The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-21
CHAPTER I,


 Wherein Bait the Duke Over the
 Dead.
 - CANNOT say that was greatly
 surprised when stumbled across
 the body of Sir Godfrey in the
 spinney, which is not for a mo- ment meant to convey the impression that was not shocked. I had expect ed that Sir Godfrey would come to some such sad end; therefore I say that I Was not surprised But as I stood over him in the gray dawn, looking down upon him lying so quietly on his back with the handsome, silver mount ed ivory handled dueling pistol which had done the damage still clasped in his right hand I was fascinated with horror.
 Sir Godfrey had carefully put his bullet through his heart. It was less disfguring and brutal, less hard on those left behind, less troublesome, more gentIemanly. His sword lay un- derneath him, the diamond hilt pro- truding.
 I guessed that he was glad enough, after all, that the end had come, for there was not that look of pain or horror or fear which I have so often seen on the faces of the dead, but his features were calm and composed. He had not been dead long. As l bent over him I noticed that he had some thing in his left hand. A nearer look showed it to be an envelope. drew it away and saw that it was addressed to Mistress Lucy. Thrusting it in the pocket of my coat, rose to my feet.
 At that instant I heard steps and voices Now I had nothing on earth to fear from anybody. The death of Sir Godfrey was too obviously a sui eide for any one to accuse me even i if there had been any reason on earth for bringing me under suspicion. The letter which I carried in my pocket addressed to Mistress Lucy would un- doubtedIy explain everything there was to explain. Something, however, nov ed me to seek concealment. I am sailor, as you will find out, and can act quickly in an emergency by sort of instinct
 Sir Godfrey lay on the side of the path through the spinney, and beyond him the coppice thickened The path twisted and turned. From the sound of the footsteps I judged that men were coming along it. I instantly step ped across the body and concealed my self behind a tree trunk in the 1eafy foliage of the undergrowth. I could see without being seen and hear as we'll
 I did not expect that any of the guests of the castle would make their appearance at that hour. The foot steps stopped. Two men, one oftwhom had been pointed out to me as Baron Luftdon, in the lead, followed by an- other who was strange to me, sudden 1y appeared. "A voice which I recog- nized as Luftdon's at once exclaimed 30 awestruck tones:
 By gad, he's done it! Here's pret- ty affafrI''
 'eOh, don't know. said the second; cit might be worser'
 Worse for him? Great heavens, man. he's deadi'
 Worse for us.''
 What dye mean? don't under stand"
 'He might have shot himself before we plucked him"
 ''Oh, seeI'' -@
 The two stepped a little nearer. The first speaker, Lord Luftdon, one of the young bloods who had been hay ing high carouse with Sir Godfrey for the past week at the castle, bent over him.
 Well" continued the drawler non chalantIy-as forAme,s hated them both, but the latter speaker the more if possible, for reasons which you will presently understand = this relieves me greatly
 .sWhat do you mean? After such night as we had to come upon-this is enough to unsettled any man.
 aPoeh, pooh. man; you're nervousr'