Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-08-24

In return he heard Hawcastle reply:
leave him to me. In ten minutes
he will be as meek as q lamb"
Dumbly Pike wondered what fresh
argument the earl had to offer and
mentally steeled himself against it.
As he looked up he encountered the
steady glare of the earl.
my dear Pike" began the latter,
there is a certain question:
II said I would not discuss that with
you. I meant what I said," observed
Daniel quietly.
This Is another question" went on
the other. needless OF the warning or
at least unaffected by 1t.
Late this afternoon I developed a
great anxiety concerning the penalty
prescribed by italian law for those for
tunate and impulsive individuals who
connive at the escape or concealnent
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 1t. 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 n citizen Of your admirable
country could not escape If his com
plicity were proved-if he were caught
in the act. will Ike plain with you"
: These last words had an Ominous
note. LET 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 i-niable
American conceals the fugitive under
the automobile and afterward. with
the connivance Of friend. deceives
the officers Of the law and shelters the
criminal. say, in room Of that lower
,uit there"
He looked about In the growing twi
light and pointed dramatically to the
window. Pike. now thoroughly inter
asted and with his pulse beating
.apid 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 reasona BILE 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 dis
tinst menace. 1t seemed too bad that
this should be the end of II all-al! tn"
defenses he had raised for the girl o!
his dead friend should be swept away
In an instant by bit Of folly
what would be the nature Of that
re4uest?" he asked.
"It would concern n certain alliance
might concern a certain settlement
the earl replied softly.
"If the request were refused. what
would the consequences beT 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 yorrS
were assured that the law would be
permitted to take Its course II 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 u 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 good deal on
which of my countrymen you caught
II 1t depended on the one 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 n dan
gerous fash in his eyes. and he step
ped a trine closer and half raised
his walking stick. Then. with a NUT
tered oath. lie dropped it. picked up
his hat from the bench where he had
thrown II 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.
and the twilight came down and envel.
oped him with Its softness. AS the
lights came out here and there he turn
ed aud looked over at the windows OF
Won Grollcrhugen's suit and noted the
shadow still on the window blind.
Looks 10 me like docs In this thing
and ought to he told" he murmured.
He found his way slowly across the
grass and up the steps and In another
tapped upon the door Of the
Germans roums. The door was opened
by Ribipre. who Informed him that
Won Grolrrhagen was dressing He
found his friend adjusting his white
cravat before Il mirror
Within five minutes he had acquaint
I'd the other with all that had passed
and hnl received smile In return
Won t;rollermsen refused to take the
matter seriously.
"rouf." hr said. Surely you can
trust this Lord Hawcastlr not to men
tiOn IT, He must know that the conse'
quences for you as well us for me
would be. to say the least. disastrous
Surely you made that clear to him"
Daniel smiled gently.
mo" he answered grimly. HE made
II clear to me. Two years In jail. and
II ! don't make up my mind In hfty
minutes from now to do what be
wants me to do