The evening world. Newspaper, June 3, 1914, Page 17

N ‘ Woprrigtt, 1018, by George Hl, Doran Os.) SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS, fe lee expat ter,cmeaa eo he Cee’ pe sg | a ent Bach aaah pe eth ba * ber » hi Stars Tah Ath at og ; ur ral sion he fext es wins ri Laces coun (whom ‘Burton putinetivaly srispecta), Prose tis 5 neta wit iy Pus aime aad Beers te hike ie —_—— CHAPTER IX. |" THE contrary,” he re- turned, “I should consd- er it an amiable duty to rescue any attractive young woman from E™ Beauchamp.” I followed him across the room to where the Ul-assorted pair were standing. “Misa de Rosen,” he said, with a courteous bow, “may I have the pleas- ure of introducing a friend of mine— Mr. Stuart Northcote?” Then, turn- ing with a smile to the Judge, he added lightly, “Ah, Beauchamp, you're the very man I want to see. Can you spare bin @ moment, Miss de Rosen? VU leave Northeote to entertain you.” The thing was done so smoothly and with such delightful dexterity that, almost before I realized it, | was left alone with Mercia, and Lammers- neid was strolling off with his hund on the Merry an exceedingly an- 0 Ont have been wondering if I should ju again a'iitede meh of satisfaction. “Aren't yuu satistied yet?" she sald bitterly. “You have made me bate and despise myself Me ry, rest of 4 fe, Do you suppose that I can ever without Chay orcore tad that I bave be- ed my father?” vor you mean that you would have please. your father by putting @ bullet through my ," I returned, “I think vou ery, sat otiands hee jeant forwa: the chair and teously on " ghe said. hand resting wish I unde “some- how I bhp and yet——' tana vet 1 echoed, as she paused. She turned away with a little gee- ft ir. "I pray,” she sald | Ey RS Bs hid ™my shoulders. “Only made bie attempt t3 hly creditable a me tate middie of the night saldand she tald ter hand upon het 1 er han poe were you—were you hurt?’ 1 am ut that fault. It's so diMcult won't understand she said at laut “Why did you want a new butler? The other night—there a ate eae? “Ah, yes,” I interruj Niltora. But, you see, some of Loe friends had been kind enough te Peison him.” him!" she echoed; and ny feaning forward, she stared at me in obviously genuine horror, "Do you mean that be is dead?” ow dear, no,” 1 said lightly. a rather a tough couple, Milfoi and J. Still, they did their best—and, ‘after all, you can't throw stones, you kmow! You missed me shockiugly at ve yards.” bat hr this t dreadful!” she broke out. “I did not know—I—I had heard hing, but indeed I did not know, She checked herself abruptly. 3 the genial M. Guarez, no I said. “Just Fead Hine ee should expect from a man ois ame like that. I really didn’t fmagine that you had anything to do with it. I am going down to Wood- ford to-mprrow, to stay with Maurice Furnivall, so you aro not likely to have the distressing experience of coming across mo again—at all events for a tow day! ‘~ She looked at me strangely, : ‘You think you will be safer there?” sha eu. sae evughed, “Well, things can't be trenuous than they are she repeated half nd then & monn f revelation dawned in her el With a quick gesture, she leaned forward and laid her hand on my sleeve. “Don't go,” she said hur- FE Sneed ve that moment there was a sound of footsteps in the hall, and round the corner of the palm trees came the ever-to-b raed figure of Mr, Justice Beat.champ. » “Ab, Miss de Rosen,” he began, with the kind of Capel fatulty that passes for huntor on the bench, “I find you, like the Arab maiden, be- neath the palm: He offered his arm, and, after hesi- tating for the fraction of a second, lercia, got up gracefully from her ebair and accepted it. As she did #0, she flashed one swift glance at me. “You must tell ma the reat of your stor; facredulously; @ morrent, looking after them, as the garrulous old gentleman, who obvi- ously imagined that he had scored off mé, conducted her triumphantly out of the conservatory, T was still possiing my brains when I saw Lord Bangatte coming briskly toward me. "Good!" he said. “I thought I might find you bere. Come along into the study.” of SE ace SS RF the tre je /" L auld at lest, ap belleve that you are lying 4 2 be fe orld Daily Magasz Ai desk, my ‘i Decay Bian i oon out several sheets of ypewr! re With a pleasing sense of antictya. ene tion I accepted the papers myself do ee, ia the easy-chairs, glance showed me that 1 held in my hand the rough Graft of a prospectus, for across the rs, ran the following ‘theses, ment: ‘ THE AMALGAMATED GOLD. FIELDS OF SOUTH AMERIOA, 1.t4. CAPITAL § 2,000,000. CHAPTER X. LOOKED at it for a moment with @ kind of dassied ad- miration. Then, after taking @ pull at my cigar to restore my composure, I read througd the whole precious document trom beginning to end. It appeared to me to be one of the finest and boldest works of fiction that had ever fallen into my hands. Briefly speaking, it commended glowing terms to the notice of the British public a new and magnificent Broup of gold mines which it declared had just been discovered in the north- ern provinces of the Argentine. Being fairly well acquainted with the dis- trict myself I felt almost certain that the statement was a colossal Ile, but I must admit that the evidence pro: duced was extraordinarily convincing. The Board of Directors consisteu uf Stuart Northcote Esq. Sir Matthew Rosedale and senor Bonito Morales, the ex-President of the republic, “And then there'll be Lammers- field,” went on Sangatte. “If you cap only work your business with him the thing's as good as done. With ez-Home Secretary on th rd the shares will go like hot I know the idiots." “Lammerstield will be all right,” I sald, with o gentie irony that was ‘wasted on my companion. “He {s in‘ my hands.” “1 think I told you in my note that I'd fixed up about the Seagull. That old devil, Morton, wanted a thousand for her, but I beat him down to nine hundred in the end. Shes a decent boat for her size. After supper, au hour later, I re turned to conservatory for a eur- reptitious cigarette. ne place was leserted. I found a seat near the door of Bangatte’s study. An tor my—— What was that? From within Sangatte'’s room had come @ sudden, faint cry, followed almost immediately by the m crash of an overturnii Ing chair, = my Matening intently, a Lora! it was Mercia's voice! In one stride I bad crossed the ii locked, ceremony. ping the full ‘Neneh of my 196 muscular strength, and with a crash of aplintering wood it flew open be- fore me. Sangatte was standing in the centre of the room, bis face flushed and angry. Mercia, panting, indignant and pale, leaned againet the mantel- piece. When his lordship saw. who it ‘was that had #o rudely disturbed bis privacy his expression changed mo- Mmentarily to one of utter bewlider- ment. Then, with a furious scowl, he advanced toward me, “What do you think you're doing?" he demanded in a hoarse whisper. I 'took absolutely no notice of bi: “Misa de Rosen,” I sald, moat cheerful manner, “I think this ia the dance you were kind enough to promise me. »Lotd Sangatte, | THE STORY OF AN ADVENTURER WHO RISKED AL IN ANOTHER maw ll think the quickest and most savage Dlow I have struck in my life. CHAPTER XI. 8 must have got home to- gether. 1 felt a sharp pain in my shoulder, lke a touch of a redhot tron, and my assailant staggered Deck five yards and fetched up @gainst the wall with a bang that echoed across the street. As he dia 5°! @o there was a clatter of footsteps, and down the pavement came the figure of a man, sprinting toward us with silent but businesslike rapidity. The gentleman who had disturbed me did. not wait for further develop. ments. He must have been a tough Ly despite his collision with be wet off like @ hare, twist. round the corner to the left, and disappearing from sight before the newcomer could reach us, Directly the latter came under the full glare of the nearest electric lamp 1 saw it was Billy, I gave a whoop of Joy, which pulled him up short in bis stuous career. “Burton!” he cried. “Gad! I might hen he burst out have known i fagniag. “Where's the other chap?” he demanded, “Have you eaten him?” “No, Billy,” I said. “He's gone— vamoosed. didn't like the look of you.” ‘Then through my “I believe he' poactores ‘me, though,” I added rue- In @ moment Billy was by my aide. “Bad?” he demanded sharp 1 you wait while I fetch him back?” T laughed and shook my head. Gon’t want him, Billy,” I said; “thanks all the same. Give us an arm and let's get back to the house, It's all right—I'm not booked this jour- soul, for, the & & second tte ney. Then his good angel must “Not by a long way,” cried Billy ave whispered in his ear, for he stoutly. “It would take a pickaxe to moved saddenly Seide, Nae? wiposs #0 muel prancing a vanced and offered my arm tok rela. “Tam sorry X was a trifle said calmly. With a charming little amile, she put her hand upon my sleeve. are always tho soul of promptness, Northcote,” she said. ‘il come back and have @ chat with you, if you'll wait here, San- wette,” T said, He made no answer and I con- ductod Mercta into the conservatory, closing the somewhat unhappy-look- ing door bebind me. “Our acquaintance,” I observed, “seems fated to be rather an exciting t! one. “It seems fated,” she returned, “that I should be under an obligation to you. I suppose the gods are amus- ing themselves at our expense.” I laughed contentedly. “I don't grudge them thetr fun,” I sald. “I was beginning to think you had gone home, and that our interesting little conversation would have to remain unfinished.” Sho stop for a moment, and looked quickly round, as If to make sure that there was no one within hearing. “I meant what I said,” she whis- pered hurriedly. “Don't go to Wood- ford, I--I can't explain to you; in- deed I am wrong even in warning you; but make some exouse to-mor- row—don't go.” “If we went upstaire and found a couple of chairs,” X suggested, *- haps’ sho interrupted quickly. tay here any longer. Sir ‘aitinw to take me back, and, in any case, I could Yell you nothing more." T said good-night to her and soon afterward started home on foot. T arrived within a hundred feet of my house and was just getting out T ca: Henry ts my latch key, when, without the slirhtest warning, the thing hap- pened, From the dark shadow of a door- way a notseless figure suddenly leaped out on me with the fterce swiftness of a penther. 1 saw ti gieam of a knife, and at the same instant I lashed out with my fist—I kill you. Come along and we'll have @ squint at it.” What Billy doesn’t know about knife wounds may be justly regarded as superfluous information. In my study he quickly but carefully re- Heved me of my Gress clothes, and then, slitting up the rest with a pair of scissors, brought the injured por- tion of my anatomy to light. (t con- sisted of an ugly-looking cut just on the outside of my arm, from which the blood was slowly welling in kind of languid spurts. brief examina- tion, however, removed ghe, frown from hia brow. “T's nothing,” he said: “only a vein. I'll dodge that up in no Ten minutes later, bandaged up in the best professional style, I was lying languldly on the sofa, while Billy mixed a couple of brandiea and sodas to relieve our respective fa- “You're in the chair,” I said, ac- cepting tho drink which he banded across. “Get your yarn off first and then I'll talk,” only got your note at 9 o'clock to-night and came around as soon as I eould, ‘Those Maxwell people sent for me to come up to Liverpool, and when I got there they kept me hanging about for twenty-four hours, and then re- fused to give me the job." Then slowly, carefully, and, I think, without leaving out any important detail, I described to him everything which had taken place since we part- ed tn Latcester Square. Billy sat and Matened in silence, his head resting on his hand and his eyes fixed on mine, It was not until I had finished tured on his one embra- ive criticiam. “Lord!” he said; “it's colossal “I thought you would ho pleased,” I replied contentedly. “Pleased! It's the mort gorgeous thine I've ever struck in my life. You were always a nailer at finding trou- ble, hut this hents the bend.” aueee you'll come to see me through, He brought his fist down with a bang on the table, “TI em with you, my son,” he sald, “to your last halfpenny. SHOES “And here's San Luca,” he went on, Consulting @ map of Sduth America. “Let's see what they say about it. ‘An inland republic, bordered by Brazil and the Argentine. Popula Uon, 300,000, including Indians—com- posed of a few negroes, and whites of Spanish and mixed descent.’ ” “That's M. Guares all right” { nt,’ " he read out, “ ‘Gen, Silveira de Selis, succeeded the late Ignace Prado, who had defeated and murdered the first President, Manuel I almost shouted. “By settles it! Mercia Solano my bright double must one of Inace'a black- ri No wonder the poor girk wanted to shove a bullet into me!” Next morning the housemaid way- me. i?" I paid, “If you pleas ir,” ahe sald, “do ‘ou ki bi happened to Mr. ilford ? I stared at her in amazement. “He went away last night, sir, soon after you left ee house, and he's ited at last. much She shook her head. “I don't know about that, air. A boy brought a note for him and he went away at once in a cab—a taxicab, CHAPTER XII. T was just about halt-past four when we entered the outskirts of Woodford. We he pulled up at the Plough, an old-fashioned two-story inn tn the centre of the town, which rng, boasted a red-and-white notice-board proclaiming ita possession of a “Ga- rage. “This looks all right, Billy,” I said. “If Maurices place isn't too far away, you'd better put up here.” Ashton, Maurice's place, was but a mile and half further on. Leaving the car with Billy, at the inn, I bired @ cab and drove thither. Ashtom proved to be a good-sized, half-timbered house, standing back in its own grounds some way from the road, As my-cab rumbled up the drive I caught sight of two men sit- ting on @ seat in the garden, and drawing nearer I saw that one of them was Maurice, They both rose as soon as we pulled up at the front door and came across to meet “Hallo!” said Maurice you were going to motor dow: I shook hands with him, and also with his companion, @ stout, florid man who looked like a retired book- maker, but who obviously appeared to know me. “So I did," I answered, “but I lett the car in Woodford, The engine was working all wrong, somehow.” “That's the worst of motors,” ob- served the fat man, “always goin’ dicky—what?" “Brought your chauffeur?” inquired Maurice, aa a footman came out and gathered up my belongings. I shook my bead. “No,” I sald, “t didn't think he waa necessary this time.” Which, you will observe, was strictly true, It may have been my imaginatio: but I fancied I eaw a alight gleam o} nm actoas my x come along into the garden,” he said, “unless you'd like anything. Baradoll’s gone to town for the night, and York and Lady Baradell are out, but Aunt Mary’e about somewhere. Do you know where ahe is, Vane? The fat man pulled mustache, “Waterin’ the roses,” observed laconioally. “Miss York’@ with her.” Our discussion was cut short by the sudden appearance of the two ladies juestion, who emerged from @brubbery and advanced aofose the lawn to meet midd lor-made costume, “Here are Bertie and Lady Bara- dell,” sald York. “I wonder they've iyi I guddenly recollected the signifi- cant grin with which Maurice had mentioned the Baradolis’ name, when called Park on in and with some natural interest with aay auc! cursory notice. i Tall and graceful, ahe moved tow- ard us with that eort of almost in- solent satisfaction which some beau- tiful women habitually suggest. Boau- tiful she certainly was, but compared to Mercia (I instinctively compared every one with Mercia now) it wae the beauty of fire against sunshine. Fire indeed seemed a very fitting aimile for Lady Baradell It gilm- mered in her wonderful bronse hair, and smouldered dangerously in tho deep brown eyes with theif curious golden tinted Irises. Her dress, « jaring affair of almost flame-colored material, completed the illus! We all moved back toward the Maurice thrusting his arm an house: through mine and remarking affable fashion that he would take ose” me up and show me my room. This he did, bringing me to a large, cheerful apartment looking out over the garden. “You'll be all right here, I think,” he sald. “No one to disturb you, the Baradelis—they're across the pas- Sure you've got everything you woven, thanks,” I said. “Yes, a," T aaid. “Dinner eight oe, he added, and, going out, closed door. When Tt got down to the diniag- > Wednesday. J Lapin yndngininn seyret indie nininieeeiecmeceinamer pee eT ; MOST CERTAIN DEATH BY “S WAPPING IDENTITIES” =. Complete Novel Each Week in The Eveni — OO NNNNNEE ER ER NER E ROE DONO EN BOOED ILI ONL NONNEN Billy jerked his head up the road, wes clove,” he said, “just outside oh Pie ? ¥ Gida’t want to tell her, I remained tn & state of embarrassed silence. “OR, there's mo need for you to speak,” she added bitterly; “I know you too well.” Then rage, murder. ous, ungovernable rage, famed sud- denly into her eyes. you think I am the sort of woman to be picked up and thrown aside at & man's whim? Did you imagine for Siagie moment that you could de- ceive me?” “No,” I admitted sadly, “I didn’t.” Sio Innghed—an unpleasant, mirth- less laugh, and stared me full in tbe face like some splendid tigress. “T love you, Stuart,” she sald stead- fly; “I love you ae I don’t think many women have loved men; but I f will wee you dead before i ist any other woman have yot Then, without another word, she ¢ turned and left the veranda. Early next morning I made my way toward the inn. On the way I met Billy, “They've not soragged you in the night, then,” be said with satistac- ton. “On the contrary, Billy,” I said, “t have met with nothing but affection and kindness.” “Last night” he began, “I did a bit of scouting, I thought it would be Just as well to sniff around and see how the land lay, 60 as soon as I'd had some grub, I tootled along here as far as tho lodge. f hung about out- side for a bit, my bearings, and then, as there wasn't anybody about, I dropped in over the hedge and tracked up through the shrub- bery till I got to the house, I'd been there about ten minutes, squatting down under a bush, when who should come up the drive but your old dot- and-carry-one friend!" “Who?” I inquired, “Why, the chap who doctored your butions drink. At least, it was exact- 'y like your description im. A big, ual paided with 1 sald. “This te . crawled up in a hang-dog sort of Way and sat down he bal- ustrade just ia front of where I was hiding. 1 thought he was expecting somebody, and sure enough, he hadn't been there many minutes when out camo a fellow in evening drese—your cousin, I should reckon, fy the cut of Bis jill “Maurice id take « Iittie air after observed. “Ee sald he room I found the whole party assem. dinner,” I of Lady Wanted to see the Tt hi joment “Did he?” drawied Bi “Well, he in @ low black Sw him all right. They stood there earing @ maguiG. Jawing for the best part of twenty cent collar of emeralds, which were Minutes, and all about you, my eon.” just the right ones to with her owene interesting?” I ask: wonderful copper-colo! hair, After dimner Maurice asked care- ly: “Are you game for some shootin, to-morrow, Btuart? I thought if it was fine we might go out after dusk. Reece says they're coming in aqw in good quantities.” “Yes,” I said quietly. ‘Tm quite any smount of shootin, ," said Maurice heart- ur guns we ought to aport.”” T was inclined to agree with bim. “I've got to go out a minute and interview the ne “Buppose you four snooker till I eome back. 3 wo of shan't very long, and Vane will, score for you.” f Maurice went out, and, placing the balls, woe settled down to the y 1, inks to @ really logenions lay of strategy on my pai oe a oF yap elegy nm several occasions when the others were not looking, Lary Baradell favored me with a amile which nothing but the moet mnule-headed modeaty could describe as ee in kindness. It seamed as though I had stumbled all unwittingly into another and exceedingly embar- Tassing complication. T chance to wander out on the veranda after the game. A moment later Lady Baradell followed me from the billiard room and her bronze hatr floated down on her shoulders. 1 must admit she looked wor My attractive. She glided me, a laughing gleam of triumph in her eyes. “Ab, Stuart, Stuart!” she whis- hands. Teak Toe ate van jon ever @ fool fn my } alls CHAPTER XIII. SUPPOSE it was inevitable that even my best efforts at being pleasant. should have fatled to convince Lady Baradell that my feelings toward her had not changed. “Why are you trying to deceive me?" phe broke out passionately. “Thore is some one else. Tell me the truth Stuart, at once.” The truth being exactly what I When matter. reading for six cents a week. you by the foremost living authors. Bear this in mii Are You Going Away for the Summer? pet of town for the summer difficult and costly to provide yourself with the Why send to the city for novels at them at a fancy price in some country store? You can supply yourself with the By subscrising to The Evening World for the summer months Il secure a complete novel each week. Not some old book a country dealer has not been able to sell, bt the finest up-to-date fiction , not only for yourself but who expect to spend the summer in the country. may find it Is Sort of reading $1.25 of $1.50 each or buy best, most delightful summer for any of your friends NEXT WEEK'S COMPLETE NOVEL ==> IN THE EVENING WORLD = ; id Maurice. $5 on to about every tenth word, I heard waa, but 1 only got ey wore doing the whispering act most of the time. Seemed to me they were fiaing up something for to-day— something about you and won wall, far as I could get it." I nodded. “There's going to be an @ecident at our shooting party this eee pple I'm mech mis- taken, “Lo it.” anewered Billy seemed cursedly y ‘themaal anyhow. thing T heard was the platol— “What were heard her name,” he chuckled. “The lop-sided tleman trotted it out and repeated {t about four times. I think be was annoyed with her over something, from way he was speak Your seemed to be rubbing ft in.” A sudden uneasiness about Mercia’s flashed through my mind. I had heyeatispe ated that we we ie & pretty reckless gang, and if it was known that ehe had ‘warned me coming to Ashton she might weil be in ae grave danger ota ly evidently read my thoughtas. “I think she’s all right at preenate? he sald, “for the simple reason that 1" I echoed, oy saying about ber?” only the whole gang seem to be hot on N, your track. I've not told you the best Part yet. Jag. I've actually had the luck to run ‘em to. earth.” He eat back and looked at me proudly. wonder! "How did you do tem J 1 “Well, after the little confab was over, and your cousin had into the house, I gave old Dot-and- carry-one time to get back into the road, and then I followed him. I had to give him @ couple of hundred yards Or #0, or he might have tumbled to it. Ho went straight back to Woodford, and fuck would have it, I was just to see him turn into a pub— Plough: another on this aide of It. I followed him tp and found him shifting: raw brandy. He'e a Dago ae neers’ Be question hout it.” “Did you mpeak to him?” T anked Billy shook his head. “T thought It best to Me low. The Jandiord, who Was a talkative sort of ass, seemed to know him, so I waited a bit, and, after al had clearod off, T asked who was, ‘Oh,’ satd the landlord, ‘that’s an Fyetalfan gentleman, Moo- syer Berrett!, He's just taken the Hottten, Col. Paton’ house, for some feentne, Moved in yesterday, I be- le “There's room for a waid, with a laugh, ‘ fancy him at all.” opinions,” T ‘Milford didn’t “The landlord thought no end ot * him,” said Billy. “In fact, he got autta confidential. His brother, ft geoms, Was gardener at the Hollles, #0 of course he knew all about it. ‘There'n Dot-and-carry-ono, and a Indy he calle his wife, and another chap who arrived to-day, I asked whether he had @ brokon nose, and he said no; #o it can't be Francis.” “T expect it'n the gentleman T owe this #tif shoulder to,” T said. “Nice \ttle family party, anyway. Where {a the Hollies?” “You fool! De guiy 5 he mould poet as ‘nod higher Jan Billy!" Teried. “You're a gt Nice, pleasant-spoken gent he ™ By Victor A emall white house on I mean to inspect it to- Then he paused, the night.” shooting business.” Mh er am 1,” I answered truth- “I've ordered dinner for halt-past olght,” said Aunt Mary, as we started off that afternoon on our duck shoot- me ing expedition, “so don't be later than elght If you can help it, We shall all be miened by then.” “We Maurice, * ‘3 from the marsh.” ‘@ were standing in the drive our guns—he and I and York Vane Off we went, the dogs ranging round US, Od & cvuiple uf sundeeuript wentie- ha’ men in eye 2 “We must eplit up now,” said Mau- rice, turning to the rest of us. “There i are four or five places where wot & good shot at the di come over, and thie is one of them, What do you eay, Stuart? like to stay rer at “Til stay wi am, certainly,’ . “What's the mor? Ho» pointed to a am covered with reeds, halfway the creek. You must punt over te that,” said, “and tle up the boat this side. About half-past six the duck come right over you, and if you're wo hidden you ougnt to me couple of good shots at least.” I nodded approvingly. ‘They tramped off, leaving me alone in my glory. Untying the punt, I stepped in and pushed toward the island. It struck me that if tho danger lurked there, it would be just a@ well totand ¢} before the rest of the party were out ot bearing. A fow strokes of the me to my destination. ly Covered, was myseit. 1 tied the punt ¢o a ‘he myaelf, pun’ eenagon dward side, and after one Jook round settled myself down te wait for the duok, or whatever else might turn up. I had been there for perbape ten minutes, when from the atrip of land on the further side of the creek came the weird, molancholy cry of @ cure lew. I took my gun and started to rise cautiously to my feet. As I did 20 @ sudden inspiration—e veritable flash from the eo into my mind, 1 sank down take ing off the slouch hat [ was wearing, laced it on the barrels of my in, very slowly and cautiously, above the reeds. Bang! Off spun the hat, with bullet-hole sonar a wearte a's lent tingling jar m: that part of pee arate ently gone with it, I drop the tation jum; kh Into crashing dowa full‘leagth among the reeds, From the strip of land away tu my left a small boat was just putting out Into the creek. It contained two men, and even at that distance I Patra Hor de one of them wee ieee out tl ari whom Billy had stalked en the pre- vious arsaibe, heh Cr sn) Poon ried a@ ri in as my Park Lane friend, Fiainy made, hia boat travels Te certain! vel, fairly bounded toward me across the creek, the passenger crouching in the bows, hie ges, ready for immediate action. Robert Bruce's friend, they wore evidently coming to “mak’ elocar,” With @ gentle amile I cuddled my- eelf back under cover, pushing for- treme point of the barrel protrused @ poin 6 Bronee tee reeds. Pie was ie mercy in my heart, though, as a mat- ter of fact, I felt little personal re- sentment against either of m: - proaching visitors, It was North. cote, not me, that they were really try! to shoot, and their reasons evi my favor; and, after all, when Certala death, is on one side of the balance {t's not much off good bothering about the other. Nearer and nearer they came, the man in the bown peering forward and searching the island with « keen gase. 1 placed ther oartri: ready be- aide me, and then, levelling my gun straight at his chest, put my finger on the trigger, It was at that mo- ment that the boat stopped. For one moment I thought my trick had been discovered, and I as nearly a8 possible loowed off without waiting for any further developments. Then, just ae I was hesitating, there came the unmistakable crack of a Mauser pistol, and [ saw a big splinter fly up off the side of the boat. ‘With an oath the big fellow awung round and {p, off furtously down the creek, his companion, raising his rifle, back in the direction whence the bullet nad come. IT can tell you I didn't waste any time. Wrigsling back out of my am- bush, I crawled swiftly through the e# to the further side of the tal- nd, and thore, as I ected, I saw the faithful William. ie had shipped hie oars and, kneeling in bis boat, was just taking a careful aim after etreating pleasure party, ‘Chuck it, Billy!” T aang out, Down went the pistol, and in an- other moment, with a triumphant shout. he wae pulling in toward the tuland, “Curse tt Jack!” he said, as the boat ran up the bank and he leaped sculled whi on abore, “I thought they'd downed “T reall: u in ‘that Look at the ater” je pointed down the creek, where our late assailants were travellii away from ue with « vigor whicl would have done eredit to a cham- time, “Jack,” he said, “T'm not quite happy about this & FOR $50,008 iene pair at Hi A down on Re & roar of laugh! “I could have pi myself,” be pro’ Hi a ge ik 5 “That will be best,” said iy, ge uncommonly in quiet); the Napalm eri gree : about ol 1 a. “let me hasten to relieve