Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 264: what you’re looking at

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

THE QUEEN’S BODY GUARD. 257 you now, but your outstretched hand shall not mean “too late.’ It shall only mean ‘farewell.’ ” CHAPTER XXIV.—Goop By To FRANCE. EARLY one morning, just as the sun came peeping up over the line of the horizon, a party of four came toiling wearily along a stony, narrow road that lies at the base of the Pyrenees leading to the Spanish coast town of Bilboa. The four were the countess, Cottrell, Anne Trevoir and Daron. A heavy farming wagon overtook them while they were yet many miles from the city, and on this rude conveyance the much fatigued quartet con- tinued their journey to its end. At Bilboa they learned of the Spanish-American War, and Cottrell took every precaution to conceal his real nationality, for the bitterness expressed clearly showed that an American would fare ill at the hands of the populace. -A telegram was despatched to Struthers, and three hours later an answer- ing wire announced that the Albatross was on her way to Bilboa. After twenty four hours of anxious waiting a fine gig came swiftly up the. bay of Bilboa. In the stern sat the Honorable Richard Struthers. All day long the four refugees had sat or strolled about the landing stage lest they might somehow miss the Englishman when he arrived. The loung- ers gazed with evident amusement at the warmth of the greeting. For these light skinned foreigners are generally so cold in their manner, you know. As they boarded the Albatross, there stood Mr. and Mrs. Peters, with broad, welcoming grins on their honest faces, though poor Mr. Peters looked rather pale, as a result of his part in the attack on the chateau. Mrs. Peters took the two women under her sheltering wing, and they went below to their cabins, while Cottrell and Struthers promenaded the forward deck, for they had many things to talk over. “What of Count Rignault?” asked Cottrell, eagerly, when they were alone. *“ Did you fight with him? ” “No,” was the answer. “ He saved me the trouble of killing him. He killed himself.” : “ Ah!” said Cottrell. It was not a very sympathetic “ ah.” “ And Louis? ” continued Cottrell. “ Have you seen anything of him?” “Yes. He came back with a bandaged head and told a wild tale of having been beaten and robbed by bandits. The robbery seemed in some way to have greatly upset the count’s state of mind. I think it led to his suicide.” “Very likely!” retorted Cottrell. “ I was the robber, and the stolen arti- cles were two letters that proved Lieutenant Rignault’s villainy.” They talked on about their future plans, and, among others, how Henry and Marie had decided when they were married not to live in Santilly. “We shall travel,” said Cottrell, “and when our honeymoon is over, we shall settle in England, I think, to be near you, Dick. And honest Jean Daron will form part of our menage, you may be sure, and so continue to bea member of THE QUEEN’s Bopy Guarp. THE END. 5 GORGE OOO @ UN ceo