Evening star., 1928-04-20
Continued from Yesterdays star.l
INSTALI.MENT XVIII.


~ TARCoURT. blinking, gazed about
him. His arms were SO numb he
could not lift them. The weak,
~ pale light of dawn, COMING
through the small window at his
rieht, revealed the figures Of three men,
The talleSt OF these, dofing his hat.
bowed low
we have met before, but fear my
face is unfamiliar to you. l am Jonifer
Dawes. This gentleman is Julius SnooS,
and here is my excellent nephew. Peter
And thiS"-with a spacious wave OF his
hand-"iS your home. Make yourself
comfortable, sir. j.
The captive looked hard at each oi
the three men. The tall, oark leaoeF
was smiling his white, even teeth show
inS below his fierce niuStache. his black
eyes sparkling Julius Shook, broad or
shoulder and bearded. took that moment
n vaw1, prodlgi0lISly Peter. young an0
beardless, was seovling. He was coat
less.
st,-roourt suddenly shrugged his
shoulders.
You promised me water" he said,
Peter. Two paris 0f 1t at once hot
and cold. ard a g2vT6. This house.
Ionifer went on, turning 10 Starcourt'
"-or. If YOU prefer, this villa. or even
chateau, belongs 10 me. Idy own humble
dwelling is but a short distance from
here, beyond the hill You may see II
hv looking out Of this window. / am
sorry 10 say that there is but one room
in this palatial abode / rarely sleep
here. NY daughter objects TO having
her sleep disturbed when / happen 10
be out till all hours Of the morning at
tending to business, But L can assure
YOU that the couch is comfortable. Ana
how do YOU like the furnishings? My
daughter spent days decorating the
room and"
Il remember your daughter" inter-
rupted the other. with Sneer. "A
slender lad In brown breeches, II my
memory serves me right"
To his surprise. Jonifer was not OF
Tended On the contrary, he oeaIneo.
'Wiu you ever forget how she stood up
TO me and ordered me to set you free!
And to this day she wonders whether
I finally obeyed her and sent q couple
Of men back 10 release you. wish you
would tell her, when you have the
chance. that I did that very thing. fear
she has doubted my word about
so those fellows we're not honest
wood choppers, eh?"
well. I" said Jonifer. they chop wood
as honestly as any two men l know OF.
when it is needed. Hullo! Does your
head pain you? Sit down on this bench.
colonel. Now. do not behave Ike
child! am not going to hurt you.
Starcourt sat down on the bench. his
hand feeling tenderly OF the large bump
above his temple. Jonifer ran ms
fingers over the IN ,ured spot
Quite a knob. viii send for our
apothecary, Prof. Gratz-a most excel
lent man. He viii rub it with lini-
ment, and before you know 1t. the swell
ing viii be"
peter came in at that juncture.
bearing two pals Of water, one OF them
jain Crispo is waiting outside" he
announced. He says he cannot go
home without his breeches. And Gorgas
would like his boots. Uncle Jonifer."
He eyes Starcourt balefully. as the
latter drank greedily Of the cold water.
In that case" said the chieftain,
svou will have 10 get into bed, colonel.
and wait until return with some cloth
ing of nv own-to which you are more
than welcome We are pretty near OF a
size Now here is cold and hot water;
Drink your fill Lave your face and
BODY and then get into bed. You viii
feel better In half an hour / viii re-
turn with a hot breakfast for you-or
did you tell me that YOU never Intend 70
eat sgain?"
y viii eat" said Starcourt resignedly.
He stood I'D and looked out Of the win
dow. Us day Just breaking?"
The sun is hardly up. In case you
have lost track of time. this happens TO
be the eleventh Of September"
"A most important day with US" ex-
ssTnanks.a said Starcourt dryly. "I
viii never forget the eleventh Of Sep
tember"
Just toss these garments out Of the
window as soon as you have stripped.
ordered Jonifer Wait outside for them.
Peter, and see that they get 70 their
owners. We wiz leave you now. Col.
Etarcourt Remember that you are free
rs air You are AZ liberty TO come and
20 as yors please. II is only fair. how
ever, 70 inform you that you cannot es-
cape from this valley. You viii waste
your time If you try to do so, and you
viii meet with nothing but disappotnt-
nent. II I were in doubt about 1t
would not leave You unguaToed for
moment"
The captive faced him. ''You are
very civil fellow. JOnifer Davos. II Is
too bad that you are q robber. You
could quite easily be q gentleman. am
bound 10 say"
.Jonifer scowIed. eff you were not a
&c tlenan. Col Starcourt, would take
that as an insult and shoot you on the
spot"
Il begged you TO shoot me not so
many months ago. / wish you had"
II may still have that pleasure. sir"
"How long do you purpose holding me
q prisoner"
That depends entirely upon the way
the wind blows" returned Gerane's
father
Il do not understand you. That is no
answer"
II is ali / choose TO give at present"
SAID Jonifer, curtly
lie vent out, closing the door. Peter
and Eroadaxe had preceded him. Star
court listened for the turn Of key, but
there was no such sound. Nothing
could have been more convincing than
this He knew that DAyos had spoken
the truth when be said there was no
chance Of escape.
They've got me-" he muttered, set
ting klS law NO Use kicking against
the pylcks. I am In for IT," He sat
down, his elbows on his knees, his chin
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES