Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-04
CHAPTER XVII
Irdncis Takes Up the Norroti,

I SAW the lights fash up IN the room.
J. heard Desmond cry out, "Grundt" IN
stantly I flung myself fiat on my face In
the flower bed, lest Desmond's shout might
have alarmed the soldiers about the fire.
But no one came; the gardens remained dark
and damp and silent, and heard no sound
from the room in which I knew my brother
to be- in the clutches Of that man.
Desmond's cry pulled me together. It
seemed to arouse nre from the lethargy into
which had sunk during all those months
Of danger and disappointment. 1t shook
me into life. II I was to save h,nn. not q
moment was to be lost. Ciubfoot would act
swiftly I knew. So must I. But first I
must find out what the situation was tie
meaning OF Clubfoot's presence IN Nonica 3
house, of those soldiers IN the park. And
above all. was Monica herself at the castle?
1 had noticed a little estanl!nee place on
the road, about hundred yarde before we
reached the Schloss. might. at leass be
able to pick up something there. According
.y, stole across the garden, scaled the wal,
again and reached the road In safety.
The estaninet was full Of people, BRITISH
looking peasants swilling neat spirits, cat
the drovers and the like. I stood UP at the
bar and ordered double noggn Of Kern,
q raw spirit made in these parts from pota-
toes very potent but at least pure A man
in corduroys and leggings was drinking at
the bar, a bluff sort of chap, who readily
entered Into conversation. A casual ques-
ton Of mine about the game conditions
| ELECTED from him the information that he
was an under-keeper at the castle. II was
busy time for them, he told me- az four
big shoots had been arranged Tho first
was 10 take place the next day. There were
plenty Of birds, and he thought the Frau
Grains guests ought to be satisfied.
/ asked him II there was a big party STAY
Ing at the castle. No, he told me, only one
gentleman besides the officer billeted there
but lot OF people were coming over for
the shoot the next day, the officers fror,
| Cleves and Goch. the chief magistrate from,
| Cleves, and number OF farmers from round
| about
'I expect you will find the soldiers billet
| ed at the Castle useful beaters" In.
| quired with purpose.
The man assented grudgingly. Game.
| keepers are first-class grunblers But the
| soldiers were not many. For his part he
| could do without them altogether They
| were such terrible poachers to have abou,
the place, he declared. But what they
would do for beaters without them he
didn't know they were very short O.
| beaters that was fact.
| ~ am staying at Cleves." said, "and I'm
| out of a Job. I am not long from hospital
| and they've discharged me from the army
| I wouldn't mind earning a few marks as
| a beater, and I'd like to see the sport.
used to do a bit Of shooting myself dowr
! on the Rhine where come FROM
The man shrugged his shoulders and shool
|
| ting the beaters together" he replied BE
| sides. shall have the head gamekeeper af
ter me II go bringing strangers In .
| I ordered another drink for both Of US
| and won the man round without much diff
| Guilty. He pouched my five mark note anC
| announced that he would manage It
| the Frau Grain was to see some men whC
| had offered their services as beaters afteI
dinner at the Castle that evening. He woulc
| take me along
| Half an hour later stood as one Of {
group Of shaggy and bedraEgled rustics. In 4
| big stone courtyard outside the main en-
| trance TO the Castle. The head game
/ keeper mustered US with his eye and. bid
/ ding US follow him, led the way under
vaulted gateway through massive door int,
\ small lobby which had apparently beer
| built into the great hall Of the Castle. 70
| It opened right into It.
We found ourselves In a splendid old feu
dal hall. oak-lined and oak-raftered. witt
lines OF dusty banners just visible IN tn
twilight reignirH N the upper nRrt OF IN