Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-11-05
By GEORGE BARR
M'CUTCHEON
Continued from last week
Copyright. 1908. by Dodd. Mead
a Co.
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
THE DIsoUIErINa END OF PONG.
later on he and D~eppingham
visited the underground cham
Der, accompanied by Mr.. Britt.
Il They found that the door to
the passage had peel blown away by
the terrific conclusion. The subterra-
mean passage at this place was COM
pletely filed with earth and stone.
Deppingham stared at the closed
mouth of the passage. They've cut
of 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. If not they've had their
work for nothing"
"Selim says there is a ave near the
mouth of the passage" said Chase.
'sThe 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"
81 don't mind Won Blitz escaping so
much, Chase said his lordship ear
nestly, "as / 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.
mot 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 that l can call the cruisers?"
"Oh, come now, Chase; I'm not a
demmed native, you know"
The other grinned amiably. well,
you just wait, as the boy says"
After satisfying themselves Ehat
ehere tyzss no Kitty of the Z emX
10 eSesF Wstssn
through the collapsed passage the trio
returned to the upper world.
Robert Browne and Lady Agnes
were seated on 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 a
look which plainly revealed his I'M
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. it wouldn't hold in
court for a second. Ask Britt"
Britt cleared his throat. Not for
half a second" he said. Pm only
wondering If Bowles has authority to
grant divorces"
81 dare say he has," said Doping
ham. Juggling at his mustache. He's
he's a magistrate"
att doesn't follow" said Chase, "that
he has unlimited legal powers"
but what are they Raging him
about down here, Chaser blurted out
the unhappy D~eppingham.
"Come in and have a drink" said
Chase suddenly. Deppingham was
shivering. You've got a chill In that
damp cellar. | can assure you posi-
lively as representative of the oppo-
sition that the grandchildren of Skaggs
and Wyckholme are not going to di-
vorce or marry anybody while I'm
here, Britt and Saunders and Bowles
to the contrary. And Lady Doping
ham is no fool. Come on and have
something to warm the cookies"
"AIl right, old chap" Deppingham
said, with a laugh. Il am chilled to
the bone. I'll join you in a few min
utes." To their surprise, he started off
across the terrace in the direction of
the consulting trio.
"Just the same, Chase" said Britt
after a long silence, hes worried. and
not about marriage or divorce either.
He's jealous. l didn't believe it was in
him."
"See here, Britt; you've no right to
stir him up with those COMPOUNDED
remarks about divorce. You know
that it's rot Don't do It,"
'My dear Chase" said Britt. waving
his hand s%erenely. 81 can't help laugh
ing at the position you're in at pres
ent. It doesn't matter what you get
on to in connection with our side of
the case. you're where you can't take
advantage or it without getting killed
by your W clients. Horrible para
dox, eh?"
When Deppingham rejoined them he
was pale and very nervous. His wife,
who had been weeping, came up with
him, while Browne went off toward the
stables with the ex-banker.
What do you think has ~happenedT'
demanded his lordship, addressing the