The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-10-14
CHAPTER xxx.
More Money.

Z u Ou three EQOuSauu q year 0tOf6o
Laxon found it easy to live in COM
fort, not to say luxury, and he did
not stint himself.
! AT Groombridge he drove up to the
| principal hotel, or inn, as it proudly
called itself, and ordered some food
for himself and horse
There was a well to do air about
! him, and he was waited on obse-
| quiously.
"Pll go and stroll about a bit till
my chop is done, he observed, light
/ ing another cigar and staggering out
4 with. his hands in his pockets, highly
| delighted with his own importance
| and the smartness of his-attire.
At the doorway Of the inn, how
ever, he came to a standstill, and his
swagger took another shape.
His eye rested on grimy, dirty.
figure just lurching out of the public
bar, and he recognized it with an
! oath.
1t was the man who three days
/ previously had been caught by the
French maid at Bromley Manor as a
thief
Laxon went up to him and struck
his hand heavily on the others Shout
der.
swhat are you doing here, Jim
Coates?" he asked. in short, angry
way.
Jim Coates had taken just enough
beer to be pugnacious.
"Oh, it's you, Is it, Mister Laxon?
I Well, and what's it to do with you
| why I'm here?"
| THAT amt plain answer. You
know. me. Coates; amt one to be
fooled. Speak out; what are yer do
in here, eh?"
+ The other looked at him with a
drunken grin
Suppose I'm here on the same
herrand as you is, Mister George
Laxon?" he said in mysterious fash
ION.
Laxon's grip closed on his shout
| der.
"Now out with it, you old snake;
ccnfound you! II you don't speak,
| I'll break every bone in your body"
| $40 it! Do 1t! don't care! The
countess up at the big house 'ull save
mel"
Laxon suddenly dragged him out Of
the hearing Of the various men scat
tered about. and when they were
alone, he shook him like a dog.
| The action reused Coates, and he
looked at his adversary with not
| little fear in his dirty face: he knew
! what Laxon's temper was; he had
| seen exhibitions of it before, and he
| shrunk from the angry glitter Of
those handsome blue eyes as from
some deadly weapon.
"Now speak out! Tell me the
truth. dye ear? amt goin' to
listen to no lies!"
! With that grip on his shoulder. Jim
Coates felt in no mood for telling lies,
and in a few seconds Laxon knew the
reason of his presence in Groom
bridge town, so close to the home Of.
the Earl and the Countess of Derri-
man.
Laxon listened carefully.
know you amt no fool, Jim,
he said, planting his hands deep in
the pockets of his loud looking coat
and clinching them to keep them from
striking at the dirty wretch before
him; @and that's what makes a chap
wonder why you stay on here with
! the chance of somebody sayin' some
thin nasty about thievin' an so ON.
1 A country place amt like town. yer
| gets bad name in minnit. Now,
II was you, I'd make cut for the
borough: you're safe enough there
He piled the man with drink, and
so eager was he to get, what seemed
to him, the half-witted creature, back
to his old haunts, that he went with
him up TO the station, and saw him
safely into the London train, having
first bought his ticket and given him
Q sovereign into the bargain.
After her return from Groombridge
station. Enid went up to the gallery
and sat down to her painting, and rs
she sat sense of desolation crept
| over her.
Most of the party had gone to a
meet of the hounds not very far away.
but Dorothy, urged by Gervais, had
promised to remain at home for this
day at least.
To Ends surprise. however. she
found Captain Leicester one of the
luncheon party, and her surprise was
not altogether touched with pleasure.
for she did not like the young man,
and resented the familiar air with
which he appropriated her. as 1t were.
arranging himself as cavalier at
every turn.
j She went quickly to her room, put
on hat and cloak. and determined
to make her way to the grounds.
Her feet moved unconsciously on
the path Gervais' Rad led her in that
first momentous riding lesson. and
she was already good distance. hav-
Ing quickened her steps from the