Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1925-11-07
had not confded in the

mt had not confided in the
keeper it was for reasons which
would constitute the latter valuable
ally.
Cropping his way along the bramble.
grit path. he suddenly became aware
of shambling footsteps coming to
meet him to the tune Of heart.rend.
ing groans. A moment later he came
into violent contact with something
large and soft and the last OF the
groans died away in a muffled
scream. With soldierly presence OF
mind ALI had q match alight In a
jiffey and was that he had collided
with pallid.faced old man in swal'
low.tailed dress coat.
The apparition waved its hands
feebly and then the match went out.
Out Of the darkness came the plain.
tive cry, "F6r Gods sake don't stop
me. There's bloody murder going to
be done yonder. am running for
the constable"
ALI lit another match and took a
longer survey Of the frightened fugi.
tive. Look here" he said. with
swift intuition recognizing that here
was no villain, "just cough up your
trouble. I reckon we may be on the
same lay. I'm searching for my mas
ter. Captain Norman Slater. late OF
the Rife Brigade and one Of the best.
Who might you be and where's the
bloody murder? It might save time
n you told me. I'm as good at a
scrap as a country bobby any day or
night"
II am Hinkley. the butler at the
Grange" was the eager reply.
And in a food OF tremulous words
the terrible tale came tumbling out.
How he had learned from a Scotland
Yard detective that Miss Glenister
and Captain Slater had disappeared
and how tn consequence Of Sir Dud-
ley's strange behavior he had sus'
pected him Of foul play toward them.
The suspicion had increased when
Sir Dudley had arranged to be out
that evening on the pretext Of hav.
Ing to meet some cinema actors tn
the keepers clearing, and 1t had be-
come unbearable on Sir Dudley angri'
ly refusing him permission to wit.
ness the performance. The prepos-
ferrous idea Of staging a film in the
middle Of the Beechwood coverts con-
cealed. he was assured. some sinister
design. :
Hes got them prisoners in the
disused water MILL" quavered the
butler. TT was dusk when I
reached the cursed place. but there
was light enough to see Miss Kath'
leen sitting at an upper window.
had speech with her and she told me
| that she and the captain had been
there since yesterday-her above and
him below. That devil Is coming to.
night to burn the mill and them in it
II she won't consent to marry him.
and he is going to fog the captain
hrst. The bargain he tried to drive
with her was that he would spare
her life and the captain his flogging
II she would give in. but the captain
would have to burn anyhow"
"One thing Is pretty certain" he
said. Your master, old boy. will
never be hanged. He must be a
rank, raving roony. None the less
he's dangerous. We've got to be
over the top bally quick for this raid
| Deeds. not words. is the motto to-
night. Did you locate my guv'nor?"
1.-The captain is shut up in locked
room on the ground floor. The doc:
; is two inches thick. There's no get
ting to him without key"
Then we must wait till someone
hands US one..' reioined All. Now
see here. Mr.. Hinkley I know a
sport when I see one and you're e.
You cut along and fetch that bobby
! and as many more good men al
true as you can rope in III go fc:.
ward and attend to things at IL,
mill"
by Gosh, he's a whopper." n.u:.
INJURED the scout. And I'm only
little 'un. I'd tackle him all right il
weren't for the gun. shouldn't be
much use to the captain with an
ounce Of rabbit shot in my CUTS"
But the peril passed. The giant
gamekeeper struck into another path
that onened into the woods a little to
the left and at a different angle. Al,
breathed freely again.
d. NarAiunaA