Evening star., 1924-04-08

two others at that board, stood, too.
committed to the cause of the protest
ant champion.
out of his knowledge of the boy
Trenchard was led to fear that if he
were leniently dealt with now. to-
morrow, when sober, he came to re-
aliZe the grosSneSS of the thing he
had done and the unlikelihood of its
being forgiven him, there was no say
ing but that to protect himself he
might bctray Wilding's share in the
plot that was being hatched. That in
itself would he bad enough: but there
might be worse. for he could scarcely
betray Wilding without betraying
others and-what mattered most-the
cause itself. He must be dealt with
out of hand. Trenchard opined, and
dealt with ruthlesSly.
Il think. Anthony" said he, that
we have had words enough. Shall you
be dispoSing of Mr. Westmacott to-
morrow, or must l be doing il for
YOU"
With gasp of dismay young Rich
ard twisted in his chair to confront
mist. What danger was this that he
had overlooked? Then, even as he
turned, Wilding's voice fell on his ear,
and each word of the few he spoke
was like drop of icy water on West
macott'S overheated brain.
II protest you are vastly kind.
Nick. But l intend. myself, to have
the pleasure of killing Mr.. Westma :
colt" And his smile fell now in
mockery upon the disilluSioned lad.
Crushed by that bolt from the blue,
Richard sat as if stunned, the flush
receding from his face until his very
lips were livid. The shock had So
bered him, and. sobered, he realized in
terror what he had done. And yet
even sober he was amazed to lind
that the staff upon which with such
security he had leaned should have
proved rotten. True, he had put mucn
strain upon it: but, then, he had
counted that it would stand much
strain.
He would have spoken, but he
lacked words. so stricken was ne.
And even mad he done so: IL Is oods
none would have heard him. for the
late calm was of a sudden turned 10
garboil. Every man of that company /,
with the sole exception OF Rlchard
himself, was on his feet, and all were
speaking ap once, in clamoring, eX-
cited chorus.
Wilding alone-the butt of their
ulationS-stood quietly SmlIlnS,
and wiped his face at last with a ker-
chief Of finest lawn. Dominating the
others in the Babel rose the voice of
Sir Rowland Blake-impecunious
Blake; Blake lately of the GUARDS,
who had sold his commission as the
only thing remaining upon which he
could raise money; Blake, that other
suitor for Miss Westmacott's hand,
the suitor favored by her brother. :,
You shall not do it, Mr.. Wilding,
he shouted, his face crimson. NO, 6y
cod You were shamed forever. He
is but a lad, and drunk.
Trenchard eyed the short, power.
fully built man beside him, ana
iaughed unpleasantly. You should
gat svourseIf bled one of these days,
Sir Rowland" he advised. There may
he no great danger yet: but a man
can't be too careful when ne wears
a narrow neckciotn- ,i,.
man-took no heed of him, but looked
straight at Mr. Wilding, who, smilng
ever. calmly returned the gaze OF
those prominent blue eyes.
s,;d he sweetly. ito be the judge OF
Whom I will and whom l will not
Sir Rowland flushed under that
mocking glance ana caus.dc tohI,, eJ
81 think" said Trenchard, that
he is hearing something that VIII
make him sober! 49,
: Lord Gervase took the lad by the
sbonIder and shook him impatiently.
"U eli ." ouoth he. Have you noInihS
70 saw? You did deal OF prating
inst now. / make no doubt out tnat
even at this late hour if you were TO
1T wouId be idle" came Wilding's S
;cv voice to ouench the CLEAN of hope
kindling anew in Richards preast'
The lad saw that he was lost. anu ne
is poor thing, indeed, who cannot
face the worst once that worst IS
shown to be irrevocabIe. he rose
with some semblance of dignity.
1T is as | would wish, salu ne,
but his livid face and staring eyes
beIied the valor of his words. ne
cleared his huskiness from his tnroat I.
"Sir Rowland" said he. will you act
for me?' .1
Not t." cried Blake with an oath;
"I'll be no party to the butchery or
a boy unfiedged."
Body o. me! ,Tis a matter Wiidins
will amend tomorrow. He'll fedge
him, never fear. He'll wing him on
his flight to heaven :,
OF set purpose did Trenchard add
this fuel to the blazing fire. IL was
no part OF his views that this encoun- :
ter should be avoided If Richard
what had passed, there were too
many tall fellows might go in peril
Of their lives.
Richard, meanwhile, had turned TO
the man on his left-young Vallancey,
q notorious partisan of the Duke of
Monmouth's, a hair-brained gentle
man who was his own worst enemy.
May | count on you, NNed?" he
asked.
"Aye-to the DEATH, said Nallancey
mag.niloouently.
Mr.. Vallancey,'' said Trenchard,
with a wry twist of his sharp fea-
lures, you grow prophetic"
Continued in Tomorrow's Starl