Evening star., 1924-05-08
Continued from Yesterdays Starr

At last, at something after mid
night, there came a fevered rapping
at the outer door. Both women start
other, in their sudden panic, stood
there waiting for the news that must
. be here at last.
The door of the dining room was
fung open: the women recoiled in
their dread of what might come:
then Richard entered, Jaspers
startled countenance showing behind
him.
He closed the door, shutting out the
wondering servant, and they saw
that, though his face was ashen and
his limbs all a-tremble. he showed
no sign of any hurt or effort. His
they had seen him. Ruth flew to him.
flung her arms about his neck and
pressed him to her.
"Oh, Richard, Richard" she sobbed
IN the Immensity Of her relief Thank
God! Thank Cod"
He wriggied peevishly in her en-
brace. disengaged her arms and put
her from him almost roughly. Have
her, he reached the table, took up a
bottle and brimmed himself a mea-
sure. He gulped the wine avidly,
set down the cup and shivered
where is Blake" he asked
Blake" echoed Ruth. her lips white.
Diana sank into chair, watchful,
fearful and silent, taking now no
glory in the thing she had encom-
Richard beat his hands together in
a passion of dismay. rs he not
here?" he asked. and .groaned, 20
Cod" He flung himself all limp into
a chair. You have heard the news,
Not all of it," said Diana hoarsely
leaning forward. Tell US what pass,
ed"
He moistened his lips with his
tongue. I'VE were betrayed" he said
in a quivering voice Betrayed!
Did but know by whom" He
broke off with a bitter laugh and
shrugged, rubbing his hands together
and shivering till his shoulders shook
"Blake's party was set upon by half
company of musketeers. Their corpses
are strewn about old Newlington's
orchard. Not one of them escaped
they say that Newlington himself is
dead. He poured himself more wine
Ruth listened, her eyes burning.
the rest OF her as cold as ice. But
but-oh, thank God that you at least
been stung. He laughed in a high,
cradked voice, his eyes wild and
bloodshot How? Perhaps it is Just
as well that Blake has gone to his
account Perhaps" He checked
eu the word and started to his feet;
Dfana screamed in sheer alright Be
hind her the windows had been thrust
open SO violently that one of the
panes was shivered. Blake stood un-
der the Intel, scarce recognizable, so
smeared was his face with the blood
escaping from the wound his cheek
had taken. His clothes were mud
died soiled, torn and disordered.
Framed there against the black
background of the night, he stood
aspect terrific. Then he Ieapt for
ward, barring his sword as he came.
An incoherent roar burst from his
lips as he bore straight down upon
Richard.
you damned, Internal traitor!" he
cried Draw, draw! Or die like the
1nuckworm that you are"
Intrepid, her terror all vanished
now that there was the need for cour-
age, Ruth confronted him, barring his
massage, a buckler to her palsied
"out of my way. mistress, or I'll be
xJoinA you a mischief"
you are mad, Sir Rowland" she
told him in voice that did some
tahing toward restoring him to his
senseg
rnomeipt, and he controlled himself to
offer an explanation. '.The twenty
that were with me lie stark under the
stars in NewlinSton's garden" he
told her, as Richard had told her al
ready. 81 escaped by a miracle, no
less. but for what? Feversham will
demand of me a stern account of
those lives, whilst If l am found in
fSridgewater there will be short shrift
for me at the rebel hands-for my
share in this affair is known, my
name on every lip in the town. And
why?" he asked with a sudden in
crease of fierceness. why? Because
that craven villain there betrayed
"He did not" she answered in so
.ssured a voice that not only did 1t
i've him pause. but caused Richard,
Covering behind her, to raise his
Sir Rowland smiled his disbelief,
and that smile, twisting his blood
smeared countenance, was grotesque
md horrible. 'I left him to guard
.ur backs and give me warning if any
anproached," he informed her. II
knew him for too great a coward to
be trusted in this fight; 50 gave him
"a safs task. and yet in that he failed