The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-04-10


This told me the truth of the matter.
knew where Valentine was. And that
was some 90 miles off-in private
ward. This stood remote, its windows
commanding the cloister Of the con-
vent to which 1t belonged. The only
patients admitted were those alleged
to have been bitten by dogs that were
mad. The treatment lasted fortnight.
"Well, there you are" said Helena.
"There are the facts. And now, II you
please, Mr.. Bohun. what do we do?"
1--WE take you back to Yorick. I
shan't know a moments peace till
you're where you belong"
"And then you're wrong" said Hell
ena. "I'm going to see the fun"
In the discussion which followed I
took no part and indeed scarcely lis
tened to what was said, for my thoughts
would not leave the scene In the fra
grant valley and at last, since l did
not care, tired of haling them back
and let them be.
Presently got up and made for the
road, while my cousin followed behind.
AS reached the stretch of macad-
am
"There's nothing for it," said Geof-
frey. 1--WE shall all have to sleep at
Yorick, because of this wilful girl Per-
haps she'll see reason tomorrow. How
the devil can she lie out all night?
She's all in now"
"She can't, Of course" said L "But
what's that to do with u.s."
"Only this" said my cousin. 'That
she won't sleep at Yorick unless we
do. Her very words"
We strolled down the road In silence,
from time to time turning about.
After while my cousin pushed back
his hat.
"As a child" he said, II never liked
blindman's buff-boys and girls, mean
I liked 1t less. That dislike have
never lost" He put his hands to his
head. "Pd give hell Of lot to know
where Pharaoh Is"
looked at .shim sharply. The last
few words he had spoken half to him
self, but his tone was the tone Of a
man who Is worried to death. Be-
cause l was fond of Godfrey, the in
stinct to share his trouble lifted its
head, and in that moment my apathy
fell away.
Pharaoh. Yes, where was Pharaoh?
and what would Pharaoh do?
AS I asked myself these questions,
my newly awakened interest leaped
into life. I saw that here to my hand
was the very distraction I needed to
drive my distemper away; the location
and destruction of Pharaoh and Pha-
raoh's men.
Yerick and its treasure be damned
I had my own quarrel with Pharaoh.
Ten days ago he had murdered fell
bowman; had sworn to bring him to
Justice, and so I would. More-a hum
dred times more. My duty to Helena
was over; the yoke that had numbered
my efforts was off my neck.
began to think very hard.
Pharaoh would be close to the castle.
Not, of course, at Plumage. But Pha-
raoh would be close to the castle be-
cause he was up against Time.
I had no doubt at all that he meant
to attack.
The position was formidable, for
Yorick was up In arms. But what
were its walls and sentries, when more
than a million sovereigns were lying
within? And since 1lnesse had failed,
Pharaoh was going to do what Pha-
raoh had done before. He as going
to commit burglary. Once within the
castle, a gang Of four such men could
have its own way. What were foot
men and grooms and porters? Only
troops could cope with the violence
which these felons were ready to offer
to gain their ends. Three or four wrlth-
ing servants, and the Countess must
open her cellar and bid them take
what they would. Who knew better
than Pharaoh that ruthlessness pays?
1 remembered that Helena told me
that when she went to Salzburg she
carried a thousand sovereigns; that
these were contained in two boxes
that each Of these weighed nine
pounds. Allowing for the weight Of the
boxes, I reckoned that the Rolls could
carry at least fifty thousand sovereigns
in canvas bags. And fifty thousand
sovereigns meant seventy thousand
pounds.
The calculation bore fruit.
Before / had finished my sum, ]
knew where Pharaoh would be. And
that was as close to the castle as he
could bring the Rolls.
A moments reflection assured me
that Pharaoh would make no use of
the entrance drive. That was too dan
gerous.
was ready to wager fortune that
the Rolls was now standing in Star
llght-the lovely coppice less than two
miles from Yorick. And where the
Rolls was. was Pharaoh; her way was
his line Of advance and his line of
retreat. The thing stood out. In the
woods between Starlight and Yorick-
somewhere there Pharaoh would be.
I began to wonder how Pharaoh
would enter the castle. If Rush could