The Washington times., 1915-05-02
I1iENEN STOOD
ABASHkD

what about your more extende
search"
Il am coming to that" Lord Ashleigh
replied AS Edgar will remember. no
doubt, l have always kept a few blood
hounds in my kennels. and as soon as
We could get together one or two Of the
keepers and a few of the local con-
stabulary. we started off again from
here. The dogs brought us without a
check TO this shed. anu started OF again
this way"
They walked another half mile
across reedy swamp. Every now and
| then they had to jump across a small
dyke, and once they had to make a
! detour to avoid an osicr bed. They
| came at last to the river.
! Nov, I can show you exactly how
| that fellow put us off the scent here"
their guide proceeded He seems TO
have picked up something. Edgar. in
| those South American trips of yours
for cleverer thing ! never saw. You
| see all these bulrushes everywhere
clouds Of them all along the river?"
we call them tules." Quest mutter-
| When Craig arrived here" Lord Ash
leigh continued. he must have heard
| the baying of the dogs in the distance
and he knew that the game was ur
unless he could put them off the scent
lie cut quantity of these bullrushes
from place little farther behind
those trees. then stepped boldly into
! the water. waded down to that spo,
where. as you see. the trees hang over
stood stock still and leaned them al
| around him. 1t was dusk when the
chase reached the river bank. and
have no doubt the bullrushes presented
! quite natural appearance. At any
rate. although the dogs came without
"A check to the edge OF the river
where he stepped off, they never picked
the scent up again either on this side
| or the other. We tried them for foul
or five hours before We took then
home. The next morning while tn
place WAS being thoroughly searched
VIC came unon the SPOT where thes,
hullrushes had been cut down. and W.
found them caught In the low bough
of tree. drifting down the river"
The professors tone was fIled Will
something almost like admiration.
Il must confess" he declared, -
never realized for single momen
that Craig was a person Of such gifts
In all the small ways of life. in cam
paigning. camping out, dealing witt
natural difficulties Incidental to on
expeditions. ] have found him invari
ably person of resource. ready -witted
and full OF useful suggestions. But tha
, he should be able to apply his gift
with such infinite cunning. to n sud
denly conceived career of crime.
must admit amazcS me-
guest mad lit a 1reSn cigar ana wa
, smoking vigorously
Il what astonishcs me more than any
3 thinC." he pronounced. as he stood look
. ing over the desolate eNpanse of c0ur
J try lis that when one comes fac" I
( face with the fellow he presents all Il
\ appearance of a nerveless and broker
e down coward Then all of Z suddc
g there spring up these evidences of IL
n most amazing. the most diahOlical r.
= source Who's this. LoI
r Ashleigh?"
. The latter turned his head. A
] elderly man in brown NclNeteon sui
with CATERS and thick boots. RAISED h
= | hat respectfully.
This Is my bead keeper, Middleton
. his master explained. He was with
I on the case"
The professor shook hands hearth
= | with tho newcomer.
!, Not a dav older. Middlcton' he e.
: | claimed. $50 yOu arc tho man who hi
. given lis all this trouble. eh? Th
Gentleman and 7 have come over fro
. N"w York on purpose to lay hands
r Craig"
. 81 am ve~v sorry. sir." the man r
g rlied ] wouldn't have fred my gun
had known what the consequen"
Q were going to hc. hut them noach'T
doNils that come round here rabbitir
fairly send me furious. ard that's
~ fact. II amt that one grudges them
, few rabbits, but my tame nhesants 4