The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-25
The Secret Of
Lonesome Cove
by sAMuEi. HOPKINS ADAMS,
Illustrations by Frank E. scAeo5over.
Copyright 1914 by Bobos Merrill Company
ny SAMUEL HOPKINS ADAMS.

! ated by assault on an ofhcef Oh '"o
law" he added technically.
THAT IL right. too. Kent, aadeo
Sedgwtck with shaking voice h4t t-
ever we do, / don't see but what We
are disgraced and ruined. a.,
Unless" suggested Kent with mild
toned malice, I'VE rid ourselves OF the
only witnes sto the affair
A little gasp issued from the thlck
lips Of Len Sehlager. But he spoke
with courage, and not without Ger
tain dignity. "You got mei' he ad-
mitted quietly. III It's killin'-why,
7 guess it's as good q way to go as
any. An officer in the discharge of his
duty"
NO so sure about the duty, Schla-
ger" said Kent with a change of tone.
"But your life IS safe enough. in any
event, Pity you're such a CRATER. Tor
you've got your decent points, Let
him up. Sedgwick."
Relieved OF his assailant's weight
Schlager undertook to Tise- set his
hand on the groundr~and collapsed
with a groan.
Kent. "1'H take you back in my car
to have Il looked after "a soon as
we've finished here"
Il pose you know I'll have 10 ar
rest YOU. Just the same"
Don't llufr,' retorted the other
carelessly. ut wastes time. Steady!
Here comes the rest Of the party"
Across the moonlit lawn moved
hriskly the spare, alert figure OF the
owner of Hedgerow House His hand
grasue1 a long barreled pistol. He
made straight for the grove of graves.
Within 1va yards of the willows he
stopped. because voice from behind
ono Of them had suggested to him
that he do so.
II also am armed" the voice added.
Hesitancy fIickcred In Mr.. Blair
face for brief moment. Then, with
set Jaw, he came on.
Two men Of courage to deal with
in a single night That's all out OF
! proportion" commented the voice
! with a slight laugh. ''Mr, Blair, ]
reaIiv should dislike shooting YOU
4 who are your" demanded Mr
Blair.
Chester Kent"
What are you doing on my property
at this hour?"
Digging"
"Ahi" 1t was hardly an exciama
ton; rather It was a contained com
mentary. Mr. Blair had noted tn
exhumei casket You might bette
have taken my offer" he continued
after pause of some seconds. g
think, sir, you have dug the grave o
yonr own career.
THAT remains to be seen"
"Schlager! Are you there?"
Eyes, Mr.. Blair. They've broke
my wrist and got my gun"
Mr. Blair took that under consid
Grafton. ut doesn't strike me tina
you are much of n man-hunter." h
observed 1udicially. who are they 2
Francis Sedgwick Is the other. a
your service" answered the owner o
that name
An extraordinary convulsion of rag
distorted the set features of the elder
ly man.
Your he cried. Haven't you don
enough--without thisi / would com
on now II hell yawned for me-"
Stricken with amazement at tn
hatred in the tone. Sedgwsck stoo
staring. But Kent stepped before tn
advancing man. This won't do" h
said firmly. I'VE can't any of us al
ford killing"
'T can" contradicted Mr.. Blair.
/ You would gain nothing by it I
! one OF us IL killed the other will finis
the task. You know what ] am her
! for. Mr.. Blair. / purpose TO open tina
coffin and then 60"
| No" said the master of Hedgero1
House: and 1t was twenty years sine
! his mo- had been overborne
Yes" returned Chester Kent quiet
1 ~.
Mr. Blair's arm rose. steady an