The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1910-10-21

I for himself and horse.
| There was a well to do air about
him, and he was waited on obse-
| quiously.
I'll go and stroll about a bit till
my chop is done" ne observed, light
ing another cigar and staggering out
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 a 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 shoul-
| der.
| What are you doing here, jim
| Coates?" he asked, in a short, angry
| way.
Jim Coates had taken just enough
beer to be pugnacious.
| ooh, it's you, is it, Mister Laxon?
Well, and what's it to do with you
why IN here?"
THAT ain't a plain answer. You
know. me. Coates; I 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,
Iii break every bone in your body!"
"no it! Do it! l don't carei The
countess up at the big house 'ull save
me!"
Laxon suddenly dragged him out of
the hearing of the various men scat
tered about, and when they were
alone, he shook him like dog.
The action reused Coates, and he
looked at his adversary with not a
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? I amt goin' to
listen to no lies!"
With that grip on his shoulder, Jim
Coates felt in no mood for telling lies,
and III 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.
81 know you amt no fool, Jim,"
be 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; land 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.
A country place ain t like a town, yer
gets a bad name in minnit Now,
If l was you, I'd make a 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
a sovereign into the bargain
After her return from Groombridge
station, Enid went up to the gallery
and sat down to her painting, and as
she sat a 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 Enid's surprise, however, she
va pIdlh LSlCeStGI one Ol Lno
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 it were,
arranging himself as a cavalier at
every turn.
She went quickly to her room, put
n n ND Il Io4o
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
chilly nature of the air, when to her
extreme vexation she heard some one
following her, and was overtaken by
Captain Leicester.
The gallant omcer was ny no means
fond of talking, and Enid certainly
gave him no encouragement to con-
tinue the exercise, for she looked
colder than usual, and only replied to
his polite speeches by monysyllables.
Nevertheless, the young man was
nothing daunted. His conceit was
piqued by this girls determined re-,
sistance to his offer of friendship, and
he admired her more than any speci-.
men of her sex he had ever met.
Enid, finding she could not get rid,
of him or his compliments, relapsed,
into proud silence. Finally, he stood
still and faced her, putting hand on
her arm.
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Captain Leaves.