The Green Forest tribune., 1915-05-28

We tried them for four or five hours | 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 deso!ate expanse of country, lis that whsn one comes face to face with the Fellow he pre- sents all the appearancI of a nerve less and broken-down coward. Then all of sudden there spring up these 1 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 gaiters 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 a day older, Middleton!" he exclaimed. 50 you are the man who has given us all this trouble, eh? This gentleman and I have come over from New York on purpose to lay hands on Craig"
 ''I 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 ain't that one grudges them a 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. ito have been the cause of any inconvenience"
 "It is rather worse than inconven- fence, 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 a little smile. It's 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, lis in no way connected with them-welI, 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 a thief catcher"
 T wouldn't go so far as that, my lord,' the man replied, respectfully, but still, ] hope I may say that Pu: 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 we'll guarded, and hell be in a fine mess, when he does put in an appearance, to show himself upon public road. Yet by this time I should say he must be nigh starved Sooner or later he'll have to come out | fn l., own, sir, don't mind admitting" the man concluded, with a twinkle in his keen brown eyes. I'm not giving it away. If I catch him for you, that's all that's wanted, l imagine, and we shan't 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 ob- served. "It 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 SSGlHeu IO nave dT1SGu III the mlnQS or 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. Mir Quest" he added, a 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. I can recommend my sherry. We dine at eight o'clock Ed gar, you know your way. The blue room, of course. I am coming up with you myself. Her ladyship back yet, Moreton?"
 Not yet, my lord"
 Lady Ashleigh," her husband ex- plained, has gone to the other side of the county to open bazaar She is looking forward to the pleasure of wei coming you at dinner time." 1