Evening star., 1913-02-17
THE WHITE BLACKBIRD
By
HUDSON DOUGLAS.
Copyright, 1912. b. Little. Brswn oe.)

the other two. But of course. II was
only polite to pretend little reluctance.
All right. he agreed at length "I'n
look after them. But you must lend me
hand. If it's necessary. There's no one
else l can trust. and we're both in the
same boat now. .You must lend me a
hand. II it's necessary
And what about Carthew?" ,Slyne de-
manded, recovering himself BY degrees
under the old mans most matter-of-fact
example. IF he should get any ink
ling
"Oh, don't make difficulties.r' growIed
Capt. Dove What's to hinder our set
tling his hash the same way as the
others: There are only the three Of them
In our way. Wen make a clean sweep.
Wen get him up here-we'll send him
word that Sallie would like to see him,
and the rest will be easy
But. good Cod" cried Slyne "how are
you going to account for their disappear
ance? It's madness
Parish is mad. all right" said Capt.
Dove, reflectively. (Which will account
precious sister. If they We're both found
with broken necks at the foot of this in
fernal rock, who's going to make us re-
sponsible? And. as for that fellow Car
thew. IL we can't explain away his dis
appearance well deserve to lose every
thing. Slyne.
Damn it. man. What are you afraid
OF? Are you going to throw up the
sponge just before the fights won?'
If We were once clear of the three of
them. that would leave US perfectly
safe.'' said Slyne. In a voice that was not
very steady. But what if Mrs MKis-
sock knows already
We'll ring for her now and find out"
answered Capt Dove. with savage deci-
sion. IF she seems to know more than
she shOuld-she can keep her internal
brother company until Brasse comes
ashore.
He rose. and had almost reached the
bell-push beside the mantel when the door
opened and the Marquis of Ingoldsby
walked into the room. looking much less
imbecile and more Of a man in his splash
ed breeches and Aboots and spurs.
Capt. Dove glared at him.
ship. politely. after peering through his
eyeglass at Slyne. Glad to see you
again. Lady Josceline told me / would
probably find YOU here. and-I want to
talk to yOu-about her
lie let his eyeglass drop and helped
himself to brandy and soda. Syne was
staring at him. Capt. Dove was dumb
I've just been askin' her to marry
me. his lordship remarked. after shaking
his thirst. And as he paused to light q
cigarette. The devil you have-' ex-
claimed Capt. Dove, considering that idea
She said she couldn't Lord Ingoldsby
mentioned. straddling across the hearth
rug, his hands on his hips. disregarding
wouldn't tell me why. And l thought I'd
ask YOU, don't yknow So far as I can
understand. you're her nearest livin rela-
tive-hef stepfather. or godfather or
something of that sort. what? And 1
thought that. maybe. YOU wouldn't mind
talkin' over the matter with me
Capt. Dove, scratched his head He
could see that Slyne was watching him
Very closely. III had. no doubt flashed
through Slyne's mind, as through his
own. that here was providential by
path of escape, for him. at least from
his present predicament: that If all else
went askew. Sallie might prove profitable
enough to him. at least as the Marchion-
ess of Ingoldsby. For had not Mr.. Job
ling stated that the young man before
the fire was one of the wealthiest peers
in England or. elsewhere.
Il don't want to overhurry her.
y'know'' said the noble marquis. and.
maybe, I've been bit sudden. But I've
been huntin' high and low for her ever
since | last saw her, and-here | am.
don't yknow. So thought I'd ask her. "
Didn't you hear me tell you in Monte
Carlo that Lady Josceline is engaged TO
marry me-" Slyne broke in, with sud-
den access Of anger, since Capt. Dove
still seemed to have nothing to say
That's so." said Capt. Dove. slowly.