The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1915-12-03
CHAPTER vll-continued.

NTFF Elk VII--CONelnueQ.
oh, that was as easy as pie: I'd
often explored them. Do you remem-
Der the row got into, Blanche, for
taking you with me once and simply
running your frock?"
Il remember the frock!" said
Blanche.
1t was her last contribution to the
conversation; immediate develop
ments not only put an end to the fur
Their exchange of ancient memories,
but rendered it presently impossible
\ by removing Cazalet from the scene
with the two detectives. Almost with
out warning all three disappeared
down the makeshift trap-door cut by
one of them as schoolboy in his
fathers floor.
She hardly even knew how it hap
pened. The little place. was so small
that she never saw the hole until it
had engulfed two. of the trio; the third
explorer, Mr.. Drinkwater himself, had
very courteously turned her out of the
library before following the others.
And he had said so very little before
hand for her to hear, and so quickly
prevented Cazalet from saying any
thing at all, that she simply could not
think what any of them were doing
under the floor.
Under her very feet she heard them
moving as she waited a bit in the hall;
then she left the house by way of the
servants quarters. of course without
holding any communication with those
mutineers, and only indignant that
Mr. Drinkwater should have requested
. her not to do so.
II was long half-hour that followed
for Blanche Macnair, but she passed it
Enthusiastically.
She turned her wholesome mind to
dogs, which in some ways she knew
better and trusted further than men.
There was dog at Uplands, and as
yet she had seen nothing Of him; he
lived in a large kennel in the yard,
for he was large dog and rather
Friendless. But Blanche knew him by
sight, and had felt always sorry for
him.
The large kennel was just outside
the back door. which was at the top
OF the cellar steps and at the bot
tom of two or three leading into the
scullery; but Blanche of course, went
round by the garden. She found the
poor old dog quite disconsolate in a
more canine kennel in corner of the
one that was really worthy of the
more formidable carnivora. There was
every sign of his being treated as the
dangerous dog that Blanche, indeed,
had heard he was; the outer bars were
further protected by wire netting,
which stretched like a canopy over
the whole cage; but Blanche let her
self in with as little hesitation as she
proceeded to beard the poor brute
in his inner lair. And he never even
barked at her; he just lay whimpering
with his fearful nose between his two
front paws. as though his dead master
had not left him to the servants all
ais life.
Blanche coaxed and petted him I'M
til she almost wept herself; then sud
denly and without warning the dog
showed his worst side. Out he leaped
from wooden sanctuary, almost knock.
ing her down, and barking horribly,
but not at Blanche. She followed his
Infatuated eyes; and the back door
way framed dusty and grimy figure,
Just climbing into full length on the
cellar stairs. which Blanche had some
difficulty in identifying with that OF
C,azalet.
Well, you really are Swept" she
cried when she had slipped out just
in time, and the now savage dog was
still butting and clawing at his bars
How did you come out, and where
are the enemy?"
''The old way" he answered. 81 left
them down there"
And what did you findT
I'll tell you later. can't hear my
voice for that internal dog"
The dreadful barking followed them
out into the yard, and round to the
right. past the tradesmen's door, to
the verge of the drive. Here they met
an elderly man in tremendous hurry
An unstable dotard who instantly
abandoned whatever purpose he had
formed, and came to anchor in front
OF them with rheumy eyes and twitch
ing wrinkles.
why. II that isn't Miss Blancher