chap ran xi.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1893, 23 August 1884, Page 5 (Supplement)

chap ran xi.

Securing a couple of hories at the Bull, Johnson and Edmonds set off at good speed towards Falkland Court. Their conversation on the way was such as itaighi have been expected from two desperate ruffians, each of whom had committed at least one murder in his crime-laden career. But they did not ride at the aama headlong pace as their pursuers, for they had not the lea3t idea they were followed. Diverging to the right, about a quarter of a mile from the lodge gate, Edmonds led the way vp a lane running alongside the park wall, until he reached a spot overgrown with ivy. Thrusting this aside, he called to Johnson to leap his horse over. " The wall's broken down here," he said, " I know the spot of old." Johnson, who was but an indiffeient horseman, found courage enough, at this intimation, to put his horse at the gap and force it ovei. Edmonds was sooa beside him, and they cantered over the frozen turf towards the house, which they reached in a few minutes. Then Edmoads dismounted, and, taking the horses, led them under the shade of a large oak tree, into the hunk of which some hooka had been driven, over which he hung the bridles. "Esmeniber our agreement," he said, pointing to the animals. " Kill one and be oft on the other, if lam shot or taken. And now for the west wing. There's a spring in a window on the giound floor that I know how to open from the outside. I've often got in by it when I lived at the Court." He reached the window as he spoke, opened a penknife, and, thrusting it under the frame of the bottom window, slid it along until it encountered borne obstacle, against which he firmly pressed. Then he piised up the frame with the knife until he got his fingers under. The reat was ea^y. " .Follow me," he said, in a deep whisper, to Johnson. " Off with your boots, and stop like a cat." Taking a dark lantern from his pocket, he led the way. Not a sound was to be heard. All in the houHo had evidently retired long since. They crept up the grand scaircase, and, turning to the right, entered a long corridor.on either side of which the piincipal bedrooms were situated. " Hist 1" exclaimed Edmonds, as he paused. What was that noise? " His quick ear had detected the hoof-stroke of Tom Grist's horse. But Tom dismounted at the same moment ; and, though the murderer listened intently for fully a minute, he heard nothing further. " Twas nothing, after all," he whispered. Softly— this used to bo the girl's 100 m 1 " Setting down the lantern, he placed the stiletto between his teeth, and /grasped the handle. As he did so, the door was flung open, and a blazeiof li^ht streamed into the cunidor, while the manly form ef Colonel Cotton stood in the doorway. Edmonds staggered back, in momentary surprise, and the action Saved his life ; for the report of a pistol rang through the house, and an earpiercing "Cooe-ee!" followed, as Johnson fell ; and Tom Grist, darting up the oorridor, Ins revolver in his hand, shouted, "Stand back, boss, or he'll wing you." Dashing past the Colonel, he fired another shot at Edmonds, which evidently took effect, for he gave a cry of pain aa he turned and fled, leaving a track of blood as he went. Rushing to the oak tree, he unhitched the bridles, plunged his stiletto in the heart of on,e animal and set off at a furious pace across the park. The noise of horses close at hand caused him to turn in his saddle, ard by the light of the wintiy moon he beheld the features of Falkland. Savagely pricking his horse with the stiletto, he urged it on at a mad pace across the open, cleared the Park wall at a bound, and rode furiously in th« direction of Exeter, preeamg bis handkerchief on the wound in his arm 6s he went, anJ guiding the horse with his knees. After he Lad ridden several miles, he pulled up, bound the wound tightly, wiped the blood from his clothes with snow, and continued his flight. Falkland and Fowler recognised the flying horseman, but even if they had been desirous of pursuing him, it would have been in vain ; their animals were thoroughly jaded. The open window «* once met their gaze, and darting througu, they ruehed tip the stairs, revolvers ready, and teeth firmly set. In their excitement they had heard but had not recognised Tom Grist's " coo-e-ee," taking it, for a shriek of distress ox agony. But as they'

c»w« in <hf K*jmcft q p. p- thud and loudrr *"»H salutatien from Tom's Itmgi t*"«ot«d them. lac hcnest follow stood at the top of the stairs, with his revolver ready. Mrs. Cotton <rm Eo«p, in deshabille, cowered behind the Oslonel, who had possessed himself of Johnson's revolver, and seemed scarcely conscious vet whether the Australian was a friend or an enemy. "My cousin !" exclaimed Falkland, eagerly. "All right, bo's," shouted Torn, giving vent to his feelings in a load "lioeray." " I gave a 000-e-ee or two to let you know I was among 'em. Just tell this old oove I'm square, or I'm bio wed if he won't give rae a pill. Ho fieems half inclined to let drive." Falkland rushed to his cousin, and ola«ped her in his arms. But, after reoognising him and murmuring his name, the excitement overpowered her, and Mrs. Cotton, with the aid of the servants, who now came thronging to the spot, removed her. Then Colonel Cotton found his tongue. "In the name of Heaven, what is all jhis?" he oxclaimed. "You here, Frederick, when we imagined you in Australia. And aj midhiyht affray, with one man shot and j another, seemingly a friend, whooping like a wild Indian ! "What docs it all mpan ?" Falkland briefly explained that an attack hid been frustrated by the opportune arrival and gallantry of Tom Grist, prudently reserving all details till a more fitting opportunity. Fowler at onoj rode off in pursuit of Edmonds, accompanied by Tom Griat and two grooms, the party being mounted on fresh hornes from the etables. Falkland would have accompanied them, but the thought of his covHin turned the scale. " Ftay where you are, ' said Fowler. "We can do quite as well without you. He will make for London, and White will track him 11 he escapes us." Then several servants, well armed, were placed on guard, more to appease the fears of the ladies than from any apprehension of anothei attempt. John«on was quite dead. The body of the ruffian was removed to a shed, there to await further proceedings on the park of the authorities. Mm. Cotton shortly afterwards returned, and reported thai Rose had recovered, but that she had been persuaded to defer & meeting with her cousin until the morning. To this she had reluctantly conienfed, after receiving an assurance that he wafc quite well and uninjured in the recent exciting scene. That night Falkland recounted to the Colonel and his wife all that had occurred since he left England.