The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-08-16
THE FATAL
|[A|[uI[ BLY, /
sy CHARLES GARVICE.
Ccopyrieht, 1909, by George II. Doran
Company
CHAPTER Vlll.
The E sc ape.

A what"
"A detective, sir explained Smith
ers. Il know him on, not on my
own business; it was pal of mine
who got into trouble. He's on the
lookout for somebody or something %
He's looking out for me-" said
Ronald quietly.
Smithers instantly thrust up the
trap-doOr in the root OF the cab and
told the cabman to turn round. When
the cab had gone some little dis.
tance Smithers lookei hard but re-
spectively at Ronald.
Just in time, sir, he said. I'm
glad caught sight of him, as the
mouse said when it saw the cat
watching for it on the other side oI
the cheese. Nothing serious, hope,
sir?"
Ronald hesitated for a moment;
but there was something so honest,
so trustworthy, in the blue eyes turn
ed to his, that h ehesitated for a
moment only.
Il don't think So he said with a
laugh. Fact is, Smithers, I've sot
INTO a row, a bit of scrape; and
fancy this man, this detective
wants me-
"Ah, well, he amt the only man
as wants what he won't get, and
won't get what he wants. he said
with quiet confidence Il don't hank
er to go pokin' my nose into what
| don't concern me I've suffered for
| it too often, as the dog said when
at last he got his out of the bee
hive but if you want 10 give that
chap the slip just say so, sir, and
let me help you. Seems to me | can
come in andy ere; for it stands TO
reason that you're stranger at
this business"
Yes, I'm afraid | shan't be able
/ TO go back to my flat, said Ronald.
Il cant explain without telling you
the whole story
mo need for that, sir, said
Smithers quickly. Il amt curious. -
lie considered for a moment or two;
then he said: Would you mi | tell
ing me your name, sir?'
"Desborough-Rona Desborough, -
said Ronald, a trifle reluctantly. My
flat is No. 16, first floor"
But Smithers caught his tone, and
nodding quickly, said: All right, sir.
Don't you be afeared; | shall forget
it in 'alf an hour. I'm a shocking
bad and at rememberin' names.
Look ere, sir, You just step into
that publc-'ouse we're comm to,
and ave "a glass O. somethin'. IT.
be back in alf an hour. or less. If
| don't turn up--well, 'ere's Good
bye! and thank you for all your
kindness, SIR
Before Ronald could accept or re.
fuse the proposal. or, indeed. pre-
vent the man, Smithers had stopped
the cab, leaped lightly out, and was
walking in a business-lika way back
towards Copey Street. Ronald dis
missed the cab, and went into the
public house. 1t was a quiet little
place, the compartment he entered
was empty; he ordered a whiskey
and soda. and sat down TO wait
and to think.
The fact that the detective hat
been set to watch for him made il
evident that Lydstone bore malice
and meant to crafty 1t by dragginl
Ronald into a police court. The time
passed slowly, the half hour draggeJ
by; but just as Ronald, full of re
morse for having allowed Smither.
to run the risk of getting into trou
bic, was going 10 take his depaIrur,
in search of him, the swing dooI
opened and Smithers entered.
He took no notice of Ronald. bu
ordered half pint of ale, and enter
ed into conversation with the bar