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i THE ABOPP. SATPBDAY. ATJQUST IT, 1895. MTHOU Or THE MAN IN BLACVJ "A GErltlEMAN . OF FH.MiCZ?,'V E. I6MT IIU y CASSCUPuBUSNiftiC' CO. Alt RICHT RESERVE CHAPTER XX. I stood glaring at hor. " Vcm were a blind bat, or 70a would l.nvo funnel it out for yourself," sho con tinued scornfully. "A bnbo would havo ginsscd It, knowing as much of your fa tin r as you did." 'Duct ho know himself;" I muttered hoarsely, looking anywhere but at ber now. TI10 shock bad loft mo dull and con fused. 1 did not doubt ber word, rather I wondrrrd with her that I had not found this out for myself. But tho possibility of inciting my fntber in that wido world Into which I hod plunged to escape from tho knowledge, of Ids existence bad never occurred to mc. Had I thought of it, it would bavo seemed too unlikely, and though I might have seen In Gardiner a link between us.and so have identified, him, I ho greatness of tho chancellor's transac tions, and certain things about Clarcnco which had seemed, or would bavo seemed bad I ever taken the point Into considera tion, at variance with my ideas of my fa ther, bad prevented 1110 getting upon the track. " "Docs lie know that you oro Lis son, do you menu?" shosald. "No; be does not." " You havo not told himr" "N," huo answered, with a slight shiver. I understood. I comprehended that even to ber the eagerness with which, being fa ther and son, wo hin sought ono another's lives during those days on tho Ithinc bad Firmed so'eadful that sho bad concealed the truth from him. 'When did you learn It?" I asked, trembling too. "1 knew bU right namo beforo I ever saw you," cho answered. "Yours I learned on the day I left you at San ton." Looking back, I rememliered tho strange horror, then inexplicable, which sho hail betrayed, and I understood It. So it wait that knowl edge which bad driven ber from us! "What will you do now J" sho said. "You will rave him? You must save him! He Is your father. " Savo him? I shuddered at tho thought that I had destroyed him; that I, his son, bad denounced him! Save him! Tho per spiration sprang out in licatls on my fore head. If I could not save him, I should live pitied by my friends and loathed by my enemies! "If it boposslblo," I muttered, "I will savo hi 111." "You swear ft?" sho Tried. Beforo I could answer sho seized my arm and drag ged mo up the dim alslo until wo stood to gether beforo the figure and tho cross. The chimes uliovo us rang 11. A shaft of cold sunshine pierced n dusty window and, full of dancing motes, shot uthwart the pillars. "Swear," sho repeated, with trembling eagerness, turning ber eyes on mine and raiding her band solemnly toward tho fig ure. "Swear by the cross!" "I swear," I said. Sho dropped ber hand. Her form seemed to shrink and grow less. Making a sign to mo to go, sho fell on ber knees on tho step mid drew ber hood over ber face. I walked away on tiptoe down the aisle; but, glancing back from tho door of the church, I saw tho small, solitary liguro still kneeling in prayer. The sunshine bad died nwny. Tho dusty window was colorless. Only tho red lamp glowed dully nlmvo ber bead. I seemed to see what tho end would be. Then I pushed aside tho curtain and slipped out into tho keen air. It was hers to pray. It was luine to act. I lust 110 time, but on my return I could not find Master l'crtlo either In the public room or in t.10 inn yard, so I sought him In bis bedroom, where I found him placid ly reading a l ook, his patient waiting In striking contrast with the feverish nnxiety which liad taken bold of mo. "What is It, lad?" ho said, closing tho volume and laying it down on my entrance "You look disturbed." "I have seen Mistress Anno," I nn swered. Ho whistled softly, staring nt 1110 without a word. "She knows nil," I continued. "How much Is all?" ho asked after a pausa "Our names all our names Penrud ducko's, Kingston's, tho others our meet ing place, nnd that wo bold Clarcnco a prisoner. Sho was that old woman whom wo saw at tho Gatehouse tavern last night." ilo nodded, appearing neither greatly surprised nor greatly alarmed. "Does sho Intend to use ber knowledge?" ho said. "I suppose sho does." "Unless wo let him go safo nnd unhurt b.-foro sunset." "They will never consent to it," ho an swered, shaking hit hod. Then they will bang!" I cried. He looked hard at 1110 a moment, dis cerning winething strniign In tho bitter ness ef my last words. "Com?, lad," ho said, yuu have not told mo nil. What else bavo you learned?" "How can I tell you?" I cried wildly, waving him off nnd polng to tho lattice that my face might Ih bidden from him. , "Ibavcn b.t curtej me!" I added, my voice brenki. p. He caiica..d laid his hand on my shoul der. "Heaven curses 110 one." ho said. "Most cf cur curses wo mako for our selves. Wt t is it. lad?" I covered my face with my bands. "Flo ho is my f ther." I mutter.il. "Do you understand? Do yen tec hat I have done? He Is my fa. In r!" Ha!'' M.-iMcr Bertie uttered that ono exclamation In iuteuso astonishment. Then be said no more. Hut the pressure if his hand told mo that he understood; that ha felt .i me; that hcVould help l-.'C. And that silent comprehension, that client assurance, gave the sweetest com fort. "Ho uiust be allowed to go. then, for this time," bo resumed gravely, alter a pause. In which I fc.nl had timo to re cover myself. "Wo will see to It. Hut there will he difficulties. You must bo strong and brave. The truth must he told. It is tho only way." I sw that It was, though I shrank ex- cwiinaly from tho ordeal before me. V;u r lk rue advised, when I grew more calei, that we should be the lirst at t lift rendezvous, lest lir srino chanco i'enrud dorke's orders should bo anticipated, and neeorit in gl;. soon after S o'clock, we mounted and set forth. I remarked that my companion looked very carefully 19 bis arms, and taking tho hint I followed his examoie. -. It 'was a silent, melancholy, anxious rido. However successful we might bo In rescuing my father alas, that I should have today and always to call that man father! I could not escape the foturo be fore mc. I had felt shamo w hile bo was but a namo to ma I low could I endure to live, with his infamy always before my eyes? I'etronilla, of whom I hod been thinking so much since I returned to Eng land, whose knot of velvet had never left my breast nor her gentlo face my heart how could I co back to ber now? I bad thought my father dead nnd bis name and fame old tales. Hut the years of foreign life which yesterday bad seemed a sulfi- "They arc Spaniard, I fancy." clent linrrier bctwivn bis past and myself of what uso wero they now, or the for eign service I bail fondly regarded as a kind of publication? Master Hcrtie broke In on my reverie much as if bo bad followed its course. "Understand one thing, lad," he said, lay ing his hand on tho withers of my borso. " Yours must not bo tho band to punish your father. Hut after today you will owe him 110 duty. You will part from him to day, nnd he will bo a stranger to you. Ho deserted you when you wero a child, and if you owo reverence to any ono it is to your uncle and not to Mm. He has him self severed tho ties lietwecn yrm." "Yes," I Said. "I will go abroad. I will go back to Wilna." "If ill comes of our enterprise, as I fear ill will come, we will both go back. If ws can," bo answered. "If good by nny chance should come of it, then you shall bo my brother, our family shall bo yout family. Tho duchess Is rich enough," bo added, with a smile, "to allow you a younger brother's portion." I could not answer bliu as I desired, fot we passed at that moment under tho arch way nnd became Instantly Involved in tho bustle going forward in the courtyard. Near the principal door of tho inn stood eight or nine horses gayly caparisoned and in tho cbargo of three foreign looking men, who, lounging in their saddles, were passing a jug from band to band. They turned as we rodo in nnd looked at us curiously, but not with nny Impertinence. Apparently they wero waiting for the rest of their party, who wero inside tho house. Civilly disposed as they seemed, tho fact that they wero armed and wore rich liv eries of black nnd gold caused me, and I think both of us, n momentary alarm. "Who aro they?" .Master Uertio asked In a low voice as he rodo to tho opposite door and dismounted with bis back to them. "They ure Spaniards, I fancy," I said, scanning them over the shoulders of my horse as I. too, got off. "Old friends, so to speak." 'They seem wonderfully subdued for them." ho answered, "and on their best behavior. If half the talcs wo heard this morning ho trim, they are not wont to carry themselves like this." Yet they certainly wero Spanish, for I overheard them spiaking to ono another in that language, nnd before wo bad well dismounted their leader whom they re ceived with great respect, 0110 of them jumping down to hold bis stirrup camu out with three or four mora and got to horse again. Turning his rein to loud tho way out through tho north gate, bo passed near us, and as he settled himself in bis saddle took a good look at us. Tho look passed harmlessly over me, bit ri aching Master IScrtln liecamo concentrated. The rider started and smiled faintly. He sccimd to pause. Then be raised bis plumed cap und bowed low, covered him self njjain and rode 011. His train all fol lowed bis example and saluted us ns they passed. Master Hertie's face, which had flushed a fiery red under the other's gaze, grew pale again. He looked at me, when they had gone by, with startled eyes. "Do you know who that was?" ho said, speaking like one who had received a blow and did not yet know bow much be was hurt. "No," I said. "It was the Count do k'erin, tho Span ish embassador," be answered. "And bo recognized nie. I met him often years ago. I knew bim again ns soon a he came outv but I did not think he would by any chance recognize mo in this dress." "Aro you sure," I asked in amazement, "that it was he?" Quite sure." bo answered. ' Hut why did be not have you arrested or r.t least detained? The warrants are still out against you." Master Hcrtie shook bis head. "I can not tell." be said darkly. "He is a Span lard. Hut come, we have the less timo to lose. We must join our friends and take their advice. We seem to I.e surrounded by pitfalls." . At this moment the lame hostler came up, nnd grumbling nt us as if bo bad never' seen ns In bis life before, and never wished to see us again, took our horses. We went Into the kitchen, and taking tho first chance of slipping up stairs to No. 15 wo were admitted with the same precau tions as before, and descending the shaft gained the ccilr.r. Here we wero not, as we bad looked to be. tho first on tho scene. I suppose a souse of tho Insecurity of our meeting place bad led every one to cr.me early, so as to h. gene cnrly. Pcnruddocko Indeed was net hero yet, but Kingston and half a score ef ethers were sitting about convers ing in low tones. It was plain that the dUirust and susuicion which wc bad re marked on the prcvivus day had not been allayed by the discovery of Clarence's treachery. . Indeed it was clear that tho distrust and despondency bad today become m panic Ma glared at one another and at the doer and talked in whispers and started at the slightest sound. I glanced round. Tho one I sought for with eager yet shrinking eyes was not to bo seen. I turned to Mas ter Bertie, ray face mutely calling on bim to ask the question. "Where is the pris oner?" be said sharply. . A moment I hung in suspense. Then one of tho men said: "He is in there. Ho is safe enough!" lie pointed ns bo spoko to a door which seemed to lead to an inner cellar. "Right," said Master Bertie, still stand ing. "I have two pieces of bod news for you nevertheless. Firstly, I have just been recognized by the Spanish embassador, whom I met in tho courtyard above." Half the men rose to their feet. "What Is liO doing here?" tbey cried, one boldly, tho others with the quaver very plain in their voices. ."I do not know, but be recognized me. Why bo took no steps to detain cr arrest 1110 I cannot tell, lie rodo away by the north rood." Tbey gazed at one another and wo nt them. The wolfish look which fear brings into some faces grew stronger in theirs. "What is your other bad news?'' said Kingston, with an oath. "A person outside, a friend of tho pris oner, has a list of our names and knows our meeting place and our plans. She threatens to uso tho knowledgo unless the man Clarcnco or Crewdson be set free." There was a loud murmur cf wrath and dismay, amid which Kingston nlone pre served Ills composure. "Wo might have been prepared for that," bo said quietly. "It is an old precaution of such folk. Hut how did you eomo to bear of it?" "My friend here saw the messenger and hear J the terms. Tho man must be set free by sunset." "And what warranty have wo that be will not go straight with bis plans and his lUt to the council?" Master Hcrtie could not answer that, neither could I. Wc had no surety, 9 ml if we set bim freo could tako none savo bis word. His word! Could even I ask them to accept thnt? To stako tho lifo of the meanest of t!?m on it? I saw tbodifiicultiesof the position, and when Master Kingston pronounced coolly that this was a waste of time, and that tho only wise course was to dispose of tho pi-inclpnl witness, both In tho interests of justice and our own safety, and then shift ourselves beforo tho storm broke, I ac knowledged in my heart the wisdom of tho course and felt that yesterday it would have received my assent. "The' risk is about the same cither way," Master Hcrtie said. "Not at all," Kingston objected, a spar kle of malice in bis eye. Last night wo had thwarted bim. Tonight it was bis turn, and the dark, lowering looks of those round him showed that mini hers wero with him. "This fellow can hang us nil. His accomplice who escapes can know nothing savo through him and could pivj only vague and uncertain evidence. No, no. Lot us cast lots who shall do it, get it done quickly and bo gone." "Wo must wait at least," Bcrtio urged, "until Sir Thomas comes." "No!" retorted Kingston, with heat. "Wo are all equal here. Besides tho man was condemned yesterday with tho full assent of olL It only remains to carry out tho sentence. Suroly this gentleman," ho continued, turning suddenly upon me, "who was so ready to accuse him yester day, docs not wish him spared today." "I do wish it," I said in a low tone. "Ho! ho!" bo cried, folding bis arms and throwing back bis head, astonished at tho success of his own question. "Then may wo ask for your reasons, sir? Iast night you could not lay your tonguo t3 words too bad for bim. Tonight you wish to spare him and let him go." "I do," I said. I felt that every eyo was upon mo nnd that. Master Hcrtie except ed, not ono there would feel sympathy with 1110 in my humiliation. They wero driven to tho wall. They bad no time for line feeling, for sympathy, for apprecia tion of tho tragic, unless it touched them selves. What ehaneo'bnd I with them, though I was a son pleading fur a father? Nay, what argument bad I savo that I was bis son, nnd that I had brought bim to this? No argument. Only the appeal to them that tbey would not mako mo a parricide! And I felt that at this they would mock. And so, in view of those stern, curious fanes n new temptation seized nie tho temptation to bo silent. Why should I not stand by nnd let things tako their course? Wiiy should I not spare myself tho shamo which I already saw would lie fruitless? When Master Kingston with a cynical bow, said, "Your reasons, sir," I stood mute and trembling. If I kept si lence, if I refused to givo my reasons, if I did not neknowledgo the prisoner, but merely begged bis life, ho would die, and tho connection between us would bo known only to ono or two. I should lie freed from him nnd might go my owu way. I ho sins or 1 crUinaml 1 mUUo were well nigh forgotten. Why tako to myself tho sins of Clarence, w Rich would other wise nover stain my name, would never be associated with my father fir myself? Why, Indeed? It was a great and soro temptation ns I stood there beforo nil those cy. a. Ilo had deserved death. I bad given bim up In perfect Innocence. Had I any right to call on them to risk their Jives that I might go harmless in con science, and he in erson? Had I What! Was there, after all, some taint in my blood? Was I going to becomo like bim to take to myself a shame of my own earning in the effort to escape from tho bunion of bis ill fame? I remembered in time the oath I had sworn, and when Kingston repeated hisquestion I answered bim quickly. "I did not know yesterday who be was," I said. "I have discovered since that he is my father. I ask nothing on bis account. Were be only my father I would not plead for bim. I plead for my self, " I murmured. "If you show no pity, you mako me a parricide." I bad done them wrong. Thero was something in my voice, 1 suppose, as I said tho words which cost me so much, which wrought with almost all of them In a degree. They gazed at me with awed, wondering faces and murmured, "His fa ther!" in low tones. Tbey were recalling the set no of last night, the moment when I had denounced him, the curse he had hurled at me, the half told story of which that had seemed tho climax. I bad wronged them. They did see tbe tragedy of it. "Yes; tbey pitied me, but they showed plainly that they would still do what per haps I should have done in their place justice. "Ho knows too much!" said one. "Our lives are as good ns his," muttered another, tbo first to become thoroughly himself again. "Why should we all die for him?" The wolfish glare came back fast to their eves. Tbey bandied their weapons Impatiently. They were longing to be away. At this moment, when I saw I had indeed made my confession in vain. Master Bertie struck In. "What." be aid, "If Master Carey and I take charge of bim, and, escorting him to hi agent without, be answerable for both of them?" 'You would be only putting your necks into tbo noose!" sail Kingston. "We will risk that!" replied my friend, and what a friend and what a man be seemed amid that Ignoble crew! -"I will myself promise you that if he refuse to re main with us until midnight or tries wherever we ore to raise an alarm or coni lnunreate with any one I will run bim through with, my own hand. Will not that satisfy you?" "No," Master Kingston retorted; "it will not! A bird in tbo hand is worth two in the bush!" "But the woman outside?" said one timidly. "Wo must ran that risk," quoth ho. "In an hour or two wo shall be in hiding. Come, the lot must be drawn. For this gentleman, let bim stand aside." I leaned against the wall, dazed and horror stricken. Now that I bad identi fied myself with him I felt a great long ing to savo him. I scarcely noticed the group drawing pieces of paper at tho ta ble. My every thought was taken up with tbe low door over there and tbo wretched man lying bound in the darkness behind it. What must be tho horror, the black despair, tho hate and defiance of his mind as bo lay there, trapped at last like any beast of prey? It was horrible! horrible) horrible! I covered mface and could not restrain tho cry of unuttcrahlo distress which rose to my lips. They looked round, two or three of them, from the table. But the impression my appeal bad mado upon them had faded away already, and they only shrugged their shoulders and turned nsain to their task. Master Bertie alone stood apart, bis arms folded, bis face grave and dark, lie, too. had abandoned hope. Thero seemed no hope, when suddenly there came a knocking at tho door. Tbe papers were dropped, and whilo some stood ns if stiffened into stone others turned and gazed nt their neighbors. It was a knock ing mora hasty and imperative than tbe usual summons, though given in tho same fashion. At last a man found tonguo. "It is Sir Thomas," ho suggested, with a sigh of relief. "Ho is in a hurry and brings news. I know bis knock." "Then open the door, fool, "cried King ston. "If you can si-e through a two Inch plank, why do you stand there liko a gaby?" Master Hcrtie anticipated the man and himself opened tho door and admitted tho knocker. Pcnruddocko it was. He camo in, still drumming on the door with his fist, bis eyes sparkling, his ruddy checks aglow. Ho crossed tbo threshold with a swagger, and looking nt us all burst Into a strange peal of laughter. "Yoicks! Gone to earth!" be shouted, waving his hand as if be bail a whip in it, "Gone to earth gone forever! Did yon think It was the lords of the council, my lads?" He had left tbo doof widoopen behind him, and we now saw in tho doorway the seafaring man who usually guarded tho room above. "What does this mean, Sir Thomas?" Kingston said sternly. Ho thought, I fancy, as many of us did, that the knight was drubk. "Have you given that man permission to leave his post?" "Post? There are no more posts," cried Sir Thomas, with a strange jollity. Ho certainly was drunk, but perhaps not with liquor. "Except good fat posts," he con tinued, smacking Master Hcrtie on tbe shoulder, "fur loyal men who have done tho state service nnd risked their lives in evil times! Posts? I shall get so drunk tonight that tho stoutest post on Ludgato will not bold me up!" "You seem to bavo gone far that way already," my friend said coldly. "So will you when you hear the news!" Pcnmddockc replied, more soberly. "Lads, ,tho queen Is dying!" In the vaulted room bis statement was , received in silence, a silence dictated by no feeling for the woman going beforo her Maker hew? should wo who were plotting agatnst her feel for her, we who were or tho most part homeless and proscribed through her? but tho silence of men in doubt, in doubt whether this might mean all thnt from Mr Thomas' aspect it seemed to moan. "She cannot live a week!" Penruddocke continued. -'Tho doctors havo given up hope, and nt the palace nil is in con fusion. She has named tho Princess Klizahctb ber successor, nnd even now Cecil Is drawing np tbo proclamations. To show that the game Is really up the Count do Feria, tbo Spanish embassador, has gone this very day to HaMield to pay his respects to tho coming queen." Then Indeed the vaulted roof did ring ring and ring again with shouts of "tho coming queen!" Men over whom tho wings of death bad seemed a minute ngo to lio hovering, darkening all things to them, looked up nnd saw the sun. "The coining queen!" they cried. "You need fear nothing!" continued Pcnruddocko wildly. "No one will dare to execute tho warrants. The bishops are shaking in their miters. Pole is said to bo dying. Bonner is more likely to hang himself than burn others. Up nnd out and play the man! Away to your counties and get ready your tar barrels! Now wo will givo them a testa of thcCujus ltegiu! Ho, drawer, there! A cup of ale!" Ho turned, and shouting a scrap of a sorlg swaggered lack into the shaft and began to ascend. They nil trooped after bim, talking and laughing, a reckless, good nnturcd crew, looking to a man as if they bad never known fear or selfishness as if distrust were a thing impossiblo to them. Master Kingston nlone, whom bis losses had soured and who still brooded over bis revenge, went off moodily. I was for stopping one of them, but Master Bertie directed my eyes by a ges ture of his hand to the door at the far end of tho cellar, and I saw that tho key was in tl. lock. Ho wrung my hand hard. "Tell him all," be muttered. "I will wait above." (To be continued.) There are a great many of the un fortunate ones in this world, greater in number than those who are blessed with good digestion. To some peo ple the greatest misfortune is not to be able to eat everything set before them. "I goffered for years with dyspepsia, and everything I ate disa greed with me. I was induced to try Simmons Liver Regulator and was cured- I now eat everything." M. Bright. Madison Parish, La. Ten, TIs So That Foley's Colic and Diarrhoea Cure gives quick, and positive relief in all bowel complaints 25 cents and 50 cents at M. Y. Bah n sen's drug store. THE DAILY ARGUS All the News Local and Telegraph IOC Best Advertising The Leading Paper of the Tenth 0 ongressional District. A. "WEEK. . Mm, 5