El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-10-25
The Rogate Pearls
BY A. 9. Greenwood.

- EAR up. man. said DR.. Kent,
Is harshly. He brought his hand
roughly down on old EnOch's
! shoulder. Beneath the window,
stretched on a tresue bed lay child,
wan. pale, feeble-almost the ghost Of
a child
while there's life there's hope"
added the doctor,
Then he glanced at Ida standing at
the cottage door and nodded to her to
follow him out into the garden
"She wants sea air, good food in
plenty-as well order diamonds and
pearls" he growled. "EnOch's out Of
work
poor old fellowl and he tries 50
hard" said Ida sOrrowfully. u try to
do all I can for them But there Ism e
You're their good angel" said Dr..
Kent. smiling at her fondly. our
cheeks are very bright Miss Ida
She blushed, looking happily con-
'sSfv fiance, Mr.. Parker, is coming
here tonight-is here, in fact 1 fancy
He's here on business-on Lord rlo-
gates business, I imagine. Hes 70 stay
at the Fox, and I'm just going up 10
tut! He should come TO you"
Ida laughed at the old doctor Sc
verify.
ana told me so, and begged me to run
up to him. Oh, dear, she signed,
glancing at her watch bracelet I
never guessed IL was so late"
IF Pm not mistaken, here Is Dit.
Baker" observed DR.. Kent looking
over the hedge. I'll make myself
scarce; good night"
He called a CHEEKY salutation to the
young man as he hurried away. Jim
Baker caught sight Of Ida as he waved
his hat in reply.
Il thought you wern't coming" he
said, reprOachfully. Il couldn't wait
any longer. But ought not TO have
CDR. Kent was just saying that you
should she put in
"Ah. but Dr. Kent doesn't know" he
returned seriously: 80 one knows
rand-a pretty big One-sO big that
dared not write 1t to you, and don't
know whether 1 even ought 70 tell
you"
But. OF course. he relented. you
know the historic ROgate pearls2 Wen
today I fetched them from the bank
and brought them here Half the
jewel thieves in London would be after
me If they knew the precious packet
I carried"
Tom. you have got them in your
pOcket?'
Gracious. no. That's why want
you to come back TO the fix. / ought /
not to have left them for minute. I
In fact, my chief made me promise I
not to, but I slipped the case under I
my mattress at the FoN- Ihe stones I
are perfectly safe. I'm to deliver I
them to Rogate tonight.
What a relief IL VIII be-" she eX- I
claimed She turned to the cottage I
door as she spoke and called Into tho I
room softly.
"Tu look in later on, EnOch."
Then together they set off down
Ida began Jim, "the chief inter
viewed me Yesterday Young Benson,
who was to have been made third part
ler. has come into money unexpe ctedly,
-ravel. The business IS growing, and
The chief practically told me the part
lers. had their eye on me-"
Jim, how splendid"
He caught her hand smiling down
TITS goodby to waiting" he said
,Oftly. It'll mean having enough to
marry on-enough to keep you decent
outskirts OF London"
A thousand possibilities became prob
bnities with this news Ida trOd on
ir towards the village. Jim was talk
ne impulsively on. The red roof Of
he Fox came into sight and they
lackeued their steps.
Then suddenly a Snrlek pulsed
through the evening air; figures dart
d across the road by the inn. a
Toman, her apron blazing, ran stagger-
ng from the porch beneath the Sign
Ost Confused murmur a swift, loud
hOuting, the alarm of Fire"
Then with a cry Jim sprang for
Yard
It's the Fox,7 he shouted, running
{ top speed towards the gathering,
XCited crowd.
Ida saw a burst Of flame and a cloud
belchinE smoke pour out from the
ar windows. The mastery Of the fire I
eemed 6ppallngly complete, desper- ]
tely swift Even as Jim reached the
iaring pile. she heard a distant re-
orL following upon the nOiseless col
ipse Of an clubhouse roof. A sheet Of I
carlet tongues sprang roof high The
Id timbered structure burned like
nder. She saw Jim struggling with I
claiming hands, and with sharp cry 4
"a cry Of horror as she saw his pur-
ose-set off running to the lurid
cene. ,
But even to jim # was apparent
nat no soul could breathe iu the holO-
aust which the inu had become The I
lnkeeper lost himself. His wife. a
-arted barmaid, a couple OF hysterI-
II barmaids, formed the first line Of {
le gaping OnlOOkers. q
IT'S red death within" he shouted. q
sizing linn nv fHa shoulder H.Tr O