Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-04

ed. Its not-you haven't seen any
thing in the papers?"
Your cousin has been hereto
night. SIR" replied Jim quietly.
The young man finished the glass
of hot milk which Jim had handed
him, and looked thoughtfully at the
fire for a few moments. And while
looked at him.
He saw that he was we'll and fash
ionably dressed, and scrupulously
groomed, as he always remembered
him being; but he also saw that
the dark. closely cropped hair had
streaks of silver in it, and that there
We're lines and wrinkles in the al
most boyish face which had not
been there when he had last seen it.
And the figure which he remembered
as having been so sprightly and
agile seemed in some indefinite way
to have become warped and crushed,
in spite of the smart suit and fine
linen. Face and figure were those
of q man who has been into the
valley of bitterness.
Il wonder where else l should go,
JIM" said tile visitor. suddenly
breaking the silence. Considering
that all my thoughts have been
years, it was only natural that
should turn here, for more reasons
than one, even if l don't stop more
than a few hours. And that's
what's in my mind-there are two
people | want to see-must see-and
after that I'm off,
But, Mr.. Clinton"
you needn't mister me, Jim, nor
sir me either" interposed the other.
After all, when the truths told,
I'm only an escaped convict"
why. sir, that's just where it is"
said Jim bluntly. They'll be after
you. no doubt"
And that's just why I'm safe
here for a while. JIM" returned
Clinton. They'd never, expect me
to come down to Mannersley. It's
fortnight now since I got away.
Pooh! I'm not afraid of 'em-not /,
indeed"
Il don't know how you managed
it. sir" said Jim wonderingly.
Clinton smiled. Managed it," he
said. why, as easily as anything,
bar the first preliminary risk. War
rinder, when he found they'd sent me
to Dartmoor, took a sort of hunting
box down there, as close as ever he
could get, and he devised a means
of letting me know. Then he waited
always in readiness-day and
night; and at last my chance came.
and l took it. OF course, l ran the
gauntlet. They had a potshot or two
at me, jim. Look here" He turned
up the cuff of his left sleeve as he
spoke and revealed a newly healed
wound which ran across the fore
arm.
only a scratch. you see. but near
enough he continued. We'll, l got
the rest has been easy. 1t was
Warrinder who brought me up here
in his motor-he's putting up at
Ashford, across country there, until
tomorrow night, when he's going to
meet me at Dead Mans Cross-you
Know, Jim-at midnight. Then he'll
run me to Liverpool. There's a full
Kit waiting there for me, and I'm off
TO Canada"
Jim looked up from steady con-
temptation of the fire.
Mr.. Clinton, sir, what do YOU
want down here?" he asked.
Clinton's countenance assumed a
determined expression. He smote
the knuckles of his right hand
against the palm of his left.
Il want to see two people, JIM
will and must see both" he an
swered. the resolution in his voice
made fiercer by the hushed whisper
in which, at a signal from Jim. lie
rad spoken ever since entering the
cottage. And you can guess whom
they are-my uncle and my cousin.
But. above all. Sir Robert"
Why Sir Robert so particularly,
sir?' .r.
Because he. more than anybody.
can put things in motion for clear
ing me-" said Clinton. HE must do
1.-THE shall do it,"
Jim held up a finger. "Mr.
Clinton" he said, you won't mis-
understand Jim Britten-but sup
posing Sir Robert believes you
guilty?"
The young mans brows knitted
and his lips frightened; but in mo-
ment his face cleared.
isn't that exactly reason why
I should see him and do my best to
convince him Of my innocence" he
said. He never gave me one single
chance, Jim, las yod know. You
know what hard, proud man he Is,
and when IT came to It he shut him.
self up within his pride and wouldn't
hear word from me.
Il know. Of course, I'd got a bad
name from my previous goings- on.
i know he'd q lot of trouble with
me when ] was at Eton. I know L
was sent down from Cambridge. L
know he had TO pay my debts twice.