The Holly chieftain., 1915-06-18

caught In the low boughs Of a 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, "is that when one comes
face to face with the fellow he pre-
sents all the appearance of a 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 a 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"
Il am very sorry, sir" the man re-
piled. I wouldn't have fired my gun
II had known what the conse-
quences were going to be. but them
poaching devils that come round here
rabbting fairly send me furious, and
| that's fact. 1t amt that enc grudges
them few rabbits, but my tame
| pheasants all run out here from the
home wood. and I've 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"
1T is rather worse than inconven-
ience, Middleton the professor said,
| gravely. "The man who has escaped
is one of the worst criminals of these
days"
He won't get far, SIR" the game
keeper remarked, with little smile.
Its 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
In no way connected with them-well,
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, l 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, my
lord" the man replied, respectfully,
but still, hope I 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 tract 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 out
for food. I've little scheme of nv
own, sir, l don't mind admitting" the
man concluded, with 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
shan't be any the nearer to 1t for let
ting anyone into my little secret"
His master noddeu.
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.
in.' round here"
They made their way, single file. To
the road and up to the house. Lord
Ashleigh did his best to dispel queer
little sensation of uneasiness which
seemed to have arisen in the minds of
all of them.
Come" he said, I'VE 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
tako an oporitif oop