The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-04-24

tnl6 morning tuaC yOUO Ocou airing yOVH opiuAoH
down in the village You seem to rather fancy your.
self as q thiefcatcher."
Il wouldn't go 90 far as that my lord" the man
replied respectfully but STILL hope may say that
see. SIR he went turning to Quest. tho spots
where he could emerge from the tract Of country .
pretty well guarded and he'll be In . 0ne
mess, when he does put In an appearance. to
show himself upon q public road. Yet BY this
time should say he must be nigh starved Sooner |
later he'll have to come out for food. I've . lit. !
tie scheme OF my own sir. don't mind admitting
the man concluded. with a twinkle in his keen
brown eyes. I'm not giving it away. II catch
him for you, that's all that's wanted. imagine.
and we shant be any tho nearer to it for letting
anyone into my little secret"
His master nodded.
You shall have your rise out Of tho police, 3
you can Middleton" he observed. 1T seems queer
though, to believe that the fellows still in hiding
round here"
They made their way. single fle, to tho roa4
and up to the house Lord Ashleigh did his bsse
to dispel a queer little sensation Of uneasines4
which seemed to have arisen in the minds Of al a
them
pointment for the present. and remember that Aftsl
all tho chances are that Craig will never make hA
escape alive Let US forget him for . little whiA
Mr.. Quest" he added. . few minutes later
they reached the hall. Moreton here will show
me know if you will take apertif I can recon-.
mend my sherry. We dine at eight o'clock. Edgar,
you know your way. The blue room. Of course. ]
am coming up with you myself Her ladyship back
yet, Moreton?"
Not yet my lord"
Lady Ashleigh," her husband explained has
gone to the other side of the county to open q
bazaar. She is looking forward to the pleasure Of
welcoming you at dinner time"
Dinner served out of compliment to their trans.
atlantic visitor, in the great banqueting hall. wa
to Quest. especially, . most impressive meal.
Quest perhaps for the first time in his life.
felt almost lost, hopelessly out OF touch
with his surroundings, an alien and q struggling
figure. Nevertheless, he entertained the little
party with many stories He struggled all the time
against that queer sensation of anachronism which
and then became almost oppressive.
The professors pleasure at finding himself
more amongst these familiar surroundings was
obvious and intense.
1T was queer turn Of fate George" he de-
clared, he held out before him q wonderfully
chased glass filled with amber wine which sent
you into the world a few seconds before me and
made you lord OF Ashleigh and mo = struggling
scientific man.
"The world has benefited BY IT, Lord Ashleish
remarked, with more than fraternal courtesy. I'VE
hear great things Of you over here, Edgar. We
hear that you have been the point of proving
most unpleasant things with regard to our origin"
= oh! there IL no doubt about that the profess
sor observed. Where We came from and where
going to are questions which no longer
afford room for the slightest doubt to the really
scientific mind. What sometimes does elude US is
the nature OF our tendencies while here ON
earth"
There was a brief silence. The port had been
placed upon the table and coffee served. The saEvs
ants, according to the custom Of the house. had
departed. The great apartment was empty. Even
Quest was impressed by some peculiar significance
in the ngdrawn-out silence. :!
Il may be superstitious," Lord Ashleigh said,
but there times. especially just lately, when
seem to find new and hateful quality in silence.
What is it, wonder? ask you, but think
know. 1t is the conviction that there is some
alien presence. something disturbing. lurking close
at hand"
He suddenly to his feet pushed his chair
back and walked to the window which opened
level with the ground. He threw it and listened.
The others came over and joined him. Theirs
was nothing to be heard but the distant hootinE 81
owl.
There something here" he muttered:
something which has gone What's that? Quest.
your eyes are younger than mine. Can you SEQ
anything underneath that tree?'
Quest peered out into the gray darkness.
Il fancied saw something moving in the shadow
Of that oak" he muttered. Wait"
He crossed the terrace. swung down on to the
path across a lawn over a wire fence and into the
park itself. All the time he kept his eyes Axed
certain spot When at last he reached the
tree there nothing there. He locked all around
him. He stood and listened for several moments A
more utterly peaceful night Of more utter peace
it would be hard to imagine. Slowly he made his
way back the house.
Il imagine are all a little nervy tonight he
remarked. There's nothing doing out there"
They strolled about for hour or more. looking
into different rooms showing their guest the finest
pictures. even taking him down into the wonderful
cellars. They parted early but Quest stood. for .
few moments before retiring, gazing about him
with air almost OF awe His great ROOM as
large as an apartment In Italian palace, lit
by q dozen wax candles in silver candesticks. His
four-poster was supported by pillars Of black oak
carved into strange forms. and surmounted by the
Ashleigh coronet and coat-ofarms. He threw his
windows open wide and stood for a moment looking
out across the park more clearly visible by tho
light Of the slowly rising moon. There was SCARCE
ly breeze stirring. scarcely sound even from
the animal world. Nevertheless, Quest, too a. 70
luctanty he made his preparations for retiring for
the night conscious Of that queer seusatio1l
Of unimagined and impalpable danger \