Part 13 (1/2)
”Yessir?”
”Ye see that mare? I want ye to ride her home Can ye do it?”
”Yessir!”
”I doubt it,” murmured Jack
So did Jenny She refused point blank to allow this stranger to mount her Her master had left her in one spot, and there she would stand until he chose to bid her room coax and coerce She ran round him and seenashed at the bit, ready to lash out furiously at the first opportunity
Jack watched the host of a smile about his lips
”Jenny!” he said quietly, and O'Hara looked round at hi
Unconsciously, he had spoken naturally, and the voice was faintly faroom and minced up to the prisoner
”Would ye allow e her”
Without a word Miles released hiible to the now quiet animal
O'Hara watched the beautiful hand stroke her ain
No ordinary highwayroo hand on the rein as the man obeyed With a final pat he turned away ”She'll do now, sir”
O'Hara nodded
”Ye've trained her well Get in, please”
Jack obeyed, and in a an to move forward
For a while there was silence, Carstares keeping himself well under control It was almost unbearable to think that after this brief drive he would never set eyes on his friend again, and he wanted so badly to turn and grasp that strong hand
Miles turned in his seat and tried to see the entleht to the point
Jack was prepared for this
”Me, sir? Lor' no, sir!”
”I do not believe ye Don't be forgettin' I've seen your hands!”
”Hands, sir?” in innocent bewilderue, with hands like that?”
”I don't rightly understand ye, sir?”
”Bejabers then, ye'll be understanding me tomorrow!”
”To-morrow, sir?”
”Certainly Ye may as well tell me now as then I'entlerowl atI knehen ye spoke to the allows”
Hoell Jack knew that soft, persuasive voice His hands clenched as he forced himself to answer: ”I don't think I've ever seen ye afore, sir”
”Maybe ye have not We shall see to-morrow”
”What do ye mean by to-morrow, sir?” ventured Carstares uneasily
”Sure, ye will have the honour of appearing before me, me friend”
”Before you, sir?”
”Why not? I'm a Justice of the Peace, heaven save the mark!”
There was a breathless pause, and then at last the funny side of it struck Jack, and his shoulders shook with suppressed laughter The exquisite irony of it was almost too much for him He, the Earl of Wyncham, was to be formally questioned by his friend St
Miles O'Hara, JP!
”What ails ye now, ?” asked Miles, surprised
”Oh, Lud, yes!” gasped Jack, and collapsed into his corner
CHAPTER IX
LADY O'HARA INTERVENES
LADY O'HARA found that her big, indolent husband was unusually silent next h to consent to being practically ignored, no matter what the tih to know that before she took any direct action against hie his appetite Accordingly she plied hihtly motherly air, watched him attack a sirloin of beef She was a pretty, birdlike little lady, with big eyes, and soft brown curls escaping fro s, and was soet Needless to say, this flippant appellation was in no wise encouraged by the lady
She decided that Miles had co two dimpled elbows on the table, she rested her s of the air of an inquisitive kitten