The Washington times., 1913-05-21

l. stronghold, for all that it was a
bed-gown in which he hastily
was wrapped. he threw an
! austere word into the silence.
Pray you. sirs, what is here to dor
Small matter, my lord" Erisey
dared not lie, though he was fain to
do so.
I'VE must have leave Of you but to
search all corners Of the house. 'Tis a
prisoner temporarily escaped from
ward"
And how long hath mine house been
made a PRISON." lashed Staversham.
Who is this you seek? Your answer.
Colonel Erisey."
Won Kerstenbroock,' said Erisey.
At that moment he held it least of
his troubles that he must be derisible
/ in Ned Borlase's sight.
Stayersham's eyes scorched them fair
ly.
Set guards around this house-and
instantly, Captain Musgrove," he bade.
Colonel, 1 would advise with you IN
private.
In Staversham's chamber Erisey fornd
himself grilling under cross-examina-
ton as merciless as Won Kerstenbroock
had suffered a few hours before.
Bit by bit, he saw his little trick, SO
brave as it had looked last night,
dragged into daylight. where IT showed
childish-cheap, to his amazement-
"Cromwelrs picked captain" Staver-
sham spoke slowly. with every weak
point studied of our defense. with who
knows what of mischief 10 us plotted In
his head; and thou. for thy paltry wnim
of private vengeance that had msoe-
come a schoolboy-thou hast let him
looser'
Another man might have paced thefioor
and ragged. Staversham sat down COM
posedly.
MY son is dead" he spoke with care
full deliberation. My bastard Is fool.
Never had Erisey been thus bespoken
of his father. He seemed to hear the
word an echo of Won Kerstehuroocks
speech-an echo that he felt hopelessiy
would never die.
Now either this man. went on sta.
versham, while with his delicate hand
he heat the devils tattoo on the table
at his side, lis forth Of the house, as
It's likely while thou and thy chosen
comrades were fuddled with drink. or ne
turks still within the house, In whlch
case is he surely triended ed o. a some InivS, .,
the indwellers. Who OF them all HiShl
haply show him kindness"
Erisey stood dumb-the safest course.
he believed. for him to follow.
Staversham, too. sat silent Not even
to Erisey would he speak the name that
he found upon his tongue-the name OF
Thomsine Musgroye.
Was 1t not Won Kerstenbroock with
whom the girl had had that mad ad-
venture Of a year ago? Haply she might
still remember him with kindness.
And yet-yet-more and more fully
had Staversham grown convicted that
the child had returned to oxford even
as she had left IL, and that circumstance
were proof enough for him that her sex
had not been discovered by Won Ker-
stenbroock.
And if there were not love between
them, surely for no mere gratitude
would woman hazard her fame, More
over, IL were brutal beyond belief to
descend on the girl, in case she were
innocent, with such monstrous charge.
on the very day that saw her young be
trothed laid in his untimely grave.
Aye, Carisford, At thought of him,
and hopes that died with him. Staver-
sham insensibly slackened his hold on
yes. and use his eyes. HAPPY he would
set on Eleanor TO observe. But he would
sa : no word TO this bungling Erisey,
whom he found a fiawed tool in his need
Go thou and seek Won Kersten-
brook" He reused himself and spoke
with sayagery. See to II that thou
dost find him. Else will l have thy
colonel's coat plucked over thine ears.
From Staversham's chamber Erisey
came, with a face as stricken as he
had fondly looked 10 see that hour upon
Won Kerstenbrook. and, moving like a
man I'm desperate nightmare, went
about the search.
Little did he concern himself with
the question who in that house might
stand Won Kerstenbroock's friend.
He left the searching of the house to
his subordinates, and himself went
whittier. in his guilty recollection of
the wine last night taken and the care.