonderfully clever"
There was sincere. II unwilling. ad.
miration in his tone. and he paused
thoughtfully before resuming his
story.
1T has been my business this sum.
mer to look up this matter of Snug
Cling, and l have followed the history
| of this woman as closely as l could.
After the arrest of her chosen compan.
ion she married the man you know as
Lord Wilfrid Campbell, who is a we'll
known thief and member Of the
small and select band of smugglers.
but who is far from being as clever as
she. He is also the son of your serv-
ant, Mary Anne Brown
Across my mind rushed the recol-
lection of the conversation l had over
heard In the cellar, and the memory OF
the mans voice, certain infections Of
which had haunted me with their ia
miliarity. For some reason l looked
across at Gordon Bennett, only to find
him watching me intently, an anxious
expression in his blue eyes. where re-
lief was mingled with sympathy.
wondered II he knew what had been
thinking, and Immediately looked away
again.
Tho son of your servant" contin-
ued Mr.. Blake'e even voice. "and q
dangerous character-wanted for mur-
der in Montreal. These people. young
ladies'. have used you for their own
purposes. This cottage you live In be-
longs to them. and you were put here
as a buffer to avert suspicion. Your
servant was sent here to watch you
and drug you when necessary; your
boathouse was used to conceal their
boats. and your cellar to store their
goods. A passage at the back-hidden
by the empty dry goods box-leads in
to the boathouse. With the mans
mother as your servant and under
their control, 1t was easy for them to
carry on whatever operations they
chose. and to baffie the secret service.
But your safety, even your lives. were
in danger"
He paused as though there was
more to come which he hardly knew
how to say. but Gabrielle interrupted
him, starting from her chair and stand
ing tall and erect before him.
And do you expect us to believe
this extraordinary story?" she in
quired slowly.
1T is true"
1T is not true. We know there are
jewels in that safe. Lady Edith put
them there after the robbery at the
hotel. because she was afraid of losing
them. But they are pearls. not en-
eralds. and tomorrow I will ask her
to show them to you"
Il do not wish to see them"
Il do not know. Mr.. Blake, what you
were doing in our cellar tonight It
seems a very strange place for a guest,
but no doubt you can offer some salts
factory explanation OF your intentions.
We are waiting for 1t: your unwar-
rantable attack upon our friends hard
ly seems sufficient reason for your
presence here at this hour"
Mr.. Blake looked at his watch. then
replied very calmly.
Your friends" he said. with q
slight emphasis. will return here to-
night. We are waiting for them. We
are sorry. as Mr.. Bennett has already
said, that you discovered us, for We
meant to conduct the thing quietly"
TT is impossible" said Gabrielle. II
-we-why. I know you must be mis-
taken"
You can see for yourself" he re-
turned. Il must ask you to allow me
to put out the lights"
Il will not do it,
But. Miss Gabrielle. you really
must" interrupted Gordon Bennett
quickly. so much depends upon It!
II We are wrong. We will apologize in
sackcloth and ashes. Tell her It IL
the only thing to do. Miss Elizabeth.
We finally agreed. and hid behind
the portiere at the dining room door.
feeling wretchedly guilty ourselves. as
well as disloyal to our absent friends.
| do not know how long we stood
there in the dark, but It seemed an
age. as distinctly felt the humping
OF my heart and listened with strained
attention for a sound from the sur
rounding darkness.
| CTo BE CoNTINUEDJ
/