Adventure Magazine Cover — page 123: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Black books here for you to find un,” the shepherd whined. ‘And I hads’t no time!” ‘“‘Heismad—he ”” Sir Ralph screamed, and was checked by Mr. Saunders’s hand heavy on his shoulder. “You do not forget that you are your cousin’s heir, sir!’’ said Mr. Saunders, and Sir Ralph stared at him and muttered. Dr. Oscott glanced aside and turned again to the shepherd. ‘‘Sir Ralph bade you put books here for us to find. What books, my lad?” “T -ha’ not stole they!” the shepherd whined. ‘‘Here a’ be.”’ He fumbled in his bosom and plucked out the English Testa- ments. With some wild cry Sir Ralph started forward to seize them. Mr. Saunders held him. Dr. Oscott opened the books and one look was enough. ‘‘So, sir, this is the mystery!” he cried. “You contrive false evidence to compass your cousin’s death!” “Tt is a lie!”’ Sir Ralph screamed. ‘“‘The fool is mad! He is possessed of the devil! You are mad to heed him! You are be- sotted! You “Thou miserable knave!”’ Oxcat ad- vanced upon him, white with a fanatic’s anger. Sir Ralph drew back, but screaming still, and as he drew back the shepherd thrust out a foot. Sir Ralph stumbled over it, staggered and fell backward through the trapdoor down the dark shaft. There was a scream and a thud and silence. ‘“‘Oh dear, oh dear, you ha’ killed un!” the shepherd cried. The two gentlemen looked at each other, and, gathering up their lanterns, began to descend the ladder. On the stones below they found only death. As they knelt together Mr. Rymingtowne opened the door. “‘Why! Why, you are guests unasked, S ntlendedl "he said. “And pray, which of you am I to charge with my Magic cousin’s death?” Silent and swift the shep- herd slunk out. | Dr. Oscott rose. ‘‘Mr. Gabriel Ryming- towne?”?’ Mr. Rymingtowne bowed. ‘I give you joy on a great deliverance. The man who lies there would have contrived false evidence to convict you of heresy. He lies stricken by the hand of God.” “I have your word for it,” said, Mr. Rymingtowne. Dr. Oscott told who he was and all the tale as he knew it. “It is not for me to question’ Dr. Oscott’s word,” said Mr. Rymingtowne gravely. ** Nevertheless, as the man was my cousin, I must needs ask that you give me your story in hand of writ.”” Dr. Oscott bowed. They passed out into the night. ae walking all white in her rose garden. WS She turned from a sweetbriar upon the silly shepherd. She grew pale. ‘My father has sought you everywhere,” she said in a low voice. The shepherd laughed. “He says that you saved him from—from terrible things,”’ her voice fell lower still. ‘“You’m not to mind that,” the shepherd said. There was a moment’s silence while she looked away from the gleam of his deep-set eyes. “‘You must go speak with him,” she said. ‘““Nay, I be going away,” the shepherd laughed. ‘‘Going away?” He saw the blue eyes round in her pale face. MARY RYMINGTOWNE was “YT could not be going afore,” he apolo- gized. ‘‘You was not safe. Now ’tis all well.” The pale face was white, but her eyes met his without fear. away?” : ‘For to come back,” he said, and was gone. “Why are you going COmiclbook 879. ©