The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-05-21

turing Company.
Limit tnat 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, locking at Quest, "is
in 20 way connected with them-weI.
they don't know everything, and that's
a fact"
This gentleman is from the United
States Lord Ashleigh reminded him.
so your criticism doesn't affect him.
BY the bye, Middleton, I heard this
morning that you'd been airing your
opinion down in the village. You seem
to rather fancy yourself as thief
| catcher"
Il wouldn't go so far as that, nv
lord" the man replied respectfully,
but still, | hope may say that I've
as much common sense as most peo-
pie. You see, sir he went on turn
ing to Quest, "the spots where he
could emerge from the TACT of coun-
try are pretty well guarded, and he'll
be in fine mess, when he does put
IN an appearance, to show. himself
upon public road. Yet by this time
| should say he must be nigh starved
Sooner or later he'll have to come ont
for food. I've little scheme of nv
own, sir, | don't mind admitting" the
man concluded. with a twinkle in his
keen brown eyes. I'm not giving
it away. If | catch him for you. that's
all that's wanted, | imagine. and we
shant be any the nearer to it for let
ting anyone into my little secret"
His master nodded.
You shall have your rise out of the |
police, if you can, Middleton he OBJ
served. 1T seems queer, though, to |
believe that the fellows still in hid. |
Ing round here"
They made their way, single file to
the road and up to the house. Lord |
Ashleigh did his best to dispel a queer |
little sensation of uneasiness which |
seemed to have arisen in the minds of |
all of them.
Come" he said, "we must put aside |
our disappointment for the present.
and remember that after all the
CHANCES are that Craig will never make
his escape alive. Let us forget him
for little while. Mr.. Quest" he
added, few minutes later. as they
reached the hall, "Moreton here will
show you your room and look after
you. Please let me know if you will
take an aperitif. l can recommend nv
sherry. We dine at eight o'clock. Ed
gar, you know your way. The blue
room, of course. | am coming I'D
with you myself Her ladyship back
yet, Moreton?"
Not yet, my lord"
Lady Ashleigh," her husband ex-
planned has gone 10 the other side of
the county to open bazaar She is
looking forward to the pleasure of vel
coming you at dinner time"
Dinner served, out Of compliment to
their transatlantic visitor, in the great
banqueting hall, was to Quest, espe-
clally, most impressive meal. They
sat at a small round table lit by
shaded lights, in the center of an
apartment which was large in reality.
ana which seemed vast by reason Of
the shadows which lowered around the
unit spaces. From the walls frowned
down long succession of family por-
in the queer Tudor
costume of Henry VII; Ashleighs in
cnaln armor, sword in hand. a charger
regardless OF perspective, Sin
the near distance; Ashleighs befrilled
and bewigged; Ashleighs in the court
dress OF the Georges-judges, sailors,
statesmen and soldiers. A collection
Of armor which would have gladdened
the eye of many an antiquarian, was
ranged along the hlack-paneled walls.
Everything was in harmony, even the
grave precision of the solemn-faced
butler and the powdered hair of the
two footmen. Quest perhaps for the
first time in his life, felt almost lost,
out of touch with his sur
roundings, and a struggling figure.
he entertained the little
party with many stories. He struggled
all the time against that queer sense
of anachronism which now and then
became almost oppressive.
The professors pleasure at finding
himself once more amongst these ia
miliar surroundings was obvious and
intense. The conversation between
him and his brother never tagged.
There were tenants and neighbors to
be asked after, matters concerning the ,
estate on which he demanded infor-
nation. Even the very servants
names he remembered.
1T was queer turn of fate, George"
he declared, as he held out before him
a 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 me a
scientific man."
1.-THE world has benefited by it."
Lord Ashleigh remarked, with more |
than fraternal courtesy. 1--WE hear
great things of you over here, EcA !
We hear that you have been on
point of proving most unpleasaa
things with regard to our origin"