St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-06-29

newcomer with q look of recognition
tI'm afraid I've interrupted your slum-
bers. This is rather late hour at
which to arrive"
mo matter, sir. Sure and l sat up
expecting you, Mr.. Steele. until afte1
midnight and had only just turned in
when
s'What?" The newcomer. now fairly
within the garden, could not suppress
a start of surprise, which, however.
the other, engaged in relocking the
gate, did not appear to notice. ''Ex-
pecting"-
although I'd given up thinking
you'd be here tonight" the latter went
on. But won't you be stepping in,
STRIP
The other silently followed. walking
In the manner of one tired and worn
my master did not come back with
you. sir. from Strathorn HouseT'
''No; Captain Forsythe's gone on to
Germany"
The servants glance rested now liz
some surprise on the newcomers gar.
ments-a gamekeeper's we'll worn coat
and cap-and on the dusty. almost
shabby looking shoes.
"a wages,' said John Steele. noting
the old oSderly's expression. From
Strathorn House TO London by foot
within a given time. don't you know.
Fell in with some rough customers last
night who thought my coat and hat
better than these
II beg your pardon. sir. but The
mans apprehensive look fastened it.
self on a dark stain on the coat near
the shoulder.
"Just winged me-a scratch replied
John Steele. with an Indifferent shrug.
sinking into chair near the fire.
which burned low.
zone moment. Dennis" John Steele
leaned back. The dying embers re-
vealed haggard face. His eyes half
closed as If from lack of sleep, but
Immediately opened again. 'You
spoke Of expecting me- How" he
said, stretching out his legs. ibid you
know
''Sure, sir, by your luggage. 1t ar
rived with my masters heavier boxes
that he didn't take along with him
over the wather.''
His luggage there - where no one
knew-could have known-he was go
ing! The place he had selected under
what he had considered propitious cir
cumstances as haven, refuge, where
he might find himself for a brief peri
cd comparatively safe, could he reach
it, turn In without being detected!
loo OF h0 hn hod
fully accomplished, and then to be told
by the man All John Steele's ex-
cuses for coming In this unceremoni-
Gus fashion that he had planned to
put to the servant of Captain For
sythe were at the moment forgotten.
Who could have guessed that he would
make his way straight hither-or had
any one? An enemy, divining Turk
ing place for which he was heading,
would not have obligingly forwarded
his belongings. What then? Had
Jocelyn Wray ordered them sent ON
with Captain Forsythe's boxes and
bags In order that they might be less
likely to fall into the hands of the
police?
Here you are, SIR" The servant had
entered and re-entered. had set the ia
BILE without the man In the armchair
being conscious of his coming and go
ing. Remembered my master fnvit-
ing you once when you were here to
pitch your camp at Rosemary villa
any time you should be after yearn-
ing for that quietood essential for lit
erary composition and to windfn' up
the campaign on your book. So when
I saw your luggage
Exactly" It was curious the man
should have spoken thus. should have
voiced one of the very subterfuges
Steele had had in mind himself to ut
ter to show pretext for his too abrupt
appearance. But now
AS he ate mechanically, but with the
zest of one who had long tasted, John
Steele listened; again a vehicle went
by; then another.
fro BE Continued