Nebraska Newspapers

    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.,,