SERIAL STORY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 301, 29 January 1910, Page 6

SERIAL STORY

A ROYAL WARD. CHAPTER Y. (continued). '•Well, gentlemen, we are waiting," said the newcomer. "If any one of you is anxious to be quit of his troubles, he has only to move." "Who the devil are you?" asked one. '•Under the circumstances, my name doesn't seem of much consequence, does it?" "What brings you to this place?" '•The search for lodging and rest. It would seem I have been misdirected." "Who directed you?" said the landlord, from the doorway. "One who reminded me. that there are poor men in this land who starve." The eji'eet of these words was magical, JaOOb Pinfold suddenly began rubbing his hand*' ttild looked obsequious. The men who IHUI paused in their murderous intention tto\v started forward excitedly. "Stand where you are!" and the quick command was emphasised by an ugly movement of the pistol. '■.Putjou. don'!; Understand!" cried the man who had constituted himself leader, "That scoundrel beside you, the man you are defending, is a Government spy!" "Even so, five to one seems' too many," was the answer. "Lord, man, don't you understand that our lives are in his hand? Once let him leave this place, and \vc are dead men if we show our faces in daylight." "Xo groat matter that, maybe," said the stranger, speaking for the first time since lie had knocked his foremost adversary senseless with the chair; "but, all the same, I am not a Government spy." "And what becomes of my business and the Brazen Serpent?" whined Jacob* "These gentlemen are right, young sir; I'll be responsible for the truth of what they say." "And responsible for the gentleman's burying, too, it would seem. You seem to be proprietor of a'wide grave, since there is' room for two in it. You may sleep comfortably there yourself unless you unbar that door at once." "But, sir, I protest——" "The door I say—and quickly," and then turning to his companion, to whose help he had eome so opportunely, he added: "You would be safer, I think, sir, elsewhere." "Well, that's another pretty obvious remark, which, however tired I may be of fhem, cannot be ignored. You will come with me?"

"Xo; I appear to tie amongst friends." "]) dares'ay you know best, for I do not pretend to thoroughly understand the matter," was the answer. "Anyway, I thank you, and consider myself much in your debt. Should you be by Hungerford Market to-morrow at eleven we may meet; I shall look for you." "We're fools to let him go," said his enemies in chorus; but since the man walked backwards to the door, having motioned Jacob to come away from it, and as he still held his pistol in his' hand, no one moved to stop him. He passed out, and his even step upon the stones without died awav into silence.

"Now, sir, perhSps you'll explain," said one of the men, bolder now that there was only a single individual to deal with. "Your words' spell friendship, but your actions have put our lives in jeopardy. If you know anything of us at all, you must be aware of this."

li of course he knows of us," said Jacob: ''how else would he have the words? Your servant, sir; you come for food and lodging; you shall have the best the house affords'."

"You are too changeable, my good friend," was the answer. "I came for a bed, it is true, and am met with a pressing invitation to share a double grave. I have no use for such a restingplace at present." "But, sir " "Enough. I have decided to lodge elsewhere to-night. And you, gentlemen are too excited to talk calmly with me at present. Oh, we are friends, there can be no doubt of that, but even friends get has'ty with one another on occasion. We shall see matters more clearly to-morrow, when our tempers have had time to cool a little." '•Perhaps there will be some enquiries for you?" said Jacob. ''lt is possible." 'Tor whom will they ask?" "Victor Dubuisson. I am sure the name is 1 unknown to you, gentlemen; but since I am not anxious that all the town should know it, my confidence m you proves that we arc friends." '•'Sir, will you not let me show you the best room I have before " "Xo. landlord. Yon gentleman against the wall must fairly have had the wits knocked out of him. We have been too busy in the last few mhmtes to pay attention to him, but he moved just then, and is recovering a little, I fancy. He would go home unsteadily, if, indeed, he could make the journey at all; for to-night put him into that bed you are so anxious to show me, landlord; and if his head should not chance to be as hard as some, you may find use for that grave of yours after all. I wish you good-night, gentlemen," and Bictor Dubuisson walked out of the Brazen Serpent before anyone could answer him or make any movement to stop him. CHAPTER VI. THE BROKEN CROSS. It was easy enough for Victor Dubuis'son to find another lodging that might; it was quite another matter to understand the significance of his adventure at the Brazen Serpent. "You will be asked no awkward qucs-

lions there," Sir Rupert had said, as they journeyed to London, '•and if you say to the hindloni, "There are poor men in this land who starve,' he will give you the best of attention. - ' The phrase had certain!v had a remarkable effect, but of what sort were the frequenters of this tavern who were afraid to let a man live because he knew something of their doings? it was no quarrel which had developed suddenly upon which he had chanced, but a premeditated affair, for the landlord had already prepared a grave. With these would-be assassins Sir .Rupert Asliton must surely have some connection, or how should he know their eateh phrase? And Victor Dubuiss'on found his hopes sinking a t the thought, for Sir Rupert had promised to help him, and he had begun to believe that such help would bo valuable. "To lie and rot in some hole underneath the Brazen Serpent would have ■been a poor end. to come to," Victor mused, as lie fell asleep and forgot his doubts and difficulties for a while. If health and hope are in a man, he takes up his life with renewed energy after a night's rest. With morning, difficulties appear smaller, and matters can be rated at nearer their true value. Victor Dubuisson wag «, stranger upon a strange quest; he might possibly have to use strange means to gain his end, and make queer friendships'. Although, with morning, he was as far as ever from understanding his last night's adventure, he had made" up his mind to go to Hungerford Market at eleven. Possibly this stranger was a spy, but he was no coward, a fact that appealed to Dubuiss'on, and he would at least be able to give some information about the customers of the Brazen Serpent. Dubuisson had. to enquire his way, and the man he asked smiled as he directed him, perhaps marvelling that such a country oiimpkin, as he surely must be, to know so little of the town, should carry hims'elf so well. To the Londoner the country was a poor, dull place, mostly inhabited by fools. Having ample time, Victor went slowly, finding much in the streets to interest him. He had not lived in cities, and if 'he were a loser in one sense, he was a gainer in another. The ideals of his youth were still his, and he had native wit enough not to let them lead him into grave mistakes. A man watched him with some interest as ho approached Hungerford Market, and then went forward to meet tim, '"You are on your time, sir, and I'm pleased to welcome you, though you would seem to have queer friends. Did they take you into all their secrets after you had helped me to walk out with a whole skin?" "Into none. I found a lodging elsewhere," Dubuisson answered. "And you were wise. But why didn't you come—Ah! I see; you didn't like the idea of a Government spy, either. 'Well, I should say it's a poor calling, and, anyway. Fm not one. It may be that a few words with me will be of value to you it by chance, you were surprised at the kind of tavern you •walked into last night. "I was certainly surprised." "Yet you knew their jargon; well, I don't understand. Will you come with me? I have a cheap lodging close here where, if there is no great comfort, there is privacy." (To be continued in next Wednesday's issue.) ■;"F