6 THEMVES of the LADY ARABELLA I By j MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL (Copyright., lUOti, liobbs-Merrill Go.) SYNOPSIS. At 14 years of age Admiral Sir Peter Hawks haw's nephew, Richard Glyn. fell Jeeply in love at first Bight with Lady Arabella Stormont, who spurned his at tentions. The lad, an orphan, was given a berth as midshipman on the Ajax by his uncle. Giles Vernon, nephew of Sir Thomas Vernon, became the boy's pal. They attended a theater where Hawk thaw's nephew saw Lady Arabella. Ver non met Philip Overton, next io line for Thomas Vernon's estate. They start- Id a duel which was interrupted. Vernon. Overton and Hawkshaw's nephew found themselves attracted by pretty Lady Ara bella. The Ajax in battle defeated French warships in the Mediterranean. Richard Glyn got £2,000 prize money. He was called home by Lady Hawkshaw as he was about to "blow in" his earnings with Vernon. At a Hawkshaw party Glyn dis covered that Lady Arabella was a poor but. persistent gambler. He talked much with her cousin Daphne. Lady Arabella again showed love for gaming. Later she held Glyn and Overton prisoners, thus delaying the duel. In the Overton-Ver non duel, neither was hurt. Lady Ara bella humiliated Richard by her pranks. Richard and Giles shipped on a frigate. Giles was captured by the French. Sir Peter arranged for his exchange. Daph ne showed a liking for Glyn, who was then 21 ye ars of ane. Giles was released. Qiles and Richard planned elopements. Sir Peter objected to the plan to wed Daphne. Hy clever ruses Giles anil Rich ard eloped with Lady Arabella and Daphne, respectively. The latter pair were married. Daphne was pleased; Ara bella raved In anger. When the par ty returned, Arabella asked Sir Peter to Bid in prosecuting Giles in court on the charge of committing a capital crime. All attended the trial. CHAPTER IX.—Continued. The evidence being all in, and the arguments made, a recess was taken. We were not the only ones who paid our respects immediately to Giles Vernon. Many persons went forward and shook his hand, while I think Sir Thomas did not receive a cordial greet ing from a single man or woman in the hail, although he was known to every one present. We got a hurried dinner at the tav ern, and returned at once to the hall. It was about half-past four in the win ter afternoon, and the day being dark and lowering, candles were required. The lord justice's instructions to the Jury were then read, and my heart sank, as in a dreadful monotone, he expounded the law to them. Alas! As long as the statute against the abduc tion of an heiress remained, Giles Ver non was guilty of a capital crime; and not one word uttered by any one of us who testified in bis behalf did aught but prove the more strongly that he had carried Lady Arabella oil against her will. The jury retired, and, the day having been fatiguing, the lords justices de termined to wait in their retiring room for an hour, where they could bo called, if the jury promptly reached a verdict. This troubled me—this ex pectation of a quick decision. The judges having retired and sus pended the sitting of the court, we at once went over and sat with Giles, who maintained perfectly his manly composure. He laughed with Sir Peter over some of the events of tho fight between the Ajax and her two ene mies, complimented Lady Hawkshaw upon her triumph over the laws of the land relating to evidence, and said many kind things to Daphne. While we were in the midst of a cheerful conversation, and not observ ant of what was going on in the other part of the hall, we suddenly heard the crier proclaiming the entrance of their lordships, and at the same mo ment Sir Thomas Vernon entered by another door. Hanging on his arm was Lady Arabella Stormont. And then the jury filed in with solemn faces, and what followed all seemed to me like some horrid dream. Although several persons were moving about, there seemed to me a dreadful silence; and although the candles burned, ami a great hobgoblin of a moon peered in at the windows, there seemed an awful darkness. And after a time, in which I was oppressed by this ghostly silence and darkness, I saw the senior lord justice put on a black cap and sentence Giles Vernon to be hanged by the neck until he was dead, that day fortnight. My eyes roved aimlessly around, and fell at that moment on Lady Arabella Stormont. A faint smile flickered on her lovely mouth. CHAPTER X. In that hour of horror I became weaker and more helpless than the weakest and most helpless woman. Sir Peter and Lady Hawkshaw were too stunned to think. I remember, now, the look of despair on Sir Peter's countenance, where I had never be fore seen anything but sturdy courage —and it.was an added terror. And the one who retained her senses, who sug gested a forlorn hope, was Daphne— the youngest, the least experienced of us all. "To London!" she said. "To the king, for pardon. I myself will so upon my knees to hira. He shall—he shall pardon Giles!" We were all huddled together, then, In our parlor at the inn, having just returned from the assize hall. "Richard and I will go," said £sir Peter. "And Daphne and I will stay and comfort Giles," spoke Lady Hawkshaw. A week to London, and a week to return, was easy traveling—but how long would it take us to reach the king? And what ministers would be In town? And what would be the earliest moment we could leave London? All these things were In our minds to tor ment us. Nevertheless, within half an hours we were on our way. While we were demanding the best horses, and having them put to, an in solent groom came in the stable yard and askod for horses for Sir Thomas and Lady Arabella Stormont and Lady Arabella's companion, Mrs. Whitall, and two servants, for London. The head hostler replied roughly that they had no time to attend him then, as they were starting Sir Peter Hawk shaw and Mr. Glyn off for London, too, to beg Mr. Giles Vernon's life. The man, at this, grew saucy, and offered a handsome bonus for the horses which Were then being put to for us. I caught him by the collar, and threw him out of the stable yard, where the hostlers drubbed him soundly, thank God! One hurried kiss to Daphne, a brief farewell between Sir Peter and Lady Hawkshaw, and we were off for Lon don. Our race into Scotland was noth ing to it. The roads were much cut up, and although we traveled day and night, we were more than four days 011 the way. We reached London early in the day; and, without stopping for food, or to change our linen, we went to the admiralty. There we got the informa tion that the first lord was visiting in the country, in Kent. Within the hour, I was on my way to Kent. When 1 reached the place, the first lord had left, not more than two hours before, _—* " ?r ~" - 1 :, J ! 1 !' ■■ I 1!'"" "!rl!l l H' |l Hl|l!|ih l "!lW I JlHii ! !n/ .>•' !rl|i '4 if i ;i'i ii I i : |i! v ■ ;rin[ V/ ill M fplgi jMltl X ' . My Senses Seemed Preternaturally Acute. for London. I had passed him on the road, without knowing him. I re turned to London. Sir Peter had seen several members of the government, meanwhile, and had been privately in formed that the king was suffering mentally; and although hopes were en tertained that the spell would pass away, without the necessity ol' inform ing the country or parliament, still, access to him was refused to all by his physicians, except the members of his family and immediate household, and they were charged not to mention busi ness to him; it would be impossible to approach him. When Sir Peter told me this, I be came so weak I was forced to sit down. After a few minutes of agony, a desper ate resolve came to me. i rose, and said: "I have a scheme—desperate, but not impossible. Go with me to the prince of Wales. He is at Carlton house, but goes back and forth to Windsor." Sir Peter jumped at this poor chance, and we agreed togo immediately. We had left York on a Friday, and had raached London on the Monday. Two days had abeen lost in the jour ney to Kent; and it was now late in the evening of Wednesday. We had, luckily, brought our uniforms along; and, dressing ourselves in them —Sir Peter with ail his orders sewn on his coat—we called a hackney coach and drove to Carlton house. When we got there it was about ten o'clock in the evening. The windows were brilliantly lighted up, and it was about the hour that fehe prince of Wales was known to be in his best humor —but the hour when he most hated to he disturbed. We descended, and the sentries passed us through on account of our uniforms and Sir Peter's decorations on his breast. We reached the door and knocked. The porter opened the door gingerly, when Sir Peter, giving it a kick, walked in, followed by me. The man attempted to arrest our prog ress, but Sir Peter said to him, fiercely: "Do you think, you damned lack*y, that you ran be insolent to an admiral in his majesty's service?" Tho man apologized humbly and ushered irs into a large reception room on the first floor, saying he would call the gentle man of the chambers. We seated ourselves. Even in that time of agony, I noted the beauty of the room —indeed, my senses seemed preternaturally acute, and every in cident of that dreadful time is deeply fixed in my mind. The ceiling was of gilt, while around the walls were pami CAMERON COUNTY PRE§Sy THURSDAY, AUGUST 12/1909. ings of Flora. A gilt chandelier diffused light through the apartment, and at one side was a pair of large folding doors. After a long wait, a gentleman, Mr. Digby, appeared. He received us po litely, but said it was impossible to dis turb the prince then as he was Just sit ting down to piquet. Sir Peter re mained silent; he was used to gi ring orders, and the words, "It is impossible to see his royal higness," were pe culiarly disagreeable to him. 1 then made my plea. I told Mr. Digby that the life of a gallant officer and gentleman was in jeopardy, and that we begged to see his royal high ness in the hope that the king might be approached. "That, too, is impossible," coldly re plied Mr. Digby. "The king is far from well." Just then some one on the other side of the folding doors opened one of them the least bit in the world, and then closed it —but not before we had seen streams of light pouring from it, a long table brilliant with plate and ornaments, and a company of about 20 gentlemen sitting around it, and at one end sat a personage whom we at once recognized as the prince of Wales. Without a word Sir Peter arose, and, darting toward the door —for he was ever an agile man—threw it open, and walked into the presence of his royal highness. "Sir," said he, marching up to the prince, "I am Admiral Sir Peter Hawk shaw, and I have boarded you, so to speak, sir, in order to save the life of one of the gallantest officers in the service of his majesty." I had always heard that his royal highness was a gentleman, and I saw then such an exhibition of readiness and good taste as I never saw before, and never expect to see again. Every one at the table, except the princo, seemed astounded at the sudden en trance and statling address- of a short, active little man in an admiral's uni form. But the .prince offered Sir Peter his hand In the coolest manner in the world, saying: ".Most happy to meet you, Sir Peter. I recollect well that, you carried the Indomptable by boarding very success fully. But how did yftu get past the watchdogs at the door, my dear sir?" "By carrying sail hard, your royal highness," responded Sir Peter, "and seeing this door open, faith, said I, to myself, having risked my skin these 40 years for the king and his succes sors, sure, I can risk it once more by walking in on my prince, and here I am, sir, ready to state my case. That bloody popinjay, Digby (Digby was right behind him), wanted me to let you alom> because you were about to goto piquet, but I think no prince of England would sacrifice a man's life to a game of piquet." "Certainly not, Sir Peter," answered liis royal highness, rising, "and now I have an hour entirely \at your ser vice." "Sir," said Sir Peter, "I ask the honor of shaking hands with you, not as a royal prince, but as 'an honest man and good fellow." I think the prince was ever suscep tible to honest praise, for he was no l'ool, and he was undoubtedly pleased when Sir Peter wrung his hand. He then led the way into another room, and the door was closed. The rest of the party behaved very civilly to me, and I accepted thankful ly an invitation to have something to eat and drink. They were merciful to me, seeing my distress of mind, and did not plague me with quastions, but resumed their conversation with one another. (TO BE CONTINUED.) WAS THE OTHER'S SUCCESSOR. Little Negro's Explanation Certainly Bore Aspect of Truth. Irvin Cobb tells a story of a little, weary negro who went into a resort in Natchez, displayed a large roll of bills and bought a drink. As he was paying for it another ne gro came in, very large and very black. He looked at the little man and said: "Niggah, whar you tit all dat money ?" "Bah-tendah," said the little negro, by way of a reply, "Ah think Ah shall tek a bottle of dat-ah stuff. 'Pears quite satisfyin' tuh me." "Niggah," roared the big one, "whar you git dat money? I ast you. I's the town bully, I is. I follow bullyin' foh a trade. Whar you git it?" The little negro began stuffing the money back into his pockets. "Seems to me," he mused, "I ain't got 'nuff pockets to hold all mah wealth." The big negro jumped at the little one. "Your hear what I said?" he de manded. "I's the town bully, an' I wanter know whar you git all dat money?" Quick as a flash, the little negro up percut the big one, catching him on the point of the jaw and knocking him down. In a moment the big negro re vived enough to look up from the floor and ask humbly: "Niggah, who is you, anyhow?" "Why," replied the little one, blow ing his knuckles, "I'u th' pusson you thought you wuz when you come in." —Saturday Evening Post. Treasure Hoarded in India. All the w