E
A POST MARITAL
ROMANCE
B1C CYRUS TO
A Z VcJ T?A TOA& BY
PAY WALTEPd
LCOPYWGHr, 903 G
j his chamber, my lord of Carrlng
ton, thoroughly exhausted by the ex
citing events of the evening, lay In a
profound slumber dreaming perhaps
of what he should do to my ladjr i
the morninc
CHAPTER VI.
Lady Ellen Takes Flight.
"Now. will you tell me your plans!"
began Strathgate as the three descend
ed to the mall.
"Presently, presently," whispered
Ellen. "We must get out of sight and
Bound of the house."
"Where shall we go?"
"The arbor is the nearest and safest
place of concealment."
Strathgate led the way rapidly along
the wall of the terrace and in a few
moments the three fugitives gained
the shelter of the arbor where they
could talk without risk of being. over
beard. "What next?" he said to Ellen, who
bad stopped overwhelmed at the
thoughts brought back by the place
where she had seen Lady Cecily in
her husband's arms.
"We must have horses and a ve
hicle of some kind," she said.
"Would not a post chaise dot"
"There are three of us, my lord,"
answered Ellen.
"Does Mistress Deborah go with
you then?" said Strathgate, much sur
prised. "Certainly. Do you think I would
leave her alone with the people yon
der?" "I see," returned the earl, who was
very much annoyed and put out by
the infliction of this third party in
what he had fondly hoped would be a
tete-a-tete flight.
There was no help for it, however.
He trusted to fortune to assist him
to dispose of Mistress Deborah later.
"Where shall we get this carriage?"
"In the stables, of course."
"But the coachman and the
grooms?"
"It happens," said Ellen, "that some
of them are away for the night. I be
lieve there are not more than three
stable boys at home and the coach
man. The boys are devoted to me.
The coachman will have to be per
suaded." "And how will you persuade him?"
queried Strathgate. "Bribe him?"
"That would hardly be possible," re
turned Ellen. "I shall hope that
these'" she touched the pistols at
her belt "may influence him."
"Would you kill him?"
"That would scarcely be necessary.
With your assistance we will bind and
gag him. They are bound to discover
our flight anyway, and all we can do
13 to prevent their giving any alarm
until they are sought for in the morn
ing which will give us a fair start."
"I see," returned Strathgate, "but
would you not better let me undertake
this part of the adventure? 'Tis
scarcely woman's work."
"Yes, yes," urged Deborah. "Let
him go alone."
"Not at all," returned Ellen, "for
get if you please that I am a woman."
"That were impossible," murmured
Strathgate gently.
"For I can use these weapons per
haps as well as a man," went on my
lady calmly.
"How about the hounds?" queried
Strathgate.
"Their kennels are far removed
from the stables and I do not think
they v.ill give us trouble. Now, if we
are to get away to-night, we must
hasten. My lord, are you armed?"
"As yourself," returned Strathgate,
drawing aside his cloak and showing
sword and pistols.
"This way then," said Ellen, lead
ing as if hers were the right unques
tioned. "She was thoroughly familiar with
the lay of the land and the location
X the stables. The coachman, who
was unmarried, slept in a house by
himself. Entrance was easy since
the door was not locked. Deborah
stayed outside In the deep shadow of
a little porch while Strathgate and
Ellen entered the room. There was a
low fire burning on the hearth which
gave forth sufBcient light to enable
the two to discover the coachman
sound asleep in his bed.
"Let me do the talking." said
Strathgate. "He won't recognize you
If you stay back here in the dark
ness." "Very well," assented Ellen as the
earl stepped over to the bed and
roughly shook the coachman, who
opened his eyes to find himself star
ing into the muzzle of a pistol.
"You know me, HIgginbotham," be
gan Strathgate.
"Yes, my lud." said the coachman,
greatly surprised and endeavoring to
rise. .
Strathgate pressed him down in his
bed.
"Lie still. I want to borrow a pair
and a carriage from your master. I'm
driving far to-night and I want a good
pair. No, you are not to bother about
hitching them up. I simply wished to
tell you the fact3 so you won't make
any trouble."
"But, my lud, why don't you ask
Lord Carrington? I'm sure he'd give
you anything you want"
"It's not necessary to go Into my
reasons," answered Strathgate shortly.
Me
wrVMTI '1 J I a I I
Vif&r'i i i i
vi PSA Mi v
"This look3 crooked to me, my ma.'- I
duty to awaken his lordship."
He opened his mouth to cry out.
Strathgate shoved his pistol barrel
closer to him. truculently remarking:
"If you make a sound, I'll blow out
your brains. Now, do you under- )
stand? I don't intend to steal the J
horses. You'll find them well at some
wayside inn 20 miles from here. Mean- j
while, we will have to tie you up and
gag you." N
"Mercy, my lud," began the coach
man. "Now, we mean you no harm. All
you have to do is to keep quiet. You'll
be released in the morning."
"Very well, my lud," returned HIg
ginbotham, to whom the shining
weapon was a powerful persuader.
Straps .and other bits of harness
hung about the room. At a nod from
Strathgate Ellen handed him several
pieces of leather and the coachman
was soon buckled hard and fast, his
hands behind his back, his feet tied
together and a gag in his mouth. Ellen
had kept in the background and she
was certain the had not been recog
nized. She laid a guinea down on the
man's table after he had been bound
securely and followed Strathgate out
of the room.
They found Deborah shivering with
cold and terror in the shadow and
greatly relieved at their safe arrival.
To enter the stable was easy. Three
of the stable boys were there. They
were devoted to Lady Ellen. She had
to trust some one. She went boldly
to their quarters, aroused them and
told them she was going away. If
anyone objected she handled her
weapon threateningly! If they be
haved themselves, there was a guinea
apiece for them on the table. They
would have to submit to being tied
and gagged, which indeed they were
willing to do, for only thus could they
escape their master's wrath when he
found his wife, his friend and his
horses gone.
The stable boys made no objection
during the process and swore that if
they were tightly bound so that there
was no appearance of connivance on
their part, no alarm should be given
until the morning. Strathgate and
Ellen trussed them up as they had
done the coachman and then started
for the horses.
"Which are the best pair for travel
ing, I wonder?" queried the earl as
he, Ellen and Deborah surveyed the
long row of stalls.
"I have heard my lord say that the
bays were the most reliable horses
he had."
"The bays it'll be, then," said Strath
gate. "And now I cannot help you," said
Ellen.
"And now I need no help, madam,"
returned the earl.
He quickly selected the harness, led
out the bays and in a few moments
the two were attached to a light trav
eling carriage.
"Where now?" said Strathgate when
all the preparations had been com
pleted. "We are going to Portsmouth, as I
think I told you, my lord."
"Very good," said Strathsate. "I'll
drive, I suppose?"
"If you will be so good.'
"Get in, then, you and Mistress
Deborah, and we will start away."
"God send we may win safely past
the house. There's no other way to
get to the high road except around by
the drive."
"I shall put the horses on the turf
and keep off the gravel so far as pos
sible," said Strathgate, "and I think
we'll probably get away without any
alarm being given."
Strathgate was an expert whip and
he found no difficulty in keeping the
spirited horses going quietly over the
grassy turf which bordered the drive
way and as he had predicted, they got
past the house without making a
sound. But one obstacle remained be
tween them and . freedom the lodge
keeper and the lodge gate. Ellen had
forgotten it until they had gone some
thing like a quarter of a mile through
the park, when she suddenly thrust
her head out of the window of the
carriage and called it to Strathgate's
attention.
"Let me attend to that," returned
the earl, confidently. "I have a plan.
Do you keep close and let the curtains
be drawn."
He drove close to the wall of the
lodgekeeper's cottage, - hammered on
the window with the butt of his whip,
and when that functionary appeared,
Strathgate boldly avowed his name
and title and said that he was riding
forth on a wager with my lord; that
he would be back in the morning. He
held up a handful of guineas and bade
the keeper peremptorily to come out
and open the gate. The startled man,
having no reason to suppose that any
thing was wrong and recognizing my
lord as a guest of the house, did as he
was bid, pocketed his guineas and
piled back into bed again, marveling
much ere he dropped asleep at the
ways of these gentlefolk. The blinds
of the carriage were drawn and he
had no Idea that he was promoting the
escape of hfs master's wife and her
friend.
The road from the lodge rate ran
for about half a mile through the park
until It joined the main road. Ports
mouth lay to the eastward, to the
westward was Plymouth. Having
pafsed the lodge successfully, Ellen
rased the blinds cf the carriage and
locked out upon the familiar scenes
flying swiftly by them, for Strathgate
Lad i ut the bays Into a fast trot and
t'jc liiht carriage was going forward
at a vdjld gait. In a short time they
camo to the main road. Now Ellen
kr.ev the way perfectly. She was
greatly astonished, therefore, to see
fitrcthcate turning to the right. She
iowtrci the window and thrust her
head cut once more.
"J.Iy lord!" she called.
Strn'.hgate scarcely checking the
pace of the horses leaned back to
listen.
"We wish to go to Portsmouth."
"So you said," returned my lord.
"Well, Portsmouth lies to the left
and you are taking us to the right."
"You will be safer at my castle in
Somerset than at Portsmouth, I think,
my lady."
"But I don't wish to go to your cas
tle," cried Lady Ellen angrily.
"And do you imagine, my dear Lady
Carrington," chuckled Strathgate, who
was greatly amused over the situation,
"that I have run away with you from
your husband's house to defend yoirif
need be by sword and pistol from your
husband, for the sake of handing you
over to some American sailor at
Portsmouth V
"My lord!" exclaimed Ellen, thun
derstruck by this open intimation of
the earl's feelings.
"You must have seen that I love
you," continued Strathgate coolly
enough, "and In short I am taking you
to my own house. I shall know how
to hold you safe there."
"You villain!" cried Ellen, while
Deborah, overwhelmed with the horror
of this revelation, for the conversation
was quite audible to her, nearly faint
ed within the carriage.
Strathgate laughed.
"My lady," he said, "you might as
well make the best of it. You have
fled with me and you are in my hands.
The world will give you credit for
nothing aside from me. My affection
will protect you."
Ellen had been fumbling at her belt
while this was spoken and in a fit of
passion she suddenly reached up her
arm and discharged her pistol full at
the earl. He had just time, catching
a glimpse of the shining steel of the
barrel in the waning moonlight, to
throw himself aside when the bullet
whistled by his ear. The startled
horses bounded into a run at once,
and for a few moments Strathgate had
all he could do to control them.
"The vixen!" he murmured. "But
I'll tame her when I get her to Strath
gate house."
He succeeded in quieting the horses
somewhat, but did not dare to bring
them to a slow pace lest Ellen should
She Looked Out of the Carriage.
escape from the carriage. To attempt
to jump from it, which, indeed, she
had thought upon, was too great a risk
to life and limb, and, beside, it in
volved leaving Deborah behind. There
was one thing she could do, however.
After some tugging, she got the little
window in the front of the carriage
open and thus got access to Strath
gate's person. She thrust the barrel
of her pistol up toward his back and
swore she would discharge it unless
he instantly turned the carriage about
In the road.
But Strathgate was a man of re
source. While she was talking and
threatening he slipped down from the
high seat and . took position on the
foot board with his feet resting on
the pole of the carriage. He could
drive Just as well there and the high
and heavy seat protected him from
any further attack.
Ellen did at random shoot through
the seat, but the bullet was deflected
and Strathgate was unharmed. He
was greatly relieved when she dis
charged her second weapon without
effect, for he reasoned that it would
be difficult, if not impossible, for her
to recharge them in the darkness ol
the carriage at the pace they were
going, and he therefore felt safe for
the rest of the journey, although he
did not resume his seat on the box,
nor did he check the speed of the
horses. Indeed, fearful lest the pis
tol shot might have been heard by one
of the gamekeepers In Carrington
park, who might perchance arouse the
house, Strathgate put the horses to a
gallop and sent them flying over the
hard road. What if he did foundei
the horses? He would get so faraway
before morning a3 to make pursuit im
possible.
So through the long hours he kept
ud the mad pace over hill duwn
dale recklttf!y driving fcrwa-d thf
neb'e beasts ur.tll they were almost
reaJy to drop with fati?ue. He was
In high glee at the s iroes3 of Us a-1-venture,
and even tha effort of Ellen
to shoot him added a zest to the af
fair, a flavor cf novelty, to which his
jade.1 ra'ate res;. end-; 1 niarvelously.
Within the carriage Dbcral:
crouched in Ellen's arms. She haJ
ben terrified bfyond measure by the
situation, but Ellen hai soothed her
as Lest she might and the little Purl
tan had at Ir.-.t e uik to sleep resting
on Ellen's shoulder.
This was a fine end, or a fine begin
ning of her adventure, thought Lady
Carrington, bitterly. She had never
dreamed of this and she blamed her
self fcr a fool not to have thought cl
it. Of course Lord Strathgate's inter
est In her was a selfish one. Almost
she wished that she had stayed at Car
rington even though my lord had
proved faithless to her with that paint
ed Lady Cecily. But at the thought
of that woman she almost forgot her
own desperate situation for the time
being. She loathed Strathgate, she
hated Carrington, she abominated the
whole sex whose garb she wore.
What could she do? Again and
again she looked out of the carriage
at the road flying alongside. Again and
again she resolved to try a leap which
she had sense enough to know would
be terribly dangerous at the rate they
were going. She was not much of
horsewoman, but she realized after a
time that such a pace could not be
kept up forever.- Her- opportunity
would come when the horses gave 6ut
and their speed slackened.
She wished that she had not dis
charged both pistols uselessly. She
would like to kill Strathgate when
she got out of the carriage. She
had never been so Insulted In her life.
The blood flamed to her face as she
thought of it. And yet she had justice
enough In her soul, in spite of the tur
moil raging within her, to see that
there" was a certain amount of excuse
for Strathgate. Educated as he had
been, with the habits and customs of
his time which she was beginning
dimly to comprehend how could he
suppose that she expected purely dis
interested service from him? He
counted upon being paid for all he did
for her,, in his castle.
Her escape would be discovered In
a short time; his absence would be
noted; the testimony of the coachman,
of the stable boys, of the lodgekeeper
would be had. It would be known
that they had gone away together.
She would be ruined forever. Her
husband Strathgate would kill him,
or She would have given all she
possessed if she had not abandoned
Carrington.
It was too late to go back now,
however. What she must do would
be in some way to get away from the
earl and carry out her original plan of
boarding her ship at Portsmouth. She
vowed that she would force Strathgate
to kill her rather than enter his house
for a single moment. How she hated
the man! How she longed for morn
ing to come when she could stand face
to face with him and tell him what
she thought of him!
The pace seemed to be a little slow
er. Were the horses at last giving
out? She leaned far out of the win
dow to see. It was totally dark, how
ever, and she could see nothing. The
road was rougher now. They were
passing through a heavy woodland.
The carriage bumped and swayed
frightfully, but Strathgate did not
dare to slacken the pace, at least not
at present. With whip and voice he
urged the tired animals on.
They had borne' themselves gallant
ly. He judged that they had gone at
least 20 miles from Carrington. A few
miles farther on was a tavern where
the ladies could be bestowed. The tav
ern keeper was a friend of his who
would ask no questions. From thence
he could summon factotums of his
own, who could by force, if necessary,
compel Ellen to continue the journey.
And there he could leave Deborah,
whose presence was most unwelcome
to him. Once let him get Ellen in his
own castle, he would hold her there
at all hazards; and by that time she
would be so hopelessly compromised
that she would have no place else tc
go. He trusted to his powers of fas
cination to render her captivity agree
able, and
But fortune was on Lady Carring
ton's side that night In more ways
than one. For with a sudden jolt the
fore-right-wheel of the carriage sank
into a deep rut. There was a crash
as the wheel gave way at the hub.
Strathgate was hurled violently from
his seat and lay stunned in the road.
The horses, utterly tired out, were glad
to stop. Ellen and Deborah were
thrown against the front of the car
riage, but beyond a severe shaking and
some bruises, sustained no injuries.
Surmising what had happened, El
len tore open the door of the carriage
seized Deborah by the hand, dragged
her out and ran desperately down th
road. She did not see Strathgate;
she did not know where he was; she
did not care. She suspected that he
must have been thrown from his seat
by the shock, but she had something
else to do than, to think of him. Hei
first duty was to get away.
With all the strength of her stout
young body she ran down the road.
She did not turn back toward Ports
mouth, for she divined that if Strath
gate recovered consciousness he would
immediately imagine that she had
gone that way. She was unfamiliai
with the part of the country in which
she found herself, but she had a geu
eral idea that the roads in either di
rection led to the sea, and her hope
was to reach the shore. There was
nothing that floated that she could nol
sail. If she could get a boat, she
could make Portsmouth harbor with
out danger of pursuit. Holding fast
30C
fl MkulQ Mums
7 A Y SS HOWS GO gj14I
Hudnut's
is made for critical users of the
BEST. It is a pleasure for us to
show them to you. : : : :
Mm
THE DRUGGISTS.
o
o
DC
Notice to Tax-Payers.
The County Board of Equalization
will set for the purpose of equalizing
the assessment of Cassjcounty, for the
year 1903, in the commissioners' cham
ber at the court house, in Plattsmouth,
beginning June 9th, 1908, and continue
from day to day up to and including
June 20th, 1908. All claims for equal
izing must be filed on or before J une
17th, 1908. W. E. ROSENCRANS,
County Clerk,
Enkrta'ned the Freuen Verein
TheFreaen Verein, of the Caflfey Club
were entertained yesterday afternoon
at the home of Miss Anna Goos, south
of the city. Those attending being con
veyed by carry-alls from the city. A
very delightful time was had, consist
ing of games, social conversation and
musical numbers. Among: the most
pleasing features of the afternoon's en
joyment was the de'.ightfull luncheon
which was served by the hostess.
BUSTER
BROWN
OXFORDS
or
LOW CUT
SHOES
FOR
BOYS AND GIRLS
Style F 10 at $1.60 to $1.85
is a very graceful low cut, plain toe,
two eye Gibson pump, medium sole.
Style F 19 at $1.70 to S2.I0
for girls, patent leather blucher, fancy
inlaid quarter, large eyelets, medium
sole, a dressy low cut with lots of wear.
All Buster Browns have smoothe in
soles, no nails or tacks to wear out the
hose.
This Way forChildren'sSlippers
55c UP!
Sherwood & Son.
Y0Y NEEDN'T
from the pleasure of having an Kdison
Phonograph in your house simple be
cause you cannot afford to pay for it all
at once. We will be glad to furnish it
so you can pay a small amount down
and the rest on payments. Come in
and hear them play.
H. G. VAN HORN,
DC3DQ
DOC
0
Perfume
5
0
DC
Wanted to Get Here in Time.
J. H. Bailey, living near Yt'eeping
Water, desired to spend Decoration Day
in Plattsmouth,' and the trains not run
ning to suit his convenience, he walked
eight miles to catch a train at Louis
ville. Mr. Bailey Is 60 years of age, and
made the eight miles in two hours,
P.etty good time for an old man. He
got here in time to attend services.
Charley Bell, of the B. and M. shops,
went to Burlington, la., Friday even
ing to spend Decoration Day and Sun
day and return with Mrs. Bell, who has
been vjsiting there for some time. Both
returned this morning.
Notice to Creditors.
State of Nebraska. )
County of Cass. ( In County dm I.
In the matter of the est ale of Margaret A. Pat
terson, deceased.
Notice Is hereby n ven that the creditors of
said deceased will meet the administratrix.
Mae l'atterson. of said estate lie fore me, coun
ty judtre of Cass county, Nebraska, tit th
county emit room in l'lattsmont li. in said
county.on the. Sot li clay of June. H'tj. and on Uih
l!th clay of Decern lier.l'.ies, at ten o'clock. a. m.,
of each day. for the purpose of presenting
their claims for examination, adjustment and
allowance.
Six months are allowed for the creditors of
of said decreased to present their claims, and
one year for the administratrix to settle saicl
estate, from the Sot 1 1 of May. wo.
Witness my hand and seal of said County
Court at I'lattsmouth, Nebraska, this Smh day
of May, iWf. A1.I.KN J. IJKKsc N.
County J udire.
ltamsey & Katnsey, Attorney for Kstatt.
SHERIFF'S SALE.
By virtue of an order of sale, Issu-.l by
James Itohertson. cleric of the district
court, within and for Cass county. Nebraska,
and to nie directed, I will on the
24th Day of June, A. D.f 1908,
at 11 o'clock a. m., of said day at the south
door of the court house, in said county, sell at
public auction to the highest bidder for cash
the following real estate, to-wit: The north
half of the northeast (n'i of the ne'i) cjuarter.
of section thirty-three CCD In township twelve
(12). ianre iiine(J). east of the '! h I'. M.. in
Cass county. Nebraska.
The same beinir levied ujion and taken as the
projierty of Walter A. I.auirhlin. administra
tor of t lie estate of Keuben A. Chapiit. deceas
ed. Ira Chapin. Edward Chapin. Jesse o
Chapin. Tacie Laiurhlin. nee Chapin: Kate
Heeler, nee Chapin: May E. Chapin. Florence
H. Chapin. Koy M. Chapin, mid Waller A.
Laut-'lilin. t'uardian of M ay E. Chapin. I 'loi-iice
H. Chapin. Koy M. Chapin and All-ri I. Wel
ton. are defe ndants to sat isfy a jnd'm-nt of
said court recovered by Oscar W. I.autrlili n.
plainlitr. against said defendants.
('. I. fJriNTON.
Sheriff Cass county. N ' raska.
I'lattsmouth, Ne!., May -'tli.
Notice to Cass County Farmerls
The secret of curing hams and
bacons lies in the use of Wright's
Liquid Smoke. It's quicker, safer
and gives better results than the
old style method of using a wood
fire. Sold by
F. C. FRICKE& CO.,
Druggists, Plattsmouth, Neb.
Plattsmouth, Nebr.
