Henderson daily dispatch., 1937-01-14
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| oYnGHr RELEASE
CHAPTER 48


proceeded up the road at a good
pace. After going for about half
mile, to the establishment of the
occupants, Selden steered the car
under large Overhanging tree
and switched off all the lights. He
waited in the dark, listening in
tently, and the others held their
breath in tense excitement. They
heard the sound of q car coming
from the village, approaching rap
idly at a cracking pace on such a
night, and the great headlights
swept the road. It passed them in
a Whirl of mud and water from
the sOpping road, the rain showing
in a myriad tints before the head
lights. Selden laughed heartily,
and quietly switched on the lights,
turning leisurely back in the direc-
ton they had come, and into side
road that led to the Abbey. Away.
to the left on the high ground the
lights of Graham's Manor cleaned
from the upper windows, but all
the ground floor was in pitch
darkness.
And then out of the night they
heard the ominous sound of the
deep baying of the bloodhounds;
and the twins chung to Sylvia in
sudden terror.
Reid got out to open gate, and
the car bumped its way down a
mere track to the main drive, and
drew up at the desolate. unlighted
pile of the Abbey, silent and de-
serted. Once inside, and the door
shut, a sense of security came to
the party, and Selden switched on
the lights and led the way to the
library. He had brought a big
basket from the inn filed with
provisions which would obviate go
ing to the servants part of the
house, and soon the fire was alight
and the kettle simmering. q
Wont the Colonel be ar
noyed?" Reid asked, looking up
from the fireplace where he was
attending to the fire.
Colonel Graham" Selden
laughed softly. "That message
never came from him. I saw him
at the inn, and he had just re-
turned from Grinfold. It was a
clumsy ruse, but only shows, Jack,
that my irksome precautions are
not useless"
The time passed pleasantly
enough, though there was an at
mosphere Of expectancy which
could not be banished. Selden
looked at his watch, and rose
quickly. "Time I was going" he
said. Don't be frightened, chill
dren, you are quite safe, and can
go to bed. Tomorrow night you
will be safe in your own rooms"
"You are going to leave us?"
Reid said, none too pleased.
"It is absolutely necessary. But
I can assure you OF this, no one
shall interfere with> you tonight,
and I shan't be far away"
"But suppose it's no good ask
ing you questions 2" Reid said al
most petulantly. 81 should have
thought that with this huge place
entirely empty, and the fact that
the attack last night showed that
the hiding place is known, the
danger would have been more
real"
Selden clapped Reid heartily on
the back. "My dear Jack, some
little time ago you were complain
ing to me, with some heat, that
you We're not going to allow our
young friends to be used as bait
to catch the fish. Now I have set
my trap instead. That alters mat
ters, doesn't it"
A sudden misgiving came into
Reds mind-he took the other by
the shoulder almost roughly. "You
are going into danger"
tits my trade" Selden said,
smiling still. From being the
hunted I have become the hunter,
and hope to have my beasts
caught before tomorrow"
Good luck to you'll wish I
could come with YOU"
A whimsical smile crossed Sell
denis face. "You will be more
useful here, and will be able to
keep Miss Lawrence company
when the children have gona to
bed"
He went out without waiting for
any comment.
The Bull Inn was doing a roar