The Weekly Journal. — 1902-10-24 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

CHAPTER XXIX.  door behind him and turned the keg in the lock. As he did so, Prissin disappeared through tha door ut which he had lately intercepted Gilbert into tho room beyond the bar.  "How now ?" inquirei the landlady of the newcomer. " What's the meaning of this, master ?" _  TM; man took no notice of the question. " The fellow who was here just now," he said to Ow detettive standing at the fluor, " is the one who was at the Raven that night. W here —"  He cast a glance round, took the key from the lock, and made a dash for the lunar room.  Instantly, all was cmifusion. The statement that the Westhaven murderer was there amnagst them, in the next room, found voice and instant credence amongst the midday drinkers, and the huntsman's instinct awoke and made every man a servant of the law, a would-be captor. Everybody crowded after the two detectives into the inner room, everybody but Gilber.,, whose mind was bent wholly on his own eseape. The door of the bar was doeked and the key gone; the window was unfastened, but was a dangerous exit, us it opened on to the road where the landlady was ho:ding forth to a little knot , of excited inpirers. He decided to take the same way us Prissin. It seemed a safe one, for the back room was empty now; the window there, thrown wide open, told how the fugitive hail del before the detectives had time to lay their hands upon him, and through it they, with: the rabtle at their heeLs, had started in pursuit. The little room, rather dark, for shrubs grew close up to the window, seemed strangely silent in contrast with the ecieifer011s life that had lately filled it. Gilbert's hand was on the ledge and he was preparing to leau on to the ground outside, when bud! dealy he drew back, as from the shadow of a bush a staid gentleman,with a wide choker and it broad Quaker-like bat, came forward and held up his hand. For a moment Giibert doubted, but he knew the eyes and the sinister light that sprung sip in them. •• L ngley:' h exclaimed. .  On a temperance mitision in the North," the other said. And then a hand was laid upon Gilbert's shoulder, and, turning, he met Prissin's face. "You!" Gilbert cried.  "An open window and a shut door about did the business." Prissin pointed to a cupboard by the fireplace, and executed the slow wink und the grimace with which lie had answered Gilbert's questions in Mark Lang. lay's library. " That's where they ought to have looked," said he. "Wilt you go with us quietly ?" "The deuce I will."  "Or be handed over to tho police?" put in Langley froth the window.  " Neitlier tho ono nor the ether. l'rissin here is the one they're alter, alai I'll swear till all's blue —"  "No good," said Langley. "I am a philanthropist, perfectly well known, and Prissin is a hurn'ole friend who has got into trisuble through excess of zeal us an amateur detective. Which will they believe ?" "I'll see, at any rate," and Gilbert began to shout with all the strength of his lungs. "Help '." he called. 'Help, help:" There was a sound of footsteps; his voice had reached the group of gossipers on tho roadway, and they came in haste, urged on by curiosity tinged with fear, to see what the call might mean. Gilbert lost no time in parleying. Quick as thought, he planted a blow straight from the shoulder it Prissin's chest that sent the would-be captor staggering into a corner; then, rushing across the room into the bar, he pushed open the bur window and leaped into the road. Thu front of the inn was clear now; all the little world of the village was either at the back of the , house or following the detectives in their pursuit of the man who, still in the parlour, was panting from Gilbert's blow; and us fast 10 his lame foot would let him, he ran and ran till he was far within the shelter of the wood.