Charlevoix county herald., 1917-11-16


fighting chance for both the girl anC
mys' II.
But Agnes was not yet satisfied, and
her wits penetrated deeper than mine
Your excellency." she begged, bring
Ing her lovely face close to the mans
he Will zee US as we pass out. VIII
you hold him. Sir Henry? I do not
wish scene. ask you to protect
me-"
Protect you? Upon my soul and
body, I'll see to it," His eyes were
shining as he swung around to the
fun :. AT present I'll have none OF
Lieutenant Melton. Take him up to
the music room until I am ready for
him. And you will be careful to say
nothing Of what has passed here"
The fellow saluted and disappeared.
There - there. my dear young
LADY," said Clinton, catching Agnes's
hand and tondling 1t. the veins swell.
ing on his forehead. Il think 1 have
fixed your fool lover. The music.
room 10 In the rear; he may cool his
shins there until you are gone. / will
keep him for an hour-if you say So"
Make II two. your excellency," said
Agnes. with an archness that might
have affected q saint.
"Egad! I'll have Melton follow
his regiment He shall not annoy
you'll" lie struck the bell on the Ia.
BILE. the sound bringing in the flunky.
rs the coast clear?"
1T Is, your excellency. But the
lieutenant protested. and"
Damn his protests!" said Clinton,
Offering his hand TO escort Agnes to
the door. followed them out of the
room, thankful that was being ignor.
ed. In the street the governors char
lot stood at the curb. and near it was
hitched the horse on which Melton
had probably arrived. I climbed into
the vehicle.
"Bacb to Cherry Hill. Peter" said
Agnes. sinking down at my side; and
now she was shaking as II palsied. 1t
had been a tremendous strain. / felt
that again owed her my life.
When we arrived at Cherry Hill she
did not dismiss the equipage. but af-
ter helping me as IL i were a feeble
old woman. she caid: you may re-
main. Peter. am going to drive Mrs.
Melton out to the manor-house this
afternoon And she swept into the
house. had been elsewhere would
nave protested at remaining disguised,
but knew l could throw off the wo.
mans dress anywhere on the road.
Neither Of us took the black coachman
into consideration.
It may at first seem foolish that, un.
der our stress, we returned to the
house at all; for, as each now had o
pass. we might have driven straight
to the tar.ier and out into the coun.
try. But the return was ere or less
necessary. Beside that there would
be little danger from Melton within
The next two hours, If Clinton kept his
promise, there W. matters calling
us both back; for my rapier and
Champe's papers, and the girl for div.
ers things a woman needs. She could
not escape in the flimsy thing she
then wore, for the sky had become
overcast, the air chilly. and a storm
was threatening.
found my aunt in dead faint on
the floor OF the library, and near the
open window from which she had
screamed. From this ! concluded that
Lysander had not recovered before
she succumbed, else he would not
have thought OF her az being at Clin-
toms His OWL escape was made clear
when. on examining the door Of 4 e
closet. i discovered that the hasp Of
the lock had gone, the bolt engaging
with wood only. which gave way east
ly. The open parlor window showed
how he bad left the house, and his
horse accounted for his early appear
ance at headquarters.
After getting the ponderous body OF
my little respected relative to her own
apartment, went to my room, recov.
cred my papers. and managed to fast
en- my sword under the pelisse so that
I could at least walk without its lie
ing observed. Telling Agnes to hurry
and that l would await her in the sit
ting room, went downstairs with my
nerves in a state Of tension but my
senses well balanced. l now saw clear
hope ahead, though had not thought
of What we should do after getting
through the barrier.
There would be time Tor that later.
The sitting or living room at Cherry
Hill was a large and high wainscoted
apartment with oak rafters dark from
age. At that hour the poor light from
growing poorer, and the great room
was almost gloomy. There was glass
door opening onto the back piazza,
which overlooked the kitchen, garden,
and stable. In each corner Of the room
was a large closet used for household
purposes, q mirror in every panel as
a help to light the apartment. Save
the glass door to the piazza, there
was but one entrance. a heavy oak
door opening into the main hall.
When I went downstairs we had
been in the house for nearly an hour,
and ! was wondering why Agnes de.