Evening star., 1924-10-29
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Star.)

They sped down an alley and then
up another, by great good fortune
meeting no one, for already they were
on the outskirts of the town. They
81 won out of it, and white-faced, phys
ically sick, Mr.. Blood dragged her al
most at run UP the hill toward Col.
Bishops house. He told her briefly
who and what he was, and thereafter
there was no conversation between
them until they reached the big white
house. 1t was all in darkness, which
at least was reassurlng. If the
SPaniards had reached it, there would
be lights. He knocked, but had to
knock again and yet again before he
was answered. Then it was by a
voice from a window above.
"Who is there" The voice was
Miss Bishops, "a little tremulous, but
Enthusiastically her own.
Mr.. Blood almost tainted in relief.
He had been imagining the unimaSin-
able. He had pictured her down in
that hell out of which he had just
come. He had conceived that she
might have followed her uncle into
Bridgetown, or committed some other
imprudence, and he turned cold from
head to foot at the mere thought of
what might have happened to her.
'It is Peter Blood he gaSped.
what do you want?"
1t is doubtful whether she would
have come down to open. For at such
d time as this it was no more than
likely that the wretched plantation
slaves might be in revolt and prove
as great a danger as the Spaniards.
But at the sound of her voice, the girl
Mr. Blood had rescued peered up
through the gloom.
"Arabella!" she called. 1T is /,
Mary Traill.'
Mary" The voice ceased above on
that exclamation, the head was with
drawn. After d brief pause the door
gaped wide. Beyond it in the wide
hall stood Miss Arabella. slim, yir-
gnal figure in white, mysteriouSly re
Nealed in the CLEAN of single candle
which she carried.
Mr. Blood Strode in, followed by his
diStraught companion, who, falling
upon Arabella's slender bosom, sur
rendered herself to a passion of tears.
But he wasted no time.
Whom have you here with YOU !
What servants?" he demanded sharp
The only male was James. an old
negro groom.
..The very man." said Blood. Bid
him get out horses. Then away with
you to SpeightStown. or even tarther
north. where YOU Will be safe. Here
YOU are in danger-in dreadful dan
ger"
But l thought the fighting was
over :" she was beginning, pale
and startled.
so it is. But the deviltry's only
beginning Miss Trail will tell YOU
as YOU go. In Gods name. madam
take my word for it, and do as l bld
you
..I1o he saved me- SObbed
saved you?" Miss Bishop was
aehast. Saved you from what,
Mary
LET that wait" snapped Mr.. Blood
almost angrily. you've all the night
for chattering when you're out OF Tn :,
and away beyond their reach VIII
YOU please call James, ana 90 as
say-and at once.
"You are very peremptory
"Oh, my Cod. i am peremptorE!
Speak, Miss Trail, tell her whether
I've cause to be peremptory.
"Yes, yes" the girl cried, shudder-
ing "Do as he says-Oh, for pity
sake, Arabella."
Miss Bishop went off. leaving Mr..
Blood and Miss Trail alone again.
.J shall never forget
what YOU did, sir" said she. through
her diminishing tears. She was
slight wisp of girl, a child, no more
i've done better things in my
time That's why I'm here, said MT
Blood, whose mood seemed to be
snappy.
She didn't pretend to understand
him, and she didn't make the attempt.
"Did you did you Kill him."
she asked, fearfully.
He stared at her in the Pickering
candlelight Il hope SO. 1t is very
probable, and it doesn't matter at
ALL" he said. What matters Is that
this fellow James should fetch the
horses" And he was stamping off
to accelerate these preparations for
departure, when her voice arrested
him.
"Don't leave me! Don't leave me
here alone" she cried in terror.
He paused He turned and came
slowly back. Standing above her
he smiled upon her
"There, there. You've no cause
for alarm. It's all over now. You'll
be away soon-away to Speights-
town, where you'll be quite safe"
The horses came at last-four of
them, for in addition to James who
was to act as her guide, Miss Bishop
had her woman, who was not to be
left behind.
Mr.. Blood lifted the slight weight
of Mary Trail to her horse, then
turned to say goodbye TO Miss
Bishop, who was already mounted.
He said it, and seemed to have some
thing to add. But whatever it was,
it remained unspoken.
The horses started, and receded
into the sapphire starlit night, leav-
ing him standing there before Colonel
Bishops door. The last he heard of
them was Mary Trails childlike
voice calling back on a quavering
note
Il shall never forget what you
did, Mr.. Blood. l shall never forget"
But as it was not the voice he de-
sired to hear, the assurance brought
him little satisfaction. He stood
there in the dark, watching the fire.
flies amid the rhododendronS, till the
hoofbeats had faded. Then he sighed
and reused himself. He had much to
do. His journey. into the town had
not been one of idle curiosity to see
how the Spandards conducted them
selves in victory. 1t had been in
spired by a very different purpose,
and he had gained in the course of
st all the information he desired. He