The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-01-31

Rush and the fourth OF the rogueS
were yet in the countryside: and that
meant that If we could find them, we
should only have two men to deal
with, and those very ordinary thieves.
(And here l will say that since l af-
forwards learned that the fourth rogue
was known as Bugle, from now on 1t
will be convenient to give him his
name.)
will not set out our discussion of
these very obvious points, for fully
three hours had gone by before with
many misgivings our plans were laid.
This may seem something foolish, but
1t must be remembered that we mad
a great deal at stake and the fear of
abusing a chance which might not
return continually haunted our efforts
to make up our minds. In the end,
however, we came to certain decisions.
and since we stuck to these, l Will
say what they were.
Early the following morning, Geof-
frey and Barley and were to visit the
Reaping Hook: that Bugle and Rush
would be gone, we had no doubt, but
we had some hope of tracing the DAM
aged car. If this should lead us up to
the men we sought, we should at once
give battle and do our best to lay the
two by the heels: but unless by mid
day we had picked up some definite
clue. then Godfrey and Barley would
leave for Salzburg by train, whilst
remained at Plumage, lying low DUR
ing the daytime and patrolling the
roads about Yorick from dusk to
dawn. "And give you my word" said
Godfrey, ''if only you'll mind your
step, think you're more likely to get
there than Barley and I. We've got to
search a city, and we don't know
where to begin. But your field is
much more narrow. In the first place,
Yorick's a loadstone, and Bugle and
Rush will naturally turn that way. :. :.
But YOU simply must watch your step.
You're out to get information, not to
attack. If you find them, you must
not strike: lie Town and see them
home, and then drive all out for Salz-
burg and Barley and me. Will you
give me your word to do that? And
always to be back at Plumage before
it's light?"
gave him my solemn word, but I
knew in my heart that he would never
have left me if he had thought it likely
that 1 should find Bugle and Rush, and
that. though he disliked the idea Of
my working alone, he was doing his
best to choose the lesser evil and to
keep me away from Pharaoh at any
price.
Thanks to my lady's foresight, we
could now send word to Yorick with
out any waste of time, and before we
left the next morning our groom was
on his way to the castle. bearing a
note from my cousin in which he had
set out our plan. o.
It was barely eight o'clock when
we ran into Annabel.
By Geoffrey's direction I stopped the
car at cross roads out of sight of The
Reaping Hook: then he and Barley
descended and walked as far as the
forge which was walling one side of
the forecourt that graced the inn: and
there Godfrey stood by the corner
while Barley walked up to the house.
AS luck would have it, servant was
washing the steps, and a word from
Barley brought him to Geoffrey's side.
nho~ ,,or ooY,Sir f,,rnad apd xuovod
and 1 brought up the Rolls, for, as we
had fully expected, the birds were
flown. One minute later we were
speaking to the host and his wife. .
Now we had had no doubt that the
moment we mentioned their late I'M
desirable guests, the two would be
only too ready to talk themselves
hoarse: but we were not prepared for
the spate of incoherence which our
casual inquiry Embossed. The two
were simply bursting to vent such a
volume of grievance as I can only
compare to the burden of Christians
sins. Since we were there to listen,
there was clearly nothing to do but
let LIlG SLOTu DIOW IlSclL Out, anu WHcA
we had heard them in silence for what
seemed quarter of an hour and had
inspected the spots at which violence
had been committed or damage done,
we ventured to put the questions
which we had come to ask.
The strangers were gone.
What was the order of their going
and what had become of their car?
Our words might have been spell.
have never seen human beings so
suddenly change their tune. AS though
we had turned some tap. the fountain
of talk stopped dead: all their excite
ment died an immediate death, and
the two became as crafty and sullen
as though we had come to trap them
and do them some evil turn.
They had seen nothing at all. One
minute the strangers were there, and
the next they were gone. They had
not seen them go: they knew nothing
of any car: when we spoke of its being
disabled. they glanced at one another
and shook their heads.
scared stiff" said Godfrey shortly,
and went off to prove the servants-to
no avail.