Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-10-08

before we took them home. The next |
morning, while the place was being |
thoroughly searched. we came upon
the spot where these bulrushes had |
been cut down, and we found them
caught in the low boughs of tree,
drifting down the river"
Quest had lit fresh cigar and was
smoking vigorously.
what astonishes me more than
anything" he pronounced, as he stood
looking over the desolate expanse of
country, sis that when one comes
face to face with the fellow he pre-
sents all the appearance of nerve
less and broken-down coward. Then
all of sudden there spring up these
evidences of the most amazing, the
| most diabolical resource. Who's
this, Lord Ashleigh?"
The latter turned his head. An
elderly man in brown velveteen
| suit, with. CATERS and thick boots.
raised his hat respectfully.
"This is my head keeper, Middle
| ton his master explained. HE was
with us on the chase"
The professor shook hands heartily
with the newcomer.
"Not day older, Middleton" he
exclaimed. $50 you are the man who
has given us all this trouble, eh? This
gentleman and have come over from
New York on purpose to lay hands on
Craig"
81 am very sorry, sir" the man re-
Piled. I wouldn't have fired my gun
if I had known what the conse-
quences were going to be, but them
poaching devils that come round here
rabbiting fairly send me furious, and
that's a fact. It amt that one grudges
them a few rabbits, but my tame
pheasants all run out here from the
home wood, and Tve seen feathers at
the side of the road there that no fox
nor stoat had nothing to do with, All
the same, sir, I'm very sorry" he
added, "to have been the cause of any
inconvenience"
SIT is rather worse than inconven-
ience, Middleton" the professor said,
gravely. "The man who has escaped
Is OHe VI tHe WOlst CIiHludlS VI tucSS
days"
HE won't get far, SIR the game.
keeper remarked, with little smile
TITS wild bit of country, this, and
admit that men might search it for
weeks without finding anything, but
! those gentlemen from Scotland Yard
sir, If you'll excuse my making the
: remark, and hoping that this gentle
man." he added, looking at Quest, "is
I in no way connected with them-well
/ they don't know everything, and that's
fact"
"This gentleman is from the United
States,'' Lord Ashleigh reminded him
$50 your criticism doesn't affect him
By the bye, Middleton, heard thi.
morning that you'd been airing you
opinion down in the village. You seen
to rather fancy yourself as thief
catcher"
81 wouldn't go so far as that, m.
lord" the man replied, respectfully
''but still, hope may say that Nv,
as much common sense as most pee
ple.. You see, SIR he went on, turr
/
could emerge from the tract of cour
try are pretty well guarded, and he'l
be in a fine mess, when he does pu
in an appearance, to show himsel
upon a public road Yet by this tim
| should say he must be nigh starved
Sooner or later he'll have to come ou
| for food. I've little scheme of m
/ own, sir, don't mind admitting tn
i man concluded, with twinkle in hi
i keen brown eyes. I'm not givin
i 1t away If catch him for you, that
i all that's wanted, / imagine, and W
i shan't be any the nearer to it for lie
i ting anyone into my little secret"
i His master noddea.
i you shall have your rise out of til
Il served. 1T seems queer, though, |
4 believe that the fellows still in hi
Il ing round here
Il They made their way, single file,
Il the road and up to the house. Lo
II Ashleigh did his best to dispel que
Il little sensation of uneasiness whi,
n seemed to have arisen in the minds
: all of them.
"Come," he said, 1--WE must put asi
our disappointment for the presel
ne and remember that after all t
of chances are that Craig will never ma
ed his escape alive. Let us forget hi
mt for a little while. =. Mr.. Quest"
nd added, few minutes later, as tn
reached the hall, "Moreton here W
lie show you your room and look aft
ow you. Please let me know if you "
take an aperitif. can recommend !
to sherry. We dine at eight o'clock. l
ed. gar, you know your way. The bl
room, of course. / am coming
ow with you myself. Her ladyship ba
e." yet, Moreton?''
to mot yet, my lord"
in Lady Ashleigh," her husband I,
IFS, planned, "has gone to the other side
aw. the county to open a bazaar. She
'ry- looking forward to the pleasure of v
the coming you at dinner time"
.
nut Dinner. served out of compliment
their transatlantic visitor. in the gr
ord banqueting hall, was to Quest, es
ave. cially, most impressive meal. tt
the sat at small round table lit
me shaded lights, in the center of
off apartment which was large in real
ese and which seemed vast by reason
her the shadows which lowered around
old unlit spaces. From the walls frowl
7ad- down a long succession of family
you traits-Ashleighs in the queer Tu
ock costume of Henry VII; Ashleighs
lim. chain armor, sword in hand, char
hSd waiting, regardless of perspective
" BIT the near distance; Ashleighs befri
tur- and bewigged; Ashleighs in the CT
ugh dress of the Georges-judges, sail
the statesmen and soldiers. A collec1
ped of armor which would have gladde
up the eye of many an antiquarian,
her. ranged along the black-paneled W;
have rough wood tables clad in chefs