The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-08-26

he nerved TO his desperate undertak-
ing. He closed the door OF the living
room behind him He pressed the
spring. and the Tory hiding place
behind the chimney opened
Taking the heavy poker from the
fireplace that now was swung outward
into the room. Blair stepped into the
recess and closed the hiding place aft
er him
Here he lit a candle and furiously
pried at the old iron bound chest
where, among his fathers papers, his
mother kept the ready money which
she. like her husband had before her.
I lent out at heavy interest TO such un-
fortunates as fell into her meshes-
when their security was good
At Stanley hall. after the departure
OF Detective Blake, Hagar ordered her
carriage. Il am going to pay a call. I
will not be long" was all the informa-
ton she vouchsafed TO Esther. But
Esther knew that. whatever was the
errand that called Hagar away. al
though a secret. IL was one that was
for Esther's good.
Luke Lowell. who spent bis time at
Stanley hall partly and partly as head
man under Hagar at the gypsy rendez-
vous some dozen miles away I'm a hid
den fastness OF the Blue Ridge. brought
around the horse and buggy to the
front OF Stanley hall. At this instant
a diversion was caused by the appear
ance OF a hunchback organ grinder
hurrying up the driveway.
II was Quabba, his monkey. shrek
ing with fright, clinging closely to his
masters breast Behind them came
Sheriff Sam Swain on horseback. LASH
ing the unfortunate Quabba-
Hagar and Esther both hew TO the
rescue Of the poor hunchback.
Hes lucky I am not chasing him
out OF the county, explained the irate
sheriff but for the trick he played
upon me yesterday would have caught
Arthur Stanley Do you know what
this organ grinding monkey toting imp
OF Satan did?
"why. he handcuffed me to Blair
Stanley. and Arthur Stanley. the muir
derer, who had the nerve to come rid
ing at the mask tournament got awayl
/ could have this organ grinding scoun-
dreI sent up for a year for interfering
with an officer in the discharge OF his
| dutyr'
81 didn't mean any HARM" whined
Quabba. You were teasing and Jok-
ing with me. saying you were going to
put the handouts on me. and / only
| joked with you and the other gentle
man In putting them on you and him"
Young Teller" said the sheriff i'm
pressively. never joke with an officer
OF the law. IL is against the peace and
dignity OF the commonwealth OF vir-
ginia and the law and the statutes that
therein applyr' And. having delivered
himself OF this pseudo legal dictum.
the sheriff touched his hat to Hagar
and Esther and cantered of.
Quabba was a wandering. solitary
gypsy OF Italian stock word In
Romany fell on his astonished ear
from the lips OF the grande dame at
the portals OF this grand house, who
gave orders to Luke that Quabba be
cared for at the kitchen OF Stanley
hall
This done. Hagar was prepared to
4 go upon her mysterious errand with.
as Esther noticed. the black fat port
folio the strange man from Richmond
had brought that day, when her keen
gypsy eye noticed that the horse was
slightly lame.
Half angrily she ordered Lowell to
return 1t to the stable. and after Low
ell. with the equipage and Quabba. the
latter uttering expressions OF his graf
| itude had turned the corner OF the
great house. 81 am not going so very
Iar, so it doesn't matter IL l walk.
said Hagar and kissed Esther again
and went upon her way.
Little did Esther dream Of the strange
return this secretive yet kind woman
whom she deemed her mother, was ia
make TO Stanley hall.
At Mrs Lamar Stanley's house that
austere woman sat upon her piazza
rocking and waiting for Blair to re
turn from inside the house She had