THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 148, 19 April 1909, Page 4

THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

(All tilth's I'wrvM J

By Ml l!li\V CIUAVDON*. Author of "lli'- UlacUnnili'i#." "Ktfllinii t'tv ""Itiß lleir of Un- Lowlowiia," Etc. IMKT XVII. KoMnr «ntl fiwlrr. A .••light l»»r» ©<' tlk- r«»o«I. another. nn>l tin cultiVfiHl iitTP* ni Son I'nritun la) right nnd Ml. Iwlhitl in Hip moonlight. A i|ii«rl>T of n i»»il«" (>»rIhr nixl a rum ««hoii»- !»ilv r-;;r>-> nctiirst n lincVcwuml of p»ir|»lp «»») its''- Kirrltv trut'p»l on «»»h l«»w rrir.H. n«i«l «t the r«ls:»* of <h«' yn«"*hir»- ti l»r«in>l )»a*li ili|>|»-«l Irlnivn llimiro nml j>br(iM«.-r> siikl •»ci»fHs»* (n*'*. lo'oflri'j t»«ill<'»l <i|» nn*l iliMiiitiiiiliil. Hi* ion wn?» l»ri%"(. A man out Irvfonhim, i»ml„ hn\ ir>£ ihrown «i «orv glnmt- round alx*ut. Hp Miiil, »n n low voirv ; * AII it wpII. sciior. Mv iim*tvr o«oih

The man—h»* ««> e. id«>ntb *'•■ nrw t»\ >'r**fr n< Son I'nrima—l«»«»k charge »»» lit.- mare and led In.riittaJ A mi!»l di«ui»«d lJ«'»ifirfy % • >..«•. htiliMtndini; him. a* In* lr.»tl th« pjitli be had n«'t>T <-\|i%t-t'«l l«» .- '• acain. lie rear tied ihe I»hih;hl«>w . »limh -d ««» \h>' urnmlnli w«»h • remMins: lintlr-. «»»»! then a lißiir.- Miirt"-.! mil •<( the shadow* nml a hand iri»|«|*'d bis shoulder.

•Ktrs;>is.»ii * * hj- wln>|>T«il. " \>. IVrs;-i»*«»ii il »■*»■■ Wi-l«oii.i\ my llrnr 1V11..W V* '<:,». l Mos »«■»• '" «;«•.»•>(■, >ni'\. hr,A<-nh . *'>•» *>w» '"••■r hn«l n truiT mi.iml. V»»«» lwl»»"\«*«l n.v i»* •"from th. Innir I •••«>» i»«> i»i,-uu»r> hark. %»ni hn*»> 1«« ••» t«-rril»lv wrongc'l. llni«ln>j.'V n»»I *»»• nrvMill £»ili> rn tin" O'* 1 •»' *"«-' '«* w * |h«i»cti I lr»«j»i *«»»• ««*l i">l i main »i> lt»f>C tint »»■ m»i.»l Msiihl hr«'«* : llirrr i> '•»•» »»»«"" »* M*iki-. Tan *im I.ear n t;r«"»»t mo (••»:■«'" It *«». I».tll >.»nr-.-H I»«p-i!».->, ftnii I will intr«««i»«cr )y« l»> o t'«»M|"l»- »»i «»M <rii"n«l«."" "FriciHl*. ?"" «'«!m».-«I Cnr.rtirj. "I hove ii»iv. «m*V*s* *«»' i '"ii'itu Mirk llnt»*l«*H" •Tmiiw : >«»"» .shall a*-*'." sat«l I-Vr-Il«> i>|»'ivi>«l Uv i»«w»r i»s »!'•• i»iiHi;»tI«»i%. mill >i i|iiickl> anil n«»i.«-•!••>'••> , Vhnal liu- t««» »* lh'-y f»t»*r*~l thr- »h«f»»nl runiiii. Hi* wiiHluM.s „i wbkh ncrr tightly .-hut. A lamp wos hunting «»r» On- «i i" M»jjf-»kV>k. ai»i i«»r an in-ta>»t *•» >»"lr.'-.'.«. >•>**- w.T- .»«//|.-.l »•;. el*-- li.irM- "I'h.-n. !»>«> \«•>•»»» a miin m«»«mI i>|» htitttf l»ft»». a#» !»'• >»•»» si niHiion".- >'«*•• a Irrtl- I'nnJwr tank. Mm »««•»»'« »«.* fmt»"nl> vhII«'«I »»v ,i *«>•«>• lhat rhnltVii hit in t*» lh«- h-ar». iiii'l lh«' familiar «oi»nil '»• »'. !"•' v,.»ii«l-riiil imr.tliM'- thint: that w«- •lawiii"*: ujh.h his «ln/cd «ci>!»c». >"'"»« l •'» ir.iil.. ihr r.»oia k«» »|»inni»»; iiuhiihl him. 11.- l»»»k ti >•«••!• loiwanl, hi* haniK |.n>s.-«l t«» h«s r.vtinv: Imhih. his* t'arr lhiu»i»»s; w ill* .• n«s>h »»i 1.1.mm1.

"Itrinn r \i"!<» '" hj" n »-.1. 'Win f iif\»ti iiwl" M.-nti'.d ll«-«»'->«"-

11. >.v t n>»«l. miM>in£ Ferguson > •»•••- *rrvfr"f»i «rte>. «i.«l Mril.ii-}: tli--11»!. {■ -. »►•• *|.fa«H"«l l*«lf n»r«»«> n. Ii: i|m\rr»jtt; hand* rl»»*rli«i»j; at tin s ».rt t «t ».| lw>a«»K A piil's m>li l.roko ..n thr Mill?!'**.

' I'Vfrh >mkm nal.T. I*i lan. «|H!«k '." sh>- irmf l.»rr«l. " Tl»" >h«»lk « «s» »<>«» u-ir.it : M> In"- faiid'"-!. «»•»- how *.*•»> b«- lt». ■ «lf*r«'l' My |»»or

■ \»>t srft m»e"i &»«. I r\|> «••«••!. ' :.ii>l - .%••"•" *l»r.»n.i:h n..»n;l» ?.» !»;►'»■■ Ml'vl *H» .n-dinaiy malt.' \nd r 8»F» »»» C>»f»« '»i* flt.iu n» n»> hour's imllii', !••• to an«l hn\> t»«is >f'r>ins; »i|..m h' illt Mis |».-,-»m>i«»I. "»« was mor. fh»» lo> could Mand. M »""* m\ uo»H I >.l»«»«ild ha*e Urok.-n ill». hiot S'ltlh ."

|l,,r «:<L».»r»rt-> lia-l n<»t r-woonnl. tlioucfi <«>r n moment !»•• «»-"» as ir, ( r »•» il us !»"• could w»-ll come. ni..',» F.-ryMon ami llriaii bad |»r«»|»|K'«| him ii|« in a l>ai»k«-t-ehn»r. and h- had ■.•.uilhmod half o glass «»i .flvjfv-; and Wttlci. In- l(»ol»»*l from ,«,, to ni...thi r id thr Urn*' villi ni*d >••! donMing «■».•».««■ lit h|. hnd i»iM wnkvni-d from sh-'|». • \r.- >«»•• rva|, or i-< this .a dream thai I "mn't shake oil?" h«* *ai>l. |i» ftlantlv .. 'No. %.iii are im.rMiii: in\ Yioln here in Hrili>h lliiiana. th»<-i>n»<l» of mil«* from Kiigland ' And llrian ! Not a night l>'»t • '">• *•»■(« him lull, Mruek down lo no band—•'•n him I> ing wliilr ami .Mill in the m>«Ml. Ii >t»«i ar«- rt«*»» nml M.mml. sfi-nk t«» »•»'•- "!"--•■ ••»■-■ >•"• "FnrgHc >».•«?" cri«-«l llrism. 'lt ',* I v\h«» shw»l«l «-k i.»rgi»cn.*•■». J"»»» «n»ngc«l you, f:•-*■•"»»t-> - nj> imin p k t(i>- »r*»f>|r*'«l a b#»\ irirml. My tnnil hp'l w»cK«'«l coiulurl «lr«»y >«•>' |nt»> r.Nilr. mul nolhing » T »" »«•»»•• k.r tl»c iiil*.ffp>" aml •ruffrring I ha\t l'l'»»llglll »|H»I1 Jllll." "Ywi *HI forghc u» |»U>a«k-»l Vi.t* M. »»» shr Wnt %>wr «;«-wO'r»'> uu»l with a ««|rt «»f imikTii'-s.H iiikl ••• «!m»i»' in hj«" licaiiiliiil «'><»-. »»>"l with Ihr olil »n"-t l»»»k ihal h-- i-p----mcml.. mil •>«» will- "«'•?. too. ha«« •iinrr»«l nim>- «i- |carn«il lh»; truth. Hut long Iwfor*- thai. »<»«-r \«ni hail K l .*! anil ft *a* »»«» la*"". "•> low uml tniM caiiw l»ac».. I know thi-r. w#»» »«»im' mlMoki'. tlvoflrn'v : I Ih»-liV*»-«I. in *|»ilr *>i nil. thai joHhad Urn true to m»\ Wo parlml in On that o«<ul niorning t»h»'i» 1 thought ihat Hrian «a- •! ail I s»'iit you irom mo with hill of wotil* that I would ghc an>lhing to rorall. Awl now Oh, to find you liko this !" •m»n"f |»rote»l«l UeofTroy. '"I can't Inear it.'* ft was not a dfcani, ".hoii. II.» • tili»od this gradually as the truth *.n* made clear to him. as ho hvnrd with wonder and gratitude of .»r t'armoit's Torranas lardy con- »" j»i«n and the convict Sheldon's vI»H »o ArrhilNild !tfen/i»*. ainl o< ih»« iMrontpi inoa»uro» taken by hi* Liends to rescue him from his tcrrililw plight.

I '•Violet "otild come ; there was no [ l'-nving her," Brian went on. "Aii'l ' i.-. good luck, on the wnt over w«i i-V in with Ferguson hw. He was ' .> |«n*senger on the same steamer, .ti.l 11.1 mnn livittf; could have been t .«' such assistance to us. For dats

' hm| weeks" ' I was glad enough to join youi ; I lii»»." Ferguson bloke in. " I 1it..1 U«-n to F.nglnnd t<» hate an ,«!>< ration performed. .Mt head had '••■••n giving me trouble, and the surgeons removcil a splinter of bone thai was pressing on the brain, with ihe result that my lost memory irlitrr.nl. Though I haven't the slightest idea who assaulted me thai night. Itnrdinge—if 1 may rail von bt the old nanu—l knew |icrfectlv w.-ll that it was not >«»u. To ; i,,.„ % ,. j{_ i|i,h was the liilliculty. and tlese good friends of tours wen' of the same mind. What we have li>ise. how we planned ami worked i«ig»-lh»T for weeks, is too lon.-r « s'..n to relate now. Hut yo" are i'.,,.—i hat is the first step gained—md while ton are in safe hiding. |x>rha| s in Knglnnd. if we can smuggle ton across, evi'iy effort will be n»««le to establish your innoience ;>nd procure ton a pardon. It is ml-, a ipiestion of linn-, he assured. ' • Ititi I am not mi l '"-, even here." i:.,»!1i.-> exclaimed. bitterly. *'i„>i«;bf cuing tip. with a ttild look in Irs mji*. "Hy heavens '. how .-orld I have forgotten? Your plans have l»en tieirnjcd, Ferguson. I intended to tell you at once. Colonel Hicaido came to tin island this •truing to inform the warders that I meant In esca|«e. and the alarm un:* j." it en Inrforc 1 ci-osmhl the ri\<-f."" r..|.ut. I Hicaido?" « ri«-d F.Tgu-'-•II. turning pale. " M h.t. 1 hate -;u d fr.nii the first that he suspen- ' I »«ir.eiliiug : he was too rurioiis ilm.mi u.v visitors. He must have t J.p|"e«l one of lot Illen to plat the ,|.-. . Mo..* the colon. I know that Ko'ii v-.ir to hat.- sought shelter limiv-.il San l'arima ?" [ I ...» ; : ii.u.i he knows all." groan•i CcolMePii.u. a»d \ iol-i .-M-hanued glanc -. "i Imi rur ami «-0i.r.1. i n:.l i«m. and [tn t'e lei-i sdeiice lli.i; • su<-.| a I li.Mil r.ip ttns heard a' He door. hesitated, then o|«-ii-d it [ i i.-vv inches. What do >u'i waul. I'e.lro ?" lie ast,-.1 ■• Ant thing wrong? S| eak ~ui.ll •" "lloi.-eit'eti. s.-no| ."' v.j.s the jiudi- >!•• icply. •'The> are coming this .tat at a gallop."

rIIAITKH XMV. A MTTKII I'AIM'IX<:. | With a -harp ejaculation Ferguson st>-p|Hfl «»n to the \erandah. ami for a luoiifiil. while be Isilkfil in whis- ••>-«, the sound oi a pin (ailing inii:lii have been heard in the room. ll.' qni.-klv returned, .losing and barliug the door, and showed n white Imii determined face to hi- companion-, who waited in dread for him to spe.uk. •Ke-p up votir courage." he l>egan. *.»r though things look pretty black" "It is true, then?" gapped Hriatt. •They arc coming'.'" \.-. ; no doubt ••!' it. our plans have Ihit-ii Iwt rayed, and if I had my hand- on the guilty ** ouudrel I would throttle him as I would a mad cur. Horsemen aie tiding this v.nv for what purpose is only 100 »b-nr." "I tu «•«'." said <:ei»r»"ivy. wi»h a m.ne towards tho tloor. "l>on't -top nv." he cried, as F« rgtisott motioned him back. "flood heavens, man- do you think I'll remain here to j.i t you all into trouble? You ire in a bad enough scrape as it s. It i-. foloiv-l Kicardo who is '■«»n»ins. and some of tin. warders v cili him l»U» I lm-1 lielter leave by ih« rear, tjuick ! give me food, ii y.»u have it, and a weapon or two"" •Wait." ini.irnpt.il Ferguson. ' You -hull c<> i. ii.'»!.> I want !•» consider what »ou had l'-l<-r •!•.. Title is no sal> hidlivg fv> you ..n the e-tav. wurse btck ! I!'>t the h.ir- uieii won't be In r« f.u- another quarter •■( an hour at the «en lea-t -=ouiid travels (ai- at night. «>pe. ially the pounding of li.ii.f-. and the party were just now cros-ing that granite causeway between thrc>- and four miles .town the valley. Th'-y will l«e d*-lay.-d for a few momentk at the bottom of my private road, for Pedro has gone to t-l.»>- tin- gn'es. \ml when they reach '.he bungalow lln-> tt;i; find it in darkness, as if «e had Ineii in Ih-.I for hours. Miss iv-moml. you had Ik-U- r retire at OIHC-" • "\.-, by alt means. assented Itrian "It- won't be wv.-ssary for ..on 10 appear. Violet, unless they tit-i-l tm s-arching the house. CJeofirey, my poor fellow, this cuts me to the heart. I wish to heaven 1 rould take your plate " 'What art ending to our ho|H»- and plans •'' cried Violet : and clasping her tiembllng hands on tJeofTrey's arm. sh" looked up at him tearfully.

T.» think that we should have resitted yon ami brought J mi here.. oi»l> li» m-ihl yuu i'iuo fresh danger and .iiuVnng • It : ->> t"«» cruel. Oh. must \ou go from u-?" ~ "It can't if help.il : there is no. ..th.-r'wny." declnrnl •:w!Ti.>, who w«» l»ravi-|\ concealing the agony that was lacerating his heart. The cirl's distressed mmc— love an-.-|x-akab|- that hhone in her beaui•••>! vye— came near to unnerving him ami making him a coward. "For vein- hake, fur tl»- *Hkc of \ tiiir brother and Kerauvuii," he told her, 'I mu>l sH rcsoge in the forest, for a time at least." ;• A brief tiiite. exclaimed IVrguj,,ii. "Yes. It iiium In.- lb.- forest. Ilardiuge. There is. unfortunately, no alternative." ■Hut e\rn if I csni|>e. if they find no trace of me It •r»," asked CeofIVvv. bitterK. 'will that save \hc ry»l of >oti from \h" penally you •ave incurred ?' ■ u/vill lH?ar it gl.olh ." vowed Brian, though It,; glanced apprehensively at his sister ns he spoke. "There will lie no penally." said Ferguson. "I'on't worry aInVU u*. Ilardiuge. Colonel Kiraido and his friend,* inav tiUb|>ect as much as they please : hut they can prove obsoluiely nothing, be sure of that. Under the circumstances, when they arrit<? nl the bungalow ami fin,d. \K. closed ami in tlorknes*. 1 doubV if they will even question us as to whether or not you were here tonight. The> will want to search, of cours«'. and then they will pro-, bablv conclude thai \ .»u uVd 111 aa-

other direction." "Or that I lime not come yet.'* suggested (Jcoffrcy. "(Joel grant it may so happen .' Hut 1 am wasting precious time, Ferguson. Don't keep me longer." "You shan't go atone," declared Brian, with sudden ivsolve. " I will share your flight. ileofTrey." " Impossible. Desmond : not to be thought of." said Ferguson. "That would came troubl- indeed. How could we account for your absence ": 1 dare not even send one of my own ti.cn with him. for Colonel Hi car do knows cvrry hand at San l'arima by sight, ami In* is not likely to leave without huving ihem must-red and counted. There imol be no om missing, either from tut guests or my t-mpl«»\i\s." "Yes. I can .sec the importance ol • hiii." assented lirinn.

lie reliictnntly abandoned his wish, ami a little later—not live minutes had elapsed since. I'eiiro gate the alarm—f.'coffrcy was readt to set forth on his bun-It- uuesl for shelt t from the relentless sl.-uihhounds of the law. He hail l«ecn provided v.hit a rifle and eartriilge-IH-lt, a loaded retolter. and a machete. In his pockets were all the food that the house contained, ami a heatt blanket was strapped lielwe.n his shoulders. The weapons w. re odd oni s, and contained no mark that might prove their ownership.

"You have plenty of time." said Ferguson, when he had stepj .-d to the door for a moment. "All is ;pu'et. so the horsemen can't be less than a mile and a hrli away. Strike south fust, and then I ear to the east, along the edge oithecan'*fields. Mon'l go lim> far into U:iungle, but push up to the hijrher ground, near tin- hills, win n- ton will find a lot of caverns a ■: the sandstone rocks. You can s•> the liungalow from there by climb ing a tall tree, and when the flafi is down ton will kti<«w ilial the roast is d.-ar. \fter that, at the •arlii'sl opportunity . I will contrite to get a message to yon. Three sharp whisili-s will be the signal tou're to listen for. I'o you untlersinnd ?" 'Y—. I'te got i« all "

Longer delat would be imprudent, and though F-rgusoii's instructions |"ft much t«» bv- dcsireil, any more definite plans were out of the question without careful forethought, and until the extent of Colonel Ilicnrdos information should be learned.

IJcolHvy's i*«" lines were almost too much for speech, nor wvrc his friends loss moved. Mr wrung Brian's hand, ami having embraced Violet (or an instant ami ardently kissed the quivering Hps that she uplifted to his. he gently released the girl's convulsive hold and placed her in her brother's arms. "tJod protect you." she sobbed. •'and brinir you safe back to me !" "t.'o ! -<Jo !" Ilriati pleaded, huskily.

With a last look at the devoted friends he was perhaps leaving for ever, n look that was to be a vivid and bitter memory wh>'n he recalled the parting scene in days to come. (JeofTrey turned ami followed Ferguson from the room. The latter opened a low window from him at the roar of the bungalow, and he noiselessly let himself to the ground. The garden, with its shrubbery and orange-tree?, was lonely and silent; bill at a dibiance an ominous sound was swelling on the night air. It was the steady clump ! clump ! ol horses' hoofs.

•Hark ! They arc coming near," In* whispered. "Have you time to prepare for them '.'" *Ws : ten minutes or a quarter en' an hour.'' saitl Ferguson. "It will be alt rijrht- If the scoundrel who betrayeil us thould be prowling about here, aud von run across him." he added, "don't let him live to tell the tale. Hut hj» is probably with Ilicardo's party." •Thai will hv bad for you."

*• No : the fellow's evidence ean't amount to anything. Pon'l worry. Cft>od-b\e. Ilardiuge. and hope foi belter luck. We'll stick to you, and never rest till your innocence it proved." ■•Cowl-bye." CeofTrey answered, brokenly. "Cod bl<*ss you for all you've done-"-Their hands met in a grip tna t was more expressive thun words, and then Ferguson was standing alone »n»ide the darkened room with a tump in his throat, while Ceoffrcy was hurrying away with rapic: strides into the night. He was fleeing from all thstt he h<id dear on earth. Violet's lo\<iy faee. sad and appealing haunted him at every step, and in his despair he told hiin.vlf there was no Cod above anc no justice on earth. He had enjoyed u few brief inoinents of I'aradi.se, aud now the angel with tin. flaming sword, or. more correctly s|»eaking. the Curse of the Cat-dews —lie was learning to believe in it—had thrust him forth into the owlet darkness to battle with fresh trials What would the end Ik- ? he wondered.

"At least, 1 am belter oil than I was," he reflected, and took a raj of comfort from the thought. "I havu freedom and friends. 1 will keep Ihe one, aud trust to the other."-

Tli.- muffled drumming of hoofs had ill a" n unpleasantly n<-ar. ceased ami struck up again by t!•-- titm that fJcoflicy had reached the southeastern corner of I lie t'sfaf, l>y n roundabout way that avoided tin vicinity of the men's quarter*. Silence fell suddenly, and he listenc. (,tv several minutes, knowing that the horsemen must he at th<* bungalow and demanding admittance. Then, hearing nothing—the distance was fully' three-quarters of a mile —he turned his back on »he canefields. tne outpost of civi\iza\ioa »n that part of British Cuiana. and with a heavy heart Ik;an to tread the vast labyrinth of tropical trees and plants and vegetation. It was now, to \he best of Oeoifrey's knowledge-, about an hour pasV midnight. He was satisfied ihat his steps had not been dogged by the unknown person who had betra.xed Ferguson's plans,'and in that fact was present security. Being well armed. and shod with thick, high boots, he had little fear of either serpents or wild beasts. Hie latter, indeed, owing to Ferguson's prowess as n spoilsman, had long since h-anu'd to shun the im'■unliale neighbourhood of Han Pa--ima. i.'J'o be Continued),-