The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-01-08
The Man
From
.Brodney'S
BY GEORGE BARR
M'CUTCHEON
Copyright. 1908. by Dodd. Mead q Co.
Copyright. 1908. by Dodd. Mead q Co.
CHAPTER XIII.

~ lucy iouHO luaL tue uooi "
the passage had been 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
off 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
food line. II not they've had their
work for nothing
"Selim says there is a cave near the
mouth of the passage" said Chase.
1.-THE 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"
Il don't mind Won Blitz escaping so
much, Chase" said his lordship ear
nestly, las l 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
EN-"
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. We'll,
you just wait, as the boy says"
After satisfying themselves that
there was no possibility of the enemy
ever being able to enter the chateau
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
nesly, 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 un-
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. 1t wouldn't hold in
court for a second. Ask Britt"
Britt cleared his throat Not for
half a second" be said. Pm only
wondering If Bowles has authority to
grant divorces"
Il dare say he has," said Depping
ham, tugging at his mustache. He's
he's a magistrate"
''It doesn't follow" said Chase, that
he has unlimited legal powers"
But what are they Raging him
about down here, Chase?' blurted out
the unhappy Deppingham.
Come in and have 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 grandch children OF Skaggs
and Wyckholme are not going to di
vorce or marry anybody while I'm
here, Britt and Saunders and Bowes
to the contrary. And Lady Doping
ham Is no fool. Come on and have
something to warm the cookies
IAN right, old chap" Deppingham
said, with a laugh. Il am chilled tc
the bone. III join you in a few min
utes." To their surprise. he started of
across the terrace In the direction Of
the consulting trio,
Just the same. Chase" said Britt
after 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 1T
my dear Chase" said Britt. waving
his hand serenely. 81 can't help laugh
ing at the position you're In at pres
ent. 1t doesn't matter what you get
on to In connection with our side of
the case, you're where you can't take
advantage of it without getting killed
by your own clients. Horrible para
dox, ehT'
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
sta bles with the ex-banker.
What do you think has happened: =
demanded his lordship addressing the
two men, who stood by irrescluteiy
''Somebody's trying to poison us. Lady
Deppingham's dog is dead-poisoned
gentlemen" He was wiping the mois-
ture from his brow.
I'm sorry. Lady Deppin CHAM" said
Chase earnestly. He was a nice dog
But l hardly think be could have eaten
what was intended for any Of Us. II
he was poisoned, the poison was
meant for him and for 40 one else
He bit one Of the stable boys ye>ter
day. It
That may all be very true. Chase
protested his iordship. but don't you
see it goes to show that some one has
a stock of poison On hand and we
may be the next to get ii. He died
half an hour after eating after ea-!n.
a biscuit that was intended FOR me.
Its-ir'S ,ss:..uvd uncomforta BILE, TO
say the s"a~t
I'm >ur- ssu need the brandy after
all this "o1ue "5,n@ Will you join
US. Lady Dep; l!=lI::u3:' said chase
No tn icing I" bed She start
ed away. c'-1 stepped and looked At
her hr~.>:Ed hrg eyes wide with sud
....,.s..-..fs .~-,s5 I