Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-25

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grip held firmly.
"A most extraordinarily steady dog"
reflected Merle. And Il silent dog" He
wondered If it was possible that he had
been bitten by canine deaf mute. There
was no question that he had been bitten
by something. for lie could feel the teeth
| on the toe of his boot
At this moment Horatio was conscious
of footsteps approaching along the path
outside the hedge, and, Screwing his head
around. he made out the figure Of u wom-
an in brilliant red cloak. There was
no longer any question of concealment.
He must get out Of this painful position.
| and. in his most conciliatory tone he
addressed the lady from the depths Of
the hedge.
My dear madam l regret exceedingly
the necessity that cOmpels ME
OH cried the lady, and Merle OBJ
served that the scarlet cloak had stop
ped. while a pair of luStrOus. dark eyes
gaZed suspiciOusly in his direction. Don I
be alarmed. my friend he begged. Il
wish you no harm. On the contrary. 1
need help. The fact is. some animal. "a
dog. I think, has hold of my left foot
"A dog" exclaimed the other stepping
back
He won't hurt you'' said Merle reas-
suringly. Hes the other side of the
hedge Can YOU see him. my dear"
Encouraged by these words. the lady
now seen by Merle to be young and dark
and decidedly gOod-looking (although
plainly dressedl. drew nearer to the myS-
ferrous voice and was presently search
ing among the leaves and branches for
| an explanation of this singular sum-
mons.
Il don't see anything she said.
Perhaps If you threw stone. Or
could you go through the hedge? You
See. am caught on this barbed wire
Wait. It's your coat sleeve" ex-
claimed the young woman. There"
and with a quick turn of her hand she
released the impaled garment.
THANK you. he murmured. BE care
full of the dog. I'm going at him now
Hey, there! Good heavens,''
AS he spoke HOratio lOosed from the
restraining wire. stumbled on through
the hedge while the young woman stared
apprehensively after him. There was a
clank Of metal, few muttered words
and then Merle came struggling back.
scratched. torn and painting. but full of
eager interest.
What do you suppose had hold of my
tOe?" he burst out.
For a moment Hester for it was shel
surveyed him in silence, then she let her
self go in fit Of uncomfortable laughter
while Merle looked at her in panied sur
prise
But it's true he insisted. some
thing did have hold of my toe. 1t wasn't
dog. bullock, You can see where it's
tooth went through my boot. It's lucky
l wear long ones, isn't it? Otherwise 1t
you See?''
Eyes. sir, 7 see." answered the girl
checking her hilarity she recognized.
in spite of his battered condition. wear
in the toe of his left boot was small
round hole, to which the curate pointed
proudly.
You couldn't possibly guess what made
that hole he declared mot in hun
dred guesses, so I'll tell you 1t was a
mole trap Fancy that! You know. they
set them on the golf course and l poked
my toe right into me. mole trap of
all things" Then. glancing anxiously at
his watch, "Half-past 2, Bless my SOUL
1 can't possibly get back to tipping House
before 4 o'clock
At the mention of Ipping House the
Storm girl looked at him with startled
interest and forthwith her whole manner
changed.
'Is that where you live?" she asked.
That's where / am visiting answered
Merle. and his face clouded as he thought
Of Harriet. "Ah, well we must make
field mouse Is happy, and-my dear young
lady, I cannot express to you my graft
tude for the admirable way in which you
came to my rescue"
"Oh. that's all right.
ALLOW me to present myself / am
the Rev. Horatio Merle. ! Judge by your
appearance and-er-accent that you are
a stranger in this region?"
YES, answered Hester with a culver
of hesitation. Il just got off the train"
Horatio was Immediately interested
"The train from LondOn?''
Yes. l was never here before and"
the pathetic note sounded in her rich,
low voice. III be very grateful, sir, if
you will advise me where to CO.
"Why-haven't you friends in Ipping-
ford?" asked Horatio, in surprise.
The girl shook her head and her dark
eyes rested on the curate with such an
expression of sadness and sweet resgna-
ton that he felt inexpressibly touched,
MY dear young lady," he said, in ready
sympathy, my dear Miss-er-" he
paused to give her an opportunity to tell
him her name. but this was precisely
what the adroit young woman was not
yet prepared to do. She was not sure
what name to give him.
Miss Thompson knew her as Jenny
Regain, the name she had given to the
police, and it was in pursuit of Miss
Thompson land her golf bag) that she
had come to Ippingford. On the other
hand various newspapers had chronicled
the fact that a young woman named
Jenny Regain was implicated in the rob-
berry of the bishops purse, and to give
that name here might make trouble for
her And yet if she gave her real name,
Hester Storm, what would Miss Thomp-
son think?
II have had such a hard time. espe-
cially this last year. she murmured,
avoiding the difficulty.
"You must tell me all about it," said
the curate kindly. "Come-as we walk
along-all about it,.
CTo be continued tomorrow