Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-05

a match or had slid back the shutter of
a dark lantern.
Hardly likely to be the people we
want" whispered Lord Arthur.
Most unlikely, my lord. One of them
at any rate must have made off,
"He might have dragged Anderson in
there-those fellows have sort of loyalty
among themselves"
THE boat has gone, my lord. Well,
we'd better go to work carefully"
He wrapped q woollen scarf round the
lantern, and they crept toward the shed.
Their feet made no sound in the thick
carpet of snow.
There was a wide crack between two
of the boards of the shed, and Lord Ar
thur looked through it.
Great Scott" he said, "it's Vertigan
this IS piece of luck"
They made their way round to the half
open door. Vertigan, seated on bale of
nay gave cry of pleasure as he saw
them.
THANK Heaven some one has come" he
exclaimed: ''I never thought any one
would be out on such a night"
What are you doing here?" said Lord
Arthur sternly;" and who are you"
I'm Vertigan. science master at Harp
tree, and | crawled in here to get out of
the cold and wet; twas about all could
do" and he pointed to his right leg. The
tiOuSSl was pulltu up ana a nanuKefCnlet
was twisted tightly round the bare flesh
and tied in a knot.
"Slipped and hurt yourself, eh?" said
Lord Arthur
Vertigan smiled. "Shot," he said grim
ly; smashed the bone. expect. It's all
can do to bear the pain"
Lord Arthur looked at Vertigan's face
and saw that it was white and drawn and
that there were beads of perspration on
it. If the man was shamming he was
certainly very clever actor.
Shot? he queried. by Whom?"
An we've got to find that out. Who
are you, sir?"
Lord Arthur Meriet-Lady Wlmberley's
brother'in-law. Denham. do you think
we can carry this gentleman up to the
house?"
81 think so. my lord-I dare saw tbera's
hurdle in this shed If one could find H."
Lord Arthur stepped forward and placed
the lantern on the ground.
Shall 1 haye look at your wound?"
he said to VertiGan. 'I know bit about
mat sort of thing-knocked about n good
ueal IN savage eountries-I might be able
TO make better job of the bandageU
lid be awfully glad if you would 4"
groaned Vertigan.
LORD Arthur went on his knees and I'M
led the blood-stained handkerchief Tbe
nesh was torn and part of the bons
exposed Lord Arthur's experience of
wounds told him that this one had been
caused by a bullet
say,' he said. that's pretty had
ana began to bind II up with a clean
handkerchief OF his own. Before he had
nhlshed Vertigan tumbled off the hale ~
hay In a dead faint. "a
wed better get him up to the house
my my iord, s said Denham. ''and I'll so for
Very awkward, Denham-there's her
ladyship-we don't want her 10 know,
about this nights work"
think l can manage that. NV lord
~ get the chauffeur to bring out tbe
49, Sar ana ~ Wen take this gentleman right
They found a hurdle, piled ~ I'M ,,,,...
nay and placed VertIgan on the soft he'd
me Iolting brought Vertlgan to his
senses again. 9
:, Where Where are you going to take me?" he
up to the house"
oh. mol beg of you-lt would alarm
her ladyship-is there no cotfage@ ~,
Iarmhouse-near-I don't quite know
where I am '"
Lord Arthur turned 10 Denham aeo
up 20 the house" he said, "and get the
motor sent down the road that ,,,ns ~
the ferry 200 yards lower down the ri,,s.
Then Wen put this gentleman in Il ana
take him to Harptree think fbaf -
the best pian-and bring some brandy
with you. He's likely to want dron
You can take the lantern with YOU.
penham departed, and Lord Arthur.
seating himself on a bale OF hay. llt
cigarette.
ia like some explanation Of this busi
ness, he said slowly. 'In the first pIaee
what are YOU doing here at aIl?V
was on the ttack OF two scoundreIs
Who were going 70 kidnap young Lord
Wimberley."
fhe reply was SO unexpected that lc~a
arthur stared at Yertisan ia bIaniF
amusement for few seconds. Then he
rhak sounds q rather tail story hs
CONTINUED TOMORROW
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