Evening star., 1924-09-25
THE OWLS HOUSE
4 Thrilling Adventure Story
By Crosbie Garstin
rOSble GarStIn
hit. 1924. BY Frederick A. stokes O..

ael was given his troop to annoy. On
the morning Of the 14th Hanibro left
on three days leave to shoot par
tridges at Tehidy. Jope and Car
michael only remaining. Jope blum
dered in at 5 o'clock on the same aft
ernoon sneezing At to split himself.
He had been of Low Lee after pol
lack and all he had succeeded in
catching was a cold. He Srowled
about the weather. which his boatman
said was working up for a blow,
drank a pint Of hot rum bumbo and
sneezed himself up to bed. giving
strict orders that he was not to be
reused on any account.
Carmichael was left all alone.
To him, at of the clock. came Mr..
Richard Curral, riding officer. a con-
scientious but blighted man.
He asked for Hambro. Pilkington
edly when he heard they were un-
available.
Anything 1 can do for you" Car
michael inquired.
Curral considered. tapping his rab-
bit teeth with his whip handle. Mr..
Carmichael was terribly young, the
merest babe.
Moo. l don't think so: thank you.
sir. No. never mind. Pity they're
away, though seems a chance"
he murmured. talking to himself Lot
OF stuff been run that way of late
ought to be stopped by rights
pity" he sighed.
What's a pity? What are you talk
ing about?" said Mr.. Carmichael, his
ears pricking. Take that whip out
of your mouth"
Mr.. Curral withdrew the whip; he
was used to being hectored by mill
| tary officers.
'Er-oh. er, the Monks
Cove men are going to make run
tonight"
Mr.. Carmichael sat upright. "Are
they. b God! How d. you know"
AN informer has just come in.
Gives no name, of course, but says
he's from Gwithian parish; looks like
farmer. Wants no reward"
Then what's his motive?"
Mr.. Curral' shrugged his shoulders.
Some petty jealousy. l presume; it
usually is among these people. I've
known man give his brother away
because he got bested over some
crab-pots. This fellow says he over
heard them making their plans in the
inn there-lay under the table pre-
tending to be drunk. Says that tall
Penhale is the ringleader; I've Sus-
pected as much for some time. OF
course it may only be false scent
after all, but the informer seems gen
uine. What are you doing. sir?"
Mr.. Carmichael had danced across
the room, opened the door and was
bowling for his servant His chance
had come. Gore.
Doing. Why, going to turn
a troop out and skewer the lot of EN-.
of course. What d. you think"
shouted that gentleman. returning.
I'D turn out the squadron, only half
the nags are streaming with stran
giles. Toss me that map there. Now
where is this Monks Cove"
Mr.. Currars eyes opened wide. He
was not used to this keenness on the
part of the military. One horse
coughing slightly would have been
sufficient excuse for Hambro to re
fuse to move-leave alone half
squadron sick with strangles. 1t
promised to be a dirty night, too. He
had expected to meet with a diplo-
matte but nevertheless definite refus-
al. 1t was merely his three-cornered
conscience that had driven him round
to the billet at all-yet here was an
officer impatient to be off that he
was attempting the impossible feat of
pulling on his boots and buckling on
his sword at the same time. Currals
eyes opened wider and wider.
"Ahem-er-do you mean. Z.
er are you in earnest, SIR
Earnest" The cornet snorted, his
face radiant. Damn my blood but
am in very proper earnest. Mr.. What's
yourname-as these dastardly scoun-
drels shall discover ere we're many