CHAPTER XXVII.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 323, 8 December 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XXVII .

IN* FULL CRY. "For the third time sounded that midnight summons upon the great door of Coimoi' Hall, and-bhia time it was so loud and imperious in its wild clangor as to arouse the household from their beds'. Doors were heard to open and shut hurriedly, and steps wore heard in the halls. Bassantyne leaned back against the wall of the Lady Kathleen's dressing-room, pistol in hand, his face drawn and seamed with' the anguish of an aw.fi.il expectation. The Lady Kathleen stood^ in listening attitude, while as marble, her eyes dilated wide with horror. ' OCell them not to open the door,' whispered Bassantyne, sharply and shrilly. ' It is too late ! I cannot give' the order without making matters worse. Delaney has always gone to the door.' 'Then I'm lost.' , ' Perhaps it is not the police. I will see. 5 , The Lady Kathleen glided into her boudoir, and locked the door .opening into the' corridor. ..Then she softly and swiftly, undid ,i>he fastenings of her great, wide French,, window;s, and stepped out upon the balcony, inki.the midst of a group of plants and t shrubs,jn pots. Screened by these, her ladyship lookedr over, the- edge, of the balcony, keenly and, cautiously.' ,,.,.;, »■'..,!

A grdup of irieh^ere belo> r , most of tfhein mounted. OnV of these' nien held" the bridles of two- riderless -horses., The men ,who had come upon the&e horses were those who were* beating theloucl tatoo' upon the door. ' - Bending over the railing of the balcony still further, the Lady Kathleen saw that one of the men at the flow, like the horsomen, was in policeman's uniform. The other, from his apparent lameness and his general appearance," ■■ she recognised as Basiantynes enemy, Lame Bill. She was; about to retreat, when the horsemen dismounted, securing their, horses to the trees.« And one of the men said : ' Knock louder. Wake them up, lads—' ' Whist !' said the officer afc the door, ' It's coming they are. None o' your hullaballoo now !' ' Better surround the Hall, 1 suggested Lame Bill, uneasily. ' Gentleman bob is a regular desperado. He may escape at the back door while we are at the front. 5 ' Perhaps it'll be telling me how to ate you'll be next,' said the officer, testily. 'As if 1 didn't know my own business 1 . It's, lull oi advice and hints you've been since we started.' Nevertheless, despite his jealousy of com ments or interference, the officer who seemed in command ot his party ordered his men to guard the rear doors. At that moment the great door swung on its massive hinges, and Delaney appeared on the threshold, demanding what was wanted. The Lady Kathleen sped back to he r diessing-room. rinding Bassantyne in th e attitude in which &he had left him. 4 It ib the police, guided by Lame gjjj v .she paid, breathlessly. 'They a re sur '_ rounding the house. You must es ca r Je a^ once. I may be wrong 1 in thus s creen i n .j i ou — " ' But helf-preservabion's the f\ vs^ j aw o f nature. How am I to escape ?' 'Follow me. Quickly, without a word ' .She led the way into her bedchamber, through the bath-room, out , ipon a emall nairow landing, lighted by a small round window. From this landing a narrow circular ilight of stairs led to the ground floor. & The Lady Kathleen conducted the fugitive down the- staircase, coming out ucon a lower lauding, from which there was but a single mode of egrees_ a small door open . ing into the rose-garden. 1 This is a private entrance, never used nowadays," said the Lady Kathleen, as she hurriedly, drew the rusty bolts and bars, • It is screened on the outside by a heavy growth ot ivy, and will probably escape the notice ot the police. 1 will gain all tha time 1 can tor your escape. Now go.' She pulled open the door, its rusty hinges creaking, and Bassantyne peered cautiously out into the night. The Lady Kathleen had surmised truly. The narrow door in the house wall, grown over with ivy, and unscreened by a porch, had escaped the observation of the policemen. There were no watchers outside. Witlira muttered word of thanks. Bassantyne glided down the steps into the gardon, sped along in the shadow of therose hedge to a belt of shrubbery, in the p-otec-tion of which he sneaked for the park. Once in tho park, he believed it would be easy to make his way out of the valley into the open country outside. The Lady Kathleen stood in the little arched doorway in the wall until Bassantyne had gained the shrubbery, and then she softly closed the door and fastened it securely. Then she glided swiftly up the stairs, locked her bathroom door, putting the key in her pocket, and leisurely proceeded to her s.itiitog-room. Someone was knocking loudly at her door. She called out : ' Who is there V A chorus of voices answered her, prominent among which she distinguished those of Delaney, the stewaid, and of her maid, whom she had dismissed tu bed an hour before. Going to the door, she flung it open, demanding, haughtily : 4 Why am 1 disturbed at this hour, and in this manner? What has happened?' She regaided the group at her threshhold with flashing eyes and indignant mien. The gioup consisted of nearly all her servants, Mr and Mrs Delaney, the police officer and one of his aids, behind whom was Lame Bill, all sinister delight and expectant triumph. 'I beg your pardon, my lady.' &aid the officer, respectfully, and removing his hat. 'I am here on a painful and mo&t unwelcome duty, in obedience to the orders of my superiors.'

(To be Continutd. )