Evening star., 1941-09-29

|
Winston's eyes widened, almost
with pleasure. Here was girl with
spirit, q new feminine morsel for his
jaded palate.
"Your lordship," Carewe tried to
step forward, but was jerked back by
his watchful guards. May have
word with you?"
Winston turned his veiled eyes
upon the speaker. "Yes?"
MY name is Carewe," began the
blond man, but Warburton, on sud-
| den inspiration, cut in: do not
listen to him, my Lord. He Is a
faithless renegate, fit to be trusted
| by no one"
| A Pretty Play.
Damn you, Warburton!" Carewe
lunged In the grasp of his captors.
"You would not speak of me like that
were I in a position to resent your
remarks!"
The sneering laugh of the Marquis
interrupted the quarrel. "A pretty
play! Well acted, but not, 1t seems,
well plotted Am I to believe that
there Is bad blood between you, when
you arrive at my gate together?
And the word renegade-how can it
apply to Master John Carewe, known
far and wide as Elizabeth's most
trusted henchman?"
II would warn you" Carewe
began anew, then paused with livid
face as he realized that his past
efforts to win Elizabeth's favor were
to damn him now. He had played a
part too well to be believed when he
would be sincere.
Your lordship." The doorman
was in the room once more. Two
men are without who insist that they
must see you. One gave his name as
Montjoie."
"Ah!" calculated the Marquis
softly. $50 Bartho has come at last
Now we shall get at the bottom of all
this mystery! But" He frowned.
There is something here upon
which I cannot place my finger. I
have the utmost faith in Montjoie,
and yet-Warburton comes from
Elizabeth and Bartho's name is
mixed up in this"
MY lord"
"Silence, Carewe!" Winston's head
snapped with sudden decision and
he swore one of the lurid oaths Of
the sea. Away with these people!
Take the girl to the women's quar-
ters and lock the men up. I will
see Montjoie and his friend alone"
Warburton, Carewe and Furness
were hustled from the room. AS
the guards showed him into the hall
Warburton caught glimpse Of
Molly being escorted more gently
toward another door.
The three prisoners were placed
in a small room below stairs that
had evidently been planned and
used as a guardroom. The single
window was barred and out of
reach; the only furniture consisted
OF a long, heavy bench; a pile of
dirty straw in a corner was what
they could use as bed If they felt
like lying down.
Gloomy Thoughts.
Carewe glared at Warburton with
hot, passionate eyes. "You inter-
fering whelp!" he snarled. Z"
Warburton clamped a hand on
Carewes shoulder that made the
man vince with pain. Listen to
me, turncoat John Carewel" he
rasped in hard voice. IF you
value your life you will keep your
mouth closed as long as we are to-
gether. For your own good forget
that letter even if it is mentioned.
The Marquis thinks you are still
Elizabeth's man and God help YOU
If any word from you causes him
to think otherwise"
The sullen Carewe took up a posi-
ton against the farthest wall War
burton seated himself beside the
phlegmatic Furness and gave him.
self up to thoughts that were far
from pleasant.
A fine mess he had made Of the
affairs he had undertaken! He, who
had offered protection to Molly
Vance, had done little better than
deliver her into the hands of the
man who had robbed her Of both
parents. And there was no chance
now OF his obtaining Elizabeth's let
ter from Montjoie. At this very
moment the Frenchman would be
giving satisfactory answers to the
questions Of the Marquis and win
ming the promise of speedy trans
port to France.
And no matter what Montioie
told Winston concerning Warburton.
the Marquis would hold Warburton
prisoner-if he did not kill him
either to aid Montjoie or until his
own suspicious were laid to rest.
Even a delay of "a hours would
place Montjoie beyond reach. He
would win through to King Francis
the letter would be opened and
then--what? Scandal or civil warp
A new ruler of England or a war
between nations?
A wisp of the straw in the corner
moved and huge rat thrust its
mead out Of the pile. The creatures
beady. black eyes stared at the
seated men until Furness scraped a
ioot on the stone floor. The rat
ducked back out of sight. War
burton shuddered slightly. Even
the horrors Of Newgate had not in
ureo him to sleeping on a yermin-
infested bed.
Sends for UnderhiII,
Escape! Was there no way out of
this trap? His eyes lifted to the
barred window. "Furness," said he.
If I stand on your shoulders can
see what lies outside that window"
Obediently Furness stepped to the
wall, made a stirrup of his hands.
then steadied himself as Warburton
mounted to his shoulders.
Warburton's head came to the
middle Of the small window, He
looked out into the rear yard of the
mansion. The ground came to with
IN 8 feet Of the window. Piles of
| refuse and wood were heaned about