Evening star., 1913-02-25
CHAPTER xxx.
Pride'S Price.

| Pr1de'S Ir1ce.
Carthew whispered some further hasty
| instructions to Herries. and. Yes. my
| lord" the old factor answered again, SO
| that all could hear, and all understood
| that the tenth Earl Of Jura and Baron st.
| Just had thus succeeded the ninth-who
| lay there dead on the floor before them.
| The duchess was gently leading Sallie
| away Herries followed them, on his
| own errands, while Capt. Dove and his
| accomplices remained looking on with
| sullen, suspicious eyes, straining their
| ears In a vain attempt to hear what was
| to be their fate.
| Carthew turned to them. I'll bid you
| goodnight now" he said, in a tone not
without a new tinge of authority in it.
and at which they looked anything but
we'll pleased. You'll be more comfort
| able in your own quarters than anywhere
else in the meantime And. with that
sufficiently broad hint, he stood waiting
for them to go.
Capt Dove had opened his mouth as If
to speak, but said nothing. Slyne, very
| pinched and white about the nostrils.
| drew Mr.. Jobling toward the door, as il
he would not trust the shifty lawyer
with Carthew, and answered for them
| all, with a most sarcastic infection.
Goodnight. my lord" Now that the
| worst had come to the worst he was his
| old, cool, careless, calculating self again.
Capt. Dove paused at the buffet In
| passing and went on with both hands
| full. Both he and Slyne, on their way
| toward the north keep, with Mr.. Jobling
shambling along between them, not un-
| like a condemned criminal. noticed the
| unusual number OF able-bodied man serv-
ants who seemed to have found aimless
| occupation Of some sort about the corrl-
| dor, and drew their own discomfortlng
| conclusions therefrom
| Slyne even hesitated for moment on
| the threshold of the coy living hall.
| which occupies the base OF the north
| keep. and then. with a grimace of dis
! dain. followed the other two, closing the
| heavy door behind him. Almost imnledi-
| ately he heard the key turned quietly In
| the lock outside-and knew that his suspi-
cions had been only too well founded.
| Carthew intended to keep him and his
| associates prisoners there. He bit his lip
and pulled at his mustache as he watched
| Capt. Dove drawing the cork of one OF
the two bottles of champagne that strate-
| gist had brought from the banquet hall.
| We're cornered at last, he said. sud
| denly, as the old man set the bottle down
| after having imbibed the best half of its
contents. They've locked us in here
| Capt. Dove turned to glare disbelieving-
! ly at him, and then, dartinG across to
! the door. tugged furiously at its wrought
| iron handle He set foot against the
| wall and tried again. with no better re
| suits. He bounced about, almost frantic,
| disappearing as if bereft of all self-con-
| troll Mr.. Jobling stood wringing his
! hands helplessly, his f1accid features ex-
| pressive Of abject despair But Slyne
| continued to eye the old man with a
| strained disconcerting composure
I'VE haven't SO much time to spare.
Dove said he. bitingly. that we can
| afford to waste any more watching you
| play the fool. l expect that fellow Car.
| thew will have your whole history out of
Parish MKissock within
eff you had only kept your damned
mouth shut when Brasse was kicking the
bucket cried Capt. Dove. very venom
ously. "Carthew would be keeping him
| company now. The snake would have
got him. too. And we'd have won out
| after ALL.
Slyne ground his teeth. But that was
no moment for futile recrimination, and
| self-interest served to stay the acrid re-
| tort on the tip Of his tongue
III this and If that doesn't make any
difference now" he declared, evenly. I'm
| not going to argue with YOU / want to
| get out of this before worse comes my
way"
But how moaned Mr.. Jobling,
across whose mental vision also were. no
doubt, flashing pictures OF WandsWorth
Common and WormwoOd Scrubbs.
| Slyne sienced him with a glance. I'D
| very gladly leave you here to your fate,
| you fat bungler." said he. with irrepress-
| ible bitterness, IF 1t weren't that you d
| turn informer on us. So, come on. both
| of you. We've only one chance left
| among us. And, but for me. neither OF
| you would have even that Wherewith,
| and only pausing to take long pull at
| Capt. Doves open bottle, he turned up
| the staircase. leaving them to follow him
or stay where they were, as they chose.
| Capt. Dove did follow him. curfously.
| but not forgetting to pocket the other
NIL mn nl( q
| at his heels no less eager to snatch at
any possibility Of escape.
| Get into a change of Clothes. ordered
| Siyne, as he opened the door of his own
room. And 1 wouldn't be slow about it,
| If were you-for I'm going as soon as
| I'm ready"
Capt Doves change did not unduly de-
| tain him, since he merely pulled on a
| pair Of serge trousers and q. pilot jacket
| on top of his other attire. And Mr.. Job
| promqtly. They found 1t in darkness, and
| Capt Dove uttered a stified imprecation.
| But almost Immediately they heard hasty
footsteps on the stair without and Slyne
| reappeared with coil OF thin, strong
| cord in one hand.
1.-The f1agpole halliards, he explained,
| breathlessly, as he Shut the door behind
| him again. MY window looks out on the
| battlements We must Chamber down.
| Make the rope secure at this end, Dove,
| but so that we can pull it after us once
we're .all down-it's long enough to go
double-while I get some things to-
| gether."
Capt. Dove did as he was hidden, SO
| .deftly that Slyne had not quite com
pleted his own preparations when the old
| man called on him to go first.
| "Send Jobling down., said Slyne. pull
| ing on an overcoat to cover his evening
| clothes, and the stout solicitor gave voice
| to a very heartrending groan as he glared
blankly out into the black gulf beyond
| the window.
| II won't go" he was beginning, when
| Capt. Dove ran furiously at him, clutch
ed him round the waist in gorillalike
grip, and thrust him, feet foremost, strug-
| Cling insanely, over the sill.
| Catch hold of the cord-both strands
| or I'll drop your snarled the old man.
| Down you go, now. You'll find a knot
| every foot or so. You needn't slip unless
| you force me to start you with a slam
| on the head And he stood watching,
| grimly amused. willie his moaning victim
sank out Of sight, very gradually.
| In a few moments the weight on the
| rope relaxed.
Are you there" he demanded. and
! had to shout the question again at the
| top of his voice. so strong was the wind.
| Yves all right the answer came back,