The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-02-11
CHAPTER VlI-ContinLed.

"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
Ii was her last contribution to the
conversations; immediate develop
ments not only put an end 10 the fur
ther 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 a schoolboy in his
fathers floor.
She hardly even knew how il 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 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 10 do so.
II was long halfhour that followed
for Blanche Macnair. but she passed ~
Enthusiastically
She turned her wholesome mind TO
dogs. which in some ways she knew
better and trusted further than men.
There was a dog at Uplands, and as
yet she had seen nothing OF him he
lived in a large kennel in the yard.
for he was a large dog and rather
friendless But Blanche knew him by
sight, and had felt always sorry fer
him.
The large kennel was just outside
the back door. which was at the top
OF the cellar steps and al 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 a corner of the
one that was really worthy OF the
more formidable carniyora. 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 ser,s snts all
his life
Blanche coaXed and petted him un-
I'll she almost wept herself then sud
denly aud without warning the dog
showed his worst side Out he lesped
from wooden sanctuary almost knock
ing her down. and barking horribly.
but not at Blanche She followed his
infuriated 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
CaZalet.
Well. you really are Sweep" 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 4 left
them down there ''
And what did you fnd?'
"Ill tell YOU later I cant hear my
voice for that internal dog
The dreadful barking followed them
out into the yard. and round 10 the
right. past the tradesmens door. to
the verge Of the drive Here they met
an elderly man In a tremendous hurry
--an unstable dotard Who instantly
abandoned whatever purpose he bad
formed. and came 10 anchor In front
OF them with rheumy eyes and twitch-
ing wrinkles
why. N that isn't Miss BIanchei