Part 97 (2/2)

Despard did not recognize the handwriting In some surprise how any one should know that was here he opened the letter, and his surprise was still greater as he read the following:

”SIR,--There are two men here whom you seek--one Potts, the other Clark

You can see thenor Langhetti formerly rescued has escaped, and is now in safety at Denton, a village not e on the left-hand side of the road, close by the sea There is an Anature

Despard handed it in silence to Langhetti, who read it eagerly Joy spread over his face He started to his feet

”I o at once,” said he, excitedly ”Will you?”

”No,” replied Despard ”You had better go I must stay; my purpose is a different one”

”But do not you also wish to secure the safety of Bice?”

”Of course; but I shall not be needed You will be enough”

Langhetti tried to persuade him, but Despard was immovable For himself he was too impatient to wait He detere, but he ed to obtain a horse, and with this he set out It was about the time when the bank had closed

Just before his departure Despard saw a man come from the bank and enter the inn He knew the face, for he had seen it when here before It was Clark At the sight of this face all his fiercest instinct aithin hiht of this man He deter toward the accomplishment of his purpose

He watched hilance which Clark directed at hi of the scowl that passed over the ruffian's face, nor did Clark understand the full loomy frohich lowered over Despard's brow as his eyes blazed wrathfully and ly upon him

[Illustration: ”THE NEXT INSTANT DESPARD HAD SEIZED HIS THROAT AND HELD HIM SO THAT HE COULD NOT MOVE”]

Clark ca the bank Despard saw hi He then watched him till he went up to the Hall

In about half an hour Clark ca He talked for a while with the landlord, and then went off at a slow trot

On questioning the landlord Despard found that Clark had asked hihetti had taken The idea at once flashed upon hihetti, in order to find out about Beatrice He deterhetti's sake and his own

He followed, therefore, not far behind Clark, riding at first rapidly till he caught sight of hi at about the same distance behind him He had not determined in his mind what it was best to do, but held hi about an hour he put spurs to his horse, and went on at a more rapid pace Yet he did not overtake Clark, and therefore conjectured that Clark hione on more rapidly He now put his own horse at its fullest speed, with the intention of co up with his enemy as soon as possible

He rode on at a tremendous pace for another half hour At last the road took a sudden turn; and, whirling around here at the ut as it was unexpected, and which roused to madness all the fervid passion of his nature

The road here descended, and in its descent wound round a hill and led into a gentle hollow, on each side of which hills arose which were covered with trees

Within this glen was disclosed a frightful spectacle A e blood-hound, which even then was rending hiled in the stirrups, and the horse was plunging and dragging hi hiht off the dog with his hands as best he could

In the horror of the hetti For an instant his brain reeled The next moment he had reached the spot

Another horse even to interfere Despard did not see hi himself from his horse, and drew a revolver froh the air, and in an instant the huge blood-hound gave a leap upward, with a piercing yell, and fell dead in the road