Part 28 (2/2)

There were none For theto Crispin

”Who an was visibly disappointed

”A certain powerful and vindictive member of the Rump, whose son you killed at Worcester”

This ti out of the chair, his brows darkening, and his cheeks pale beyond their wont

”Zounds, Hogan, do youme into this man's hands?”

”You have said it”

”But--”

Crispin stopped short The pallor of his face increased; it becah a fever consu both hands upon the table before hian, my son?” he pleaded, and his voice was broken as no man had heard it yet ”Oh, God in heaven!” he cried in a sudden frenzy

”What hell's work is this?”

Behind his blue lips his teeth were chattering now His hands shook as he held them, still clenched, before hian,” he vowed, ”I'll kill him for it Fool, blind, pitiful fool that I am”

Then--his face distorted by passion--he broke into a torrent of ian

”Wait, Cris,” said he, laying his hand upon the other's arht, it is true, to betray you into the hands of Colonel Pride, sending you to the sign of the Anchor with the assurance that there you should have news of your son That was false; yet not all false Your son does live, and at the sign of the Anchor it is likely you would have had the news of hiht But that neould have come when too late to have been of value to you”

Crispin tried to speak, but failed Then,himself by an effort, and in a voice that was oddly shaken:

”Hogan,” he cried, ”you are torturing e?”

At last the Irishman produced Ashburn's letter to Colonel Pride

”My nant that has incurred the Parlia for Harwich, where a vessel lies waiting to carry him to France, and we expect that he will ride this way Three hours ago a young man unable clearly to account for hiht to me He was the bearer of a letter to Colonel Pride fro naone that I deemed his errand a suspicious one, and broke the seal of that letter You ht of your life that I did so”

”Was this youth Kenneth Stewart?” asked Crispin

”You have guessed it”

”D--n the lad,” he began furiously Then repressing hihed, and in an altered tone, ”No, no,” said he ”I have grievously wronged him! have wrecked his life--or at least he thinks so now I can hardly bla to be quits with me”