E THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: JUNE IS. 1011. 3 (IHri KK X (ontlaued. Hi. horsn hrilllhprl -u'rilnit m inrf tittvt rne." aha said. "He wouldn't even stop nd speak to me though the Lord knows I don't bother him much." She paused abruptly and her black eyes stared at me. "Why oh! excuje me, air. I though you were Bqulre Morvan." "I am," I returned, van." "Ohf-the new aqutre. Bram when you innkn "I'm Henry Mor I took you for Mr. Not that you look much alike, but he's generally with Law fence." She dried her tears carelessly. I won dered who she could be an accursed curiosity got the better of me. "You know my cousin, then?" Oh. yes. Bram Morvan used to come to my house with Lawrence." "Lawrence V . "Lawrence Arnold. But he doesn't come any more. I don't miss him, nowadays, though I've company enough without him.',' She sayr my look of inquiry. "I'm Letty Miller," she said. The name meant nothing to me, and I found nothing to say. However, plainly she did not expect an answer. Her eyes traveled over me then she smiled. "My howte Is right here." She waved her hand toward a slxable cottage In the pine. "Win't you rest a while, Squire?" "I believe I will," I responded. I dis mounted and, still holding my horse's bridle, sat down on the steps of the porch. "Ought I to know your name. I've only Just come to the country, you know. Before she could reply, Perrlss Dayton rode around the turn of the path. I sprang to my feet, and advanced toward her with lifted cap. The dark frown settled In a line above the luminous eyes. She looked straight at me, and rode by without moving a muscle of her face. She had cut ma dead. I Stood too dumbfounded tn anulc Then I ground my teeth the girl's vagaries were enough to drive a man mad. Striving to hide my discomfiture, I re sumed my seat on the porch. My hostess, leaning against a pillar, seemed completely oblivious of the whole Incident. "I'll have your horse taken, Squire," she aald. ' She pursed her lips they were invitingly red and full-and whistled twice. A stout V. black woman innairij V, An.... -a "There'll be a gentleman to supper, ; Barah," said my hostess, "and send Billy , for the horse." a "Tas'm," responded the woman, and de . parted. T - - - . . tv cuurraiuisiea myseir that I had not called my pretty acquaintance "Letty," as I had been about to do. Thank Heaven! I had said "my good woman" only once. What sort of plner was this, who ruled a cottage of this slse, and had at least two servants to wait upon her, I must have made a mistake In Judging her position. I tole a side-long glance. Her gown was simple enough my mas culine taste did not suffer me to under stand that (he material was far too rich for the time and place. The clocked stock Irg and silver-buckled shoe showed a well v turned ankle. Her eyes followed mv s-lance r 6he laughed and trust one of them coquet tlshly forward. "Ought I to know who Letty Miller Is?" I rs pea ted. "Well," she said, "may be not, you being a newcomer; but some of the gentlemen do. Oh, yoe." She smiled frankly. "My father Used to be a tenant of Lawrence Arnold's. Dad died In the poorhouse, and I " She paused and regarded me significantly. "WtU, a girl doesn't have to go to the puorhouse not if she's pretty, you see!" Yes I saw at last. Sue Bucknloo s pas sionate exclamation, the morning I had seen her rebuff Arnold, seemed to ring in hiy ears: "Go, ask one of your own people, who oan't help herself. Tou can't turn my dsd out to starve, like you did Letty Miller's!" Letty Miller! Letty Miller! and r Ferrlss Dayton had out me dead. VHcra's Billy," said the woman, as arrld T darkey appeared. "Billy, take the gentle man's horse." I rose hastily. "No. no! I must be going Tva some business to attend to." I left her, staring after me in a pussled fashion. Lawrence Arnold, and "some of tha gentlemen" perhaps my "cousin" Bram had given her a ghastly idea of men. And Ferrlsa Dayton had cut me dead! CHAPTER XVI. The Lanchter of the Gods. I had been so absorbed lii the evente of the afternoon that It was not until I rode away from Letty Miller's cottage that I noticed how late It was. The sun had set, and the brief autumn afterglow had faded. It was quite dark by the time I had followed the bridle-bath a mile or two. In my confusion, I somewhere took a wrong turn, and presently realUed that I had lost my way. This in Itself was no great matter, for I was certain to run across a house, sooner or later, but in the present unsettled state of the country. I had good cause to be on the alert. I confess, the noise of a gray squirrel crashing Its homeward way through the branches of a hickory , made me start and grip my cudgel. However, this was a weapon of extraordinary potency I balanced it in my hand with satlofae tlon. I had fashioned this cudgel the day be fore. I had drilled a hole half the length of a piece of water-soaked oak a stick as long as my arm. and nearly as thick as my two thumbs. In to this hole I had poured melted lead, and afterward capped the stick with rings of the same metal. As a result, I was provided with what, at a little distance, might pass for a heavy riding whip, but what was In reality a formidable bludgeon a weapon to be compared to the mnce of a Richard Lion Heart. It's weight, dangling from the thong about my wrist! v. as very reassuring. I pushed along the unknown path as briskly as the darkness would allow. In half an hour or so, I was relieved to come out on the turnpike, although at a point that was strange to me. As I hesitated I espied the lights of a house on a little eminence. Setting my course toward this, I soon passed through a handsome gateway and. at the end of an avenue, fo.ind myself be fere a stately man sion. It might' have stood for a counter part of Morvan-a large brick-made house, built in the days of Lord Berkeley. Hardly had my horse's hoofs sounded on the gravelled roadbed, when the door was flung open and, with the flood of light, a charming girl rushed out. "Oh. Bram!" she cried. "Is that y.ou at lost? I thought you were never coming! All the servants are off to a husking and I'm all alone." I bowed to my saddlebow. "Madam, for the second time within an hour a pretty woman has taken me for my cousin. The first time I regretted it now, upon my soul! I wish I wore he." She recoiled, and the light from the open door Illumined my face. "Oh! you aren't Bram?" "I'm his cousin, Henry Morvan." "Mr. Henry Morvan?" Her tono was not fiatterlng. "Ves. I've lost my way. Will you honor me with your name?" "I am Katherlne Arnold," she answered very stiffly. "Mr. Lawrence Arnold's sls Ur and this In Falrvlew." Here was a pretty kettle of fish. "I didn't know," I said. "I'm almost a stran ger In the 'county, of course. I lost my way, and stumbled on you entirely by ac cident. If you'll be good enough to direct me toward Morvan, I need not trouble you longer." The girl seemed a little taken aback by my pro "eased willingness to withdraw. She lit her lip, and gased up at me uncertainly. She was very small far too much so for my taste but exceedingly pretty. Her blue eyes, fair hair, and oval face made a charming picture against the light. "I don't mean to be inhospitable," she said hurriedly, "but only yesterday you attacked my brothel, and I can't pre tend " "It wae a fair fight," I Interrupted. "My brother is said to be the best boxer in the county," she retorted. "If it had been a fair fight" Again I broke in. "Tou seem to know Bram well. When you next see htm, got him to tell you about the mill he was present. And if you like, get htm to explain why I fought your brother." "Lawrence has told 'me that himself," she orled. "Tou were angry because be cause he wouldn't let you treat one of your tenants as you wished." I laughed shortly. "Ask Bram to explain to you about that. too. In the meanwhile. I have the pleasure to inform you that the gill was married to one of my farmers, nt r.oon today." The blood rushed to her cheeks. "I know it, air I saw the wedding." She Hesitated, blushing without any apparent reason. "I was with Miss Ferris Dayton." "Tou are a friend of hers, then?" I asked eagerly. "We are dear friends." She frowned. "But I am. detaining you, sir." "I am mcst happy." "I'm sorry I cannot say as much, Mr. Morvan. The marriage of your tenant doesn't do away with the fact that you beat my brother on her account." "Ask Bram," I repeated. "If he tells you the truth " "He always tells me the truth," she flashed. "All the better. Miss Arnold, which is the shorter road to Morvan, if you please T" My touch of temper served to dampen her own. . . "Follow the turnpike," she answered less l aughtlly. "Do you. pee that cottage lifcht down there?" , i- ... t... "Yes." "A mile beyond that, a crossway will lead you to the post road. Is there anything else?" . "Than't you, no. I know my way after I reach the postroad." I gave her a formal bow. "Kindly submit my apologies to Mr. Arnold for my Intrusion, and accept them yours slf. Ocod night, madam." She regarded me ruefully. Her loneliness made her appreciate the company even of an enemy, yet she could not well detain me. "Good night, sir." "Always a sister, or wife, or sweetheart to defend a man," I reflected as I rode away, "no matter what a brute he may be. Someone for every man, but me apparently. That little witch seems to be on good terms with Bram, too. Strange he never mentions he,"' I suddenly remembered Bram's toast as he had begun it in Mary Pedersen's cabin: "Here's to the Flower of Falrvlew." The old beldame had taken It to be a toast to Ferrlss Dayton, but Bram had turned it off to Sue Buckaloo and had made a great show of Interest in the plner's daughter. Perhaps, after all, he had really meant it to be in praise of the Flower of Falrvlew, Katherlne Arnold. "I wonder If she ever heard him roar, 'A girl, a bottle, and a gun'," I mused. "She might change her mind about Cousin Brim flelud." The Idea so tickled me that, when I had found the crossway beyond the cottage and was Jogging comfortably along it, I began to sing lustily. , "A girl, a bottle, and a gun. To make the seasons flit And of the three, when ail Is done, A glri's the best of It." I lifted my facs toward the rising moon, and roared in Bram's most Jovial manner. "A faithful bound, a gallant horse That strains against the bit . A girl " "Good Lord, Squire," said a voice at my horse's nose, "we hope one of you gits the gel but don't wake the dead to tell 'em about it, so to speak." My startled glance fell upon a group of men moving along the road. Wrapped up in my emulation of Bram, I had ridden into their midst unawares. Six or seven men on foot trudged beside a single horseman. As I looked, an awful thrill went through me the men were without heads! And then I realised the truth exery man's head was covered by a black bag. It was Pine Owl and his men! At the same moment, they, too, per ceived their mistake. A fierce yell went up. "It's the other! The new squire! It's him!" They rushed upon me from all aides. I whirled up my formidable bludgeon. "Keep off, you scoundrels!" I shouted. "I'll kill the first man that touches me." They hung back a little, and I spurred desperately forward. The horseman now seemed to recognise me for the first time. With a peculiar sharp cry he wheeled his mount in front of me. Leaning forward, he snatched a pistol from his holster and presented It at my breast. My descending bludgeon dashed the weapon from his hand and fell unchecked full between the eyes of his luckless beast. Man and horse went down as If struck by lightning. I spurred headlongvover them, and striking right and left, won clear In an instant. I was forty yarda away and going like the wind before the rufflns dreamed of, pur suit. Even then, as their diminishing shouts speedily showed, they realised that for footman to pursue a mounted man was sheer folly. In three ndnutes I galloped out on the turnpike. In the moles I had become turned about and waa retracing my path. But I was by no means disturbed I counted my self bora under a lucky star to be alive at that moment. My roan dropped to a walk. I looked up at the moon and felt a lively aense of astonishment that It should still be shining. Convinced not only that I was unhurt but that the world still wagged as usual, I resolved to satisfy myself of Pine Owl's Identity. I had had only a glimpse of the black-bagged head, shapeless and terrible, but the body I had seen as It fell. The man was too slender for my "cousin" Bram besides one of the footpads had taken me for him. He sa4 his saddle too skilfully for "Brownie" Davis.' It must be Law rence Arnold. A ready way to make certain waa to keep watch on Fairvlew iuntll Its owner should return. Although my blow had not touched Pine Owl at all, yet his fall must have shaken him severely. I reasoned that he would make for his home and a chance to recover from the shock. Falrvlew was surrounded by a grove of oaks, and alt along one side of the house the scrub oak and undergrowth grew close to the wall a perfect hiding place. I tied the roan well back In the trees, out of sight of the avenue. Then I burrowed out a place In the thicket, and disposed myself for my watch. Without being com pelled to do more than raise my head, I could see the approach up the avenue, and the path that wound to the side door. So sure waa I of my man that I had sup posed my vigil would not be a long one; but the hours went by and there was no sign of Lawrence Arnold. ' Half a dozen black servants straggled tn, laughing and talking after the manner of their race. The lights In the houBe went out until only one remained still I did not see the bulky shoulders or hear the heavy tread I had expected. Falrvlew was wrapped In darkness, save for the light that burned steadily In the upper window. Two or three times I saw a woman's figure pass across the curtain. Miss Katherlne Arnold waa making her leisurely preparations for the night I wondered if she would ask Bram, when next she should see him, the real reason for my quarrel with her brother. It must have been near midnight, and Arnold had not appeared. Was I mis taken, after all? Or had Pine Owl .been too badly injured to be really moved? Per haps his fellows had taken him to the cabin In Lost Hollow yet It was an im possible distance, if he were really much hurt. Could he have gone to Letty Miller's cottage? Not long since he would have found warm welcome there. An owl hooted weirdly from the thicket nearby. I settled Into my cloak. I would see this thing through, if I waited until dawn. At last even the light In Miss Arnold's room was extinguished. The owl still hooted persistently not a rod from me. I felt about for a stone to silence him, but could not lay hold of any. The light above suddenly gleamed out again and was again extinguished. Twice was this manoeuvre repeated. The owl hooted again. My heart began to beat heavily. Then a man stepped from the thicket, a ladder, in his hand. He stole swiftly across the open space and the moonlight fell upon his face. It was Bram Morvan. He planted the ladder In the shadow of the wall, and mounted without an in stant's pause. The window opened softly to receive him. I stumbled to my horse, and galloped fiercely homeward. If I encountered Pine Owl and his men again," so much the worse for them I would have relished fighting wnn an Cappfctt mt,na SoMn. 0 tJqp my way madly through them. Bram Morvan the betrayer of his friend's sister! I was sick to the very soul, but what a Judgment on Lawrence Arnold! The laughter of the gods for the soul of Letty Miller! CHAPTER XVII. Dy the Lake. . The night passed quietly. Whatever mischief Pine Owl and his night brawlers had been bent upon had probably been abandoned after their encounter with me. My bludgeon had shattered their enter prise for that night, at least. But the thought of what I had seen at Falrvlew made the world taste bitter the next morning. I fear I received Sam's cheerful grin rather sourly. "What's the news, Sam?" I demanded. "Purty consldabui. Matt ah Henry. Betsey she has a schumpshus dlnnah fo' the bride and groom ytstiddyv Must ha' been fo'ty flfty folks here. Ah guess. Ceo'se, me and Dick kep' watch las' night. Tas, and ole man Buck'loo, too." "Has ha recovered?" "Purty near. Swears quite some few ylt -but he's all right." "Where's Mr. Bram?" "Jest oome rldln' In a few minnits ago. He's been up early or mebbe out mighty late. Ah hat" ' "That will do, Sam. Tou may go." I ate a solitary breakfast. Afterward letters claimed my attention. . Amongst others I found a note from Mr. Stockton sent by a messenger the afternoon before saying that he was on the point of starting for Trenton, and that he would tell me an interesting bit of gossip when he saw me again. wondered if Bram, or Lawrence Arnold, had been engaged In sofne addi tional Iniquity. I decided not to mention my encounter with Pine Owl to anyone at Morvan. The story of my danger, coming after the attack-on Buckaloo, would only increase the terror of the domestics, and could lead to no good result. In addition. It might de tract from the happiness of Baker's honey moon. . , I had come to this decision, when Baker himself entered the library. "Do you want me for anything today, Squire?" His tanned face was shining, and there was no need to ask after his happiness. "Tes, Baker," I said. "I want 'you to give my best wishes to your wife, and ac cept them for yourself. And I don't want to see either of you for a week although I think you'd better sleep here at night, for your own protection." "Thank you, sir. Then Sue and me we was thlnkln' we might go down and fix up our house today." "Good. If you want any of the servants to help you, take them along." "All right, sir. But I guess we'd kind of like to be by ourselves today." "Go, quick." I rejoined, "or Sue will be wondering If you've forgotten her." After Baker had' gone. I wandered mood ily about tne manor. I was involved in a web of vlllalnly in which 1 was able to discover neither reason not outcome. I did not permit myself to consider that I was spinning a neat web of my own! One of my dependants had been badly beaten as an earnest of what I might ex pect for myself. I had seen the sharer of LET US FORGET JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY usfoiget.'WIiat matters it that we Once reigjned oer happy realms of InnMdo And talked ojlweand let our a i i t r 0lces low, -And ruled jor some brief sessions . - , royally? What if we sung, or laughed, or It has availed notanjp tnih, and so Let it gp hp that we may better kura How poor a frungis lost toyouandme. Butyesterday I kissed your Bps, f and yet Did thrill you not enough to shake the dew rromyour drenched lids' and -r 1 , imssed-withnoreet Your kiss shot back, with sharp a j t i hreatiisjailinyou: d5o,toda$ arewet tms waste oj tears, Jet us, jorget! Marti CaMptsy 51 COPYRMX WO, Br con pan r my roof-tree playing the part of a dastard toward the sister of his best friend. To crown all. My Lady of the Spur had Judged me by the fair but frail company she had found me irvhow her eyes had looked me through! These were thoughts to make a man downhearted. Thinking I might be diverted by the sight of some ducks, I slipped Into the woods and worked my way down-to the little lake. On this forest side It was bordered by a dense frowth of laurel to the water's edge. Forcing the brushes apart, I came abruptly upon a man. He sat with his back toward me, gaslng across the pool. Beyond, steel-blue In the Indian summer hase, Morvan manor house crowned the upland slope. Although I had made a deal of noise In my passage through the laurel, he seemed quite oblivious of my approach. I trod as heavily as possible as I drew nearer. Still he did not turn his head. His back was against a tree, yet he waa not sleeping, for from time to time he beat a cane against the ground with an irritable move ment. "Good morning," I said, and walked for ward In front of his eyes. He gave a great start, and faced me. I saw with astonishment that it was John Dalton. He sat straight and stiff, and his eyes very keen met my curious glance. What could the old fellow be doing, and how did he get here, of all places?" "Good morning," I repeated loudly. "Do you remember me sir?" He had recovered from the surprise his deafness had brought upon him: He sur veyed me fixedly. "Certainly," he answered. "Certainly I remember you well, sir. Tou are Mr. Irving, who called on my daughter a day 6r two since. Or waa it a week? Time goes fast, very fast, to an old man, Mr. Irving." . From what I had learned both from Bram and, Ferrlss, there would be an un pleasant scene If my "cousin" John were made to understand that I was or was supposed to be one of the hated Morvans. Since he persisted in taking me for a Mr. Irving, It was not worth while to unde ceive him. At present, he . seemed in a good humor, with something of the gar rulousness of old age. "Have you walked all this distance from your home?" I asked. "Sir?" "Are you out for a' walk?" "Out for a walk, are you? I suppose you've come to have, a look at this manor of Morvan. One of the loveliest places in West Jersey, sir. - es, a walk is good for youth or age youth or age. Tou live In the country, I believe you said, Mr. Irving." "Tes, but I am only lately come." "Sir?" "I am a newcomer." ' "Oh, no. I come here quite often to look at Morvan, beautiful Morvan He repeated the words with Indescribable bit terness. "I noticed you were studying It closely," I said. Either I had spoken wltfi unusual force, or else his senses were more keen where his feelings were Involved, for he beat the ground savagely with his cane. "Tes, yes.. I study Morvan closely, be cause Morvan is rightfully mine mine, sir." His eyebrows frowning up at me, reminded me grotesquely of Ferris. "Tou win hear the story In the county, sir perhaps have I did so on the' Instant. Indeed. I had already done so." small choice the rush of men and horses I nodded. bore me headlong. I wns galloping with "Then, sir, you know my claims. They're the best of thrm In a trloe. Just Just, by Hesven! And I'll have my It was devil take the hindmost for a rights yet." He shook his cane at me. Rood five minutes, before I bad the discre- "I'm not too old to see the day. No, no, tton tn reflect a little upon my situation. Mr. Irving, I'm not too old." Here wsa I. who oupht to avoid rather Had I really been a Morvan. all this ''n court public notice, pmimlin along would have been mightily unpleasant for 'n full cry with nearly twenty genilrmen! me. The fact that, by the disguise of a I glanced about. n my rluht. a sutiare- name to which I had no claim, I wns keep- 't, middle-aged man, spurred fiercely Ing the old gentleman from his heritage, upon a Wit skewbald. I raced him for a was even more distasteful. However, I stake and rider fence, and beat him by a kept a discreet silence. stride. My take-off Just ahead of him drew He gave a grim laugh. "Perhars you ar h from him and a cry of "Well rld- don't agree with me, sir. The dreams of de". air!" from young Green Jacket. I an old man, Mr. Irving an old and broken '""Red alongside of the latter, man." "The Gloucester hunt, I take It, sir," I As If willing to change the subject, he managed to say. pointed to a pair of woodducks that had "Tes. sir." He whooped like a wild In paddled out from the reeds and were be- dlan In my very eur as tne brush of a big ginning to smooth their feathers. red fox flickered an Instant on the rise of "See those ducks? There's nothing more a hill. "Yea-a! Gone away! a-wa-a-a-y!" toothsome, properly stuffed "with wild At last I regained my wits, and began to celery and chestnuts. Now, If you had a Pu" back. The huntsmen speedily forged fowling piece or even a good pistol, eh?" "I have a pair of pistols " "Oh, at home, of course." "No, with me," I answered, "but I think " "Eh? Oh, toys! It will take more than toys to bring down those wooddicks. "These are first-rate dueling pistols," I explained, "but I think I won t fire on the ducks. The noise might alarm the neigh- borhood." I was careful to speak In a high key, and he followed my words with the most earnest attention. "You go armed, Mr. Irving'" There was a certain uneasiness In his tone. I remembered Bram had not given him a character for courage. "You go heavily armed, slrr' "Yes, since the recent outrage hero." "Slrr' "A nun k- v.. .i t A man was beaten by outlaws close by m-b T .hn.,i.4 ,.,. . . ore. i shouted. Haven't you heard?" here, Yes, yes, of course. Mr. Lawrence Arnold was telling me of it yesterday a disgraceful piece of business. Mr. Arnold waa saying that although he dislikes Mr. iienry Mprvan personally, such an act Is "enry morvan personally, such an act Is shameful t ii.n V ,,, snamerui. i also have reason to dislike v. . . - , , , tne name or Morvan, but I abhor violence, sltv-hhnr vini.n . ... sin abhor violence. , So you think It ad visable to go armed, Mr. Irving even though you are only a peacable cltlxen like myself yes, yes, like myself?' I happened to pick up some pistols or . Stockton-. tiL P Mr. Stockton's today. "Slrr "The pistols I'm carrying are Mr. Thomas Stockton's." 'God bless me! Tou don't say so? If Mr. Stockton believes It's time to be carrying pistols. I shall have to find a pair for my- on. im county must te in a very danger eU1HndlTlT !!ldee. """ airc , . .. wuu.u aiiacs: you, i returned "Tou mean I'm too old. Tes, it's true true, Mr. Irving and too poor, too. I have confidence In your discretion, sir I am too poor to tempt footpads, I confess. But'," he beat the ground with his stick. "I have a daughter a daughter to look after." Then why the devil don't you do it." I muttered, "instead of letting her gallop all over the county?" "Sir? The devil what, sir?" 1TW Jt II . .., uovil Beems to DS lOOSe ln tM county." - - Ha! Very good. The devil In the shape of a charcoal owl on a charcoal horse eh, U Irving?" Have you seen one of Pine Owl's proo- lamatlon.?".! cried IT Heaven forbid! Mr. Arnold was tell- i .S' 0n Mr Hnry Morvan re- ,,yT , . Where did Mr. Arnold see ltr "Mr. Arnold? No. I believe Mr. Bram- field Morvan saw It. It was he told Lawr- ence. Tes, yes-a skeleton own, drawn ln charcoal, I think. A dangerous condition of the oounty-veryj but only to be ex- pected In a country that prefers General Jackson to John Qulncy Adams. I take it The old man "Well. "PlJ n-JT'00 rn,iny 1 fS?"P r6"nt my a Wl8he' t0 M1" "Eh? Oh, oertainly, certainly. I Will do so. Good morning, Mr. Irving.' k.wu - w." t.a "t I B tM r.. t mUnt near h,re- -sit, rU 0n yT Vy hmeT" J 1 5 j y """v .Te!' U " Wa,Un,f for me a few rods back. Mr. Arnold Is khid enough to place one at my disposal from ume to time. He'a very obliging, I'm t ,' .L . . I left the old man to his sullen brooding 'S fcMor' rlghU not lm- Jll. 2?Z .'JV tth- B th other side of the thicket the horse Arnold had lent John Dayton was contentedly gnawing at some sassafraa twigs. He was a bay. a good sixteen hand. high. There was '"""thing vaguely familiar about hi. powerrul outline. A. I passed close to his head, he laid back his ears, and rolled a wicked eye at m u,uaIIy wen Ilke1 y an!- mala of all sorts. Thl. one's evident ho.- ttHty struck m. with peculiar force. I stopped 4nd examined him attentively Full between his eyes, a heavy blow had C"UL "-!" IqUa7. of "e'- By Heaven!" I muttered. "I knew It! It was Lawrence Arnold." CHAPTER XVIII.' n.mrf " . . EL .?J P01; A Dish of Tea. Ld l N. "U.dJen.r:'f:.r:'n: .. , u.i.,,iiureu in 0i,j ones. rid it of my presence for the rest of the Througn lhe wlndow behlnd th ,Hn,Bht T , . touched her hair, and drew a golden band m. r ;V.h0 "'"J"0.1. "ke,y a"ra above h" "Vebrows. Her red mouth, ftrm me refuge than the ho.tlery on the Olou- ,nJ ,Weet. trembled a little-reluctantly. cester road. To exchange thrust, with as her hand, had done. ' Peggy the pretty bound-glrl. was better why have you foowd me nere?.. than to mope about the manorhouse. Peg- ked. "I came here to-to be quiet-to gy . saucy ways and honest Irish eyes b. away from-everythlng, for a day. Why would be a relief after the Insolent whim, track me so?" of Ferris. Dayton and the significant .., tracW no one... , anBwered. ..T found glance, of Le y Mil er her, by cnance cama 1 1 UB True, by visiting Pol. Tavern I ran om"Be,ff it ..ernto be at ease. No, I' 11 va risk, not only from Evans' Impertinent tracking to such as are more skllledln curiosity, but also from the possible reo- 0wllng than I. be it day or night." ognltlon.of chance traveler.. However, I - Her eyes fell before mine. She '.tared felt myself hardy enough to endure th. into the cup I had slipped ln front of her. danger. He would be a bold man who .-nr1nk your tea, CouMn.. , Bald. Ha would far to accuse the Squir. of Mor- biscuit., toasted in butter! Te.. and a not van of being Tom Bell, tne nownoui highwayman. I was riding along the border of an oak I00 Ww." V.reat TnuIlabal b"k out , ... ., vuuiu yun uj, pica, dogs and horse, bur.t upon me from the corner of the grove. The baying of hounds, the cracking of whlj. the cries and whoops of the men made a very bedlam of thought the sheriff with his whole posse oomltatu. wa. at my heel. A glance at the pack of dogs six coupl. If one-and a wcond at th. riders, told m. there wa. no cau.e for alarm-I had k , "r '"l"Br " ,laa blundered upon me and bade fair to .weep m! 'ire . . A livelv vnntiff in - , i. -. a " - '" rode at me, shouting: "Which way? Which way, .lr? The red fox! Did he break cover this way?" I waved my hand vaguely. Green Jacket u i. - . . m .. u.u,u,.Br.,oM. -I0 tne .outn-araT 'a;a 'entlemen! w' have the old rogue this time. If we run him clear to the bay." He shouted back at me. hla rhln on his shoulder. "Won't sou ahead of me all except the square-set man on the large skewbald, who kept So long neck-to-neck, that 1 gazed at him Inquir ingly. He was favoring me with a puxsled scowl. When ho saw that I was aware of hla particular attention, he clapped spurs to naK' and w"t awa' from m at grPHt race- T1" ,B"t 1 ""w f nlm h nl turncA his saddle and was straining ba k' hl faca B,m -'rown. 1 coulJ not reca" that 1 UhA v'r 9n ,hc nian before. yt his actions caused me a dal of "m'l,,ln'"- Although I was bold pno,"'n fac J' 1 w"8 ot ln a P"1 ,lon to ,BU,,mlt an"' evcn "ranger's 8rruun noui a quaim. So little did I like the sound of a chorus ringing from the common-room It waa plain that some of the Gloucester gentle- men had stayed to hunt the tavern fox .... . . v . . . . . that I turned my roan into the horse sheda ... , ... , ... . ,. . . without calling for either hostler or land lord. Entering the houBe by a side door, tha very first person I encountered was Teggy O'Connor. Phe was In the act of crossing , ., thp hall, bearing a salver plied with eat- . , , . . . , - t ables. She nearly dropped hor load when . ol, . . . . , ' 1 ''d ,,r bV name. "Lord! It's Squire Morvan." "I have you fairly trapped now, Peggy. She laughed up at me, her arms out- I , V, .... deflnceless now. that's the truth." "I won't take an unkind advantage of you." "Ah, Squire for a man that's got a pair of live devils hldln' in the backs of hla eyes," you're the most forbearin' one I ever did see. You'll find the master In tha Dar gu r." "I don't care to mix with the company at the bar. I ll go into the parlor." pj,e barred my wny hurriedly. "It's en- paBed Bur ,f you pleaflp l m carryln' a snack in there now, sur If you please." "I'm not sure I do please. There's room for another in the parlor, I suppose." "Well, sur I don't know." "Come, come, Peggy. Tou're talking nonsense." "Don't be too sure of that, sur." Her V t u-l M 1 H li ir alia aiiil, 1,, til.. It..t . 1 8alver within an Inch of my nose.. "Do you anvil that, sur?" vvh.at?" Then . . e,... . arose from a steaming kettle. "Tea! O-oht 'If. . Inrlv ivhn'n .nnnrnrl Mrinrr- ..It !, that, x secret, sur-you've seen her before. ' "i have?" "Sure, you have so though she hasn't a veil on now " ..What! Peggy, you're a Jewel. Let m. have that tray. No. no-I'm her cousin yu know-it'll be a pleasant surprise for her. You needn't come in I'll do the serr- ing myself. I dare say there's enougli fop two here." . , I overrode her protests, and bore tha salver Into the tavern parlor, if I had been In any less defiant mood, I would have beateu a retreat before tha look that greeted me from the girl at tha window-table. t V' a "urprlsed, Cousin." I rejoined pleasantly. "It's not often you've had such a Ganymede a. I." I placed th. les on the table. "I vow I'm a r4 hand at the service of a goddess." "Oh!" she cried. "Oh'" Tn v fln nt ... Vw, l . . .1. - j, uf" " uw.-n.; lu Lite uuur. "Don t th wl"le house." I said 1ulck,y- " V eav me like this. I Bwear r mak8 the P'apa rl"fc lth your aame- " uld b Precious tit-bit for tha tavern loungers to know that Miss Dayton refUse. to sip tea with her cousin, Mr. Morvan." Prom the corner of my eye I w the shot had told she came to an un certain halt I began to'arrange the tea things, talkln a""'y the while. "Tes. the tongue, would wa anew over the scandal of tha county families. Sit down, Cousin. At iet, you can leave me as well after you'T. drunk a dish of tea an before." Indignation choked her-yet I noticed, wUh an ,nward smlle tnat Bne canlfl t nearer "I suppose it i. u.eless to suggeat to Mr. Morvan that a gentleman would with- draw " .-Quite useless," I agreed. "Tour chair implores you. Cousln-also, the bohea, la growing cold " With a flutter of her hands- almost a f .he were yielding to actual forc-.h. Banlc ,nto a Jat " Iorc I eyed her covertly as I poured her dish of tea. She wore her riding habit as usual, the close-fitting bodice, the patched. ,k,rt the "k,nnl boot with Its bent but ""' Of the frayed whip I hai that th. gloves bes.de her p,.u were.? of MBtresa Evans' spiced cherries. A fit feast for a queen!" .lpPed h.r tea a little, then began to n'lbbU at biscuit and Jam i don't know what to make of you sometimes," she said -xjousln Perrls. there's a Lucifer and a Gabriel in every man-that', an old story more fiercely than he doe. in many worse man." Tou mean you find It hard fo keep him chained?" She was almost smiling ..Te He', unchained now -since I first w you her-when wa. It?--tei, day. ag0." ' Tbe BnAX wa ""doubted now, though. . .... ' laini. i nope not bee a u -so you sa-v n .e. ' "God knows," I .aid so gloomily that 11 mile died. "Perrls.," I said vfier a heavy alien ce " -v.. t'J wLvii ruu to talk about angel, and devils. Tester day morning, when we talked .t Sain Saint Peter', after tha wiMng no on. waa . mora gracious than you.'' us, sir? Join u-JolQ tt . . T Be) ConUaua.,,