Blind Love

The proceedings of Lord Harry after he had sent off that cheque were

most remarkable. If he had invited--actually courted--what followed--he

could not have acted differently.

He left London and crossed over to Dublin.

Arrived there, he went to a small hotel entirely frequented by Irish

Americans and their friends. It was suspected of being the principal

place of resort of the Invincibles. It was known to be a house entirely

given up to the Nationalists. He made no attempt to conceal his name.

He entered the hotel, greeted the landlord cheerfully, saluted the head

waiter, ordered his dinner, and took no notice of the sullen looks with

which he was received or the scowls which followed him about the

coffee-room, where half a dozen men were sitting and talking, for the

most part in whispers.

He slept there that night.

The next day, still openly and as if there was nothing to fear, either

from England or from Ireland, he walked to the station and took his

ticket, paying no attention to what all the world might have seen and

understood--that he was watched. When he had taken his ticket two men

immediately afterwards took tickets to the same place. The place where

he was going was that part of Kerry where the Invincibles had formerly

assassinated Arthur Mountjoy.

The two men who followed him--who took their tickets for the same

place--who got into the same carriage with him--were two members of

that same fraternity. It is well known that he who joins that body and

afterwards leaves it, or disobeys its order, or is supposed to betray

its secrets, incurs the penalty of death.

On the unexpected arrival of Lord Harry at this hotel, there had been

hurriedly called together a meeting of those members then in Dublin. It

was resolved that the traitor must be removed. Lots were cast, and the

lot fell upon one who remembered past acts of kindness done by Lord

Harry to his own people. He would fain have been spared this business,

but the rules of the society are imperative. He must obey.

It is the practice of the society when a murder has been resolved upon

to appoint a second man, whose duty it is to accompany the murderer and

to see that he executes his task.

In the afternoon, about an hour before sunset, the train arrived at the

station where Lord Harry was to get down. The station-master recognised

him, and touched his hat. Then he saw the two other men got down after

him, and he turned pale.

"I will leave my portmanteau," said Lord Harry, "in the cloak-room. It

will be called for."