The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-10-15 00:00:00

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Whatever Mr. Stone can see in you, you ungrate-
ful young varmint,' Mr. Donovan said to his son one
evening, after a vain attempt to get him to carry a
letter to his master, in which Jack's father humbly
begged a little assistance, I can't think.'
'lt was partly my beauty and partly my wonderful
cleverness,' Jack replied, audaciously. 'He's clearer
sighted than most folks, that's all. Look here, dad, if
you come near my governor, or worry him for any-
thing, split about the sheep!
'The sheep! What sheep?' said the paternal Dono-
van, assuming an innocent air, but ill at ease, never-
theless. Jack knew something evidently that he
never intended should have been revealed to him.
There had been a time when mutton had been plenti-
ful in the Donovan household, and Jack had been an
unseen witness of the arrival of the carcase of a
sheep, about which there was a tremendous hue and
cry, but no clue as to the thieves. Donovan hal only
been a partner in the business; but his share in it had
been enough to secure him a term of penal servitude
if it had leaked out, and he had no idea that his son
knew anything about it.
I wasn't in bed nor asleep that night,' Jack said,
gravely; 6 and if you don't let my governor alone, I'll
tell all I saw and heard. You won't plague him any
more after that.'
Donovan cursed inwardly, but held his tongue, and
many a time after his conversation with his son had
a fit of shivering when he thought of what that young
Ontleman might do if he chose. But Jack was loyal,
and said nothing. It was odd how interested Mr.
Stone was in Miss Ramsay. He was not satisfied with
the information that Jack could gather for him in
Hillford, but he even went to Campsie House and
introduced himself to Mrs. Jarvis, to enquire whether
anything had been discovered about the missing young
lady.
Here's a gentleman coming up the drive, mamma,'
Phyllis said to her mother, when the new year was
only a few days old. It was a bright frosty day,
clear and cold. Crisp frosts had succeeded to the
damp mugginess that had made Christmas seem so
unseasonable, and the noble trees in the lawyer's
domain were sparkling with diamond-like points in
the winter sunshine.
A pretty place,' the visitor said to himself. I
w rider if I have done wisely in coming here. But I
want the very latest news; I want the truth of it all;
and Mrs. Jarvis will be sure to know it. The news-
paper reports are so vague.'
Who is it?' asked Mrs. Jarvis from her writing
table, where she was busy with all sorts of accounts
and charitable matters.
I don't know, mamma; a stranger, an elderly
gentleman.'
And he wants your papa, I claresay,' that lady re-
plied. But the servant who answered the door an-
nounced that the gentleman had asked to see his
mistress particularly.
'Stone,' said Mrs. Jarvis, reading the name from
the card that was brought to her. I don't know
anyone of that name. Surely it must be the gentleman
your father was speaking about, girls, that he had
taken to Hillford for something—his new client, he
called him. Did the gentleman say what he
wanted ? '

•
No, ma'am,' the maid replied. He bade me say
that he hoped you would give him a few minutes. lie
thought, perhaps, you would give him some in-
formation he wanted.'
Show the gentlemn in,' Mrs. Jarvis said; and Mr.
Stone entered the room and bowed gravely to the
lawyer's wife and daughters. A decidedly pleasant-
looking man, they thought, though considerably dis-
figured by a scar on his face, the effects of the railway
accident they bad heard of, no doubt; quite a middle-
aged man. The girls called him old; they judged
him, doubtless, by his hair, which was grey, almost
white, indeed, in places, and the slight stoop whieh
was quite evident as he stood there, returning their
Inquiring glances with an equal scrutiny.
'Mr. Jarvis is away,' the lady of the house began.
But Mr. Stone interrupted her.
'1 know it, madam,' he Raid; and something in his
voice struck agreeably on her ear. It was pleasant,
and she was a great reader of character through
voices. She had heard one like it, though she could
not tell when or where. It is because he is away, and
I am aware of the painful cause, that I take the liberty
of coming hero to you.'
'lndeed! What can Ido for you?' '
Perhaps nothing,' Mr. Stone said, with a smile.
You may think me impertinent in applying to you;
but I hear so many contradictory stories, and I am
anxious to have the right one. Miss Ramsay, she is
your husband's ward, is she not?'
'She is.'
Halm you any news of her—any reliable news? I
cannot tell you how anxious I am to hear of her.'
You know Miss Ramsay, sir?' Mrs, Jarvis said, in
amazement, wondering who this man could be.
Mr. Stone said something about Helen's father
having been an old friend of his; but his voice was
husky and broken as he spoke, and his words were
not very distinct. They gathered from him this—
that he had been in India some time, and that, Mr.
Ramsey end he had been close friends. It was
wonderful how those Indian friendships seemed to
holl out.

We have no news,' Mrs. Jarvis said, not the
slightest clue. Mr. Jarvis is in France, making
enquiries; but nothing has been found out yet.'
'Nor any reason for her going?'
None whatever. All we know is that she walked
out of Mrs. Churchill's house in the day time, carry-
ing a bag and quite alone.'
And what does Mr. Jarvis infer from the manner
of her departure? Excuse me, if I seem importunate;
but I would give much to know what has become
of the poor young lady.'
I am sure we all thank you for your sympathy,
Mr. Stone,' the lawyer's wife said, heartily. • I am
afraid my husband has not come to any conclusion
about it. Helen had no enemies. She had no lover.
Poor girl. She had been singularly unlucky in her
attachments.'
Had she more than one,' asked Mr. Stone, abruptly.
'Was there anyone besides the young fellow she vv,,
to have married? But I have no business to ask
such questions. lam interested and eager, and it
makes me rude.'
Not at all. If you know Helen, and knew her
father, you have a right to an interest in her. She
was attached to a young gentleman who was drowned
in the Asphodel; so no love affair, even if she were
capable of a clandestine attachment, which she is
not, has anything to dO with her disappearance.'
She must have been decoyed away by someone—
some villain. Oh if I could only find out. Is there
anything more to be told besides what I have read in
the newspapers?'
'Nothing. Mr. Jarvis writes and wires every day.

_
I will show you the latest news from him ; and M.
Churchill, who is staying with me, will tell you al'
she knows, I am sure, when she hears how interosted
you are in Miss Ramsay. Helen has become like a
daughter to her.

CHAPTER XXXVI.
ma. STONI IS PUZZLING.
'There's something rotten in the state of Denmark.'
—SHAKESPEARE
NVIto did ya u say r- asked Mr. Stone somewhat
sharply. lam not very quick of ear, and I did not
catch what you said. Have you a friend of —of
Helen's—Miss Ramsay's, I should say, staying with
you?'
' Yes; Mrs. Churchill, the lady she was living with;
she is here with her two daughters. Their house was
hardly ready for them to go into, and Mr. Jarvis
thought they had better leave Biarritz at once; they
could do nothing, and there were all sorts of disagreeable
gossip going on about what had happened. They are
very much attached to Helen, and are much grieved
and worried by her disappearance.'
I am sure they must have been much attached to
her; who could help it? Poor Fa—, poor Helen.'
There was a curious break in his speech, and
Phyllis from her corner raised her head and looked at
him scrutinisingly. At the last, mention of Helen's
name, he had stumbled over it as if he were going to
spe ,k more familiarly than a stranger might.'
Poor Helen, indeed,' Mrs. Jarvis said. '1 with mould
get rid of the idea that she must be dead; my husband
pooh-poohs it, but I cannot think it possible that a girl
could be lost for all this time—a remarkable girl like
Miss Ramsay, too. Mr. Jarvis has come to think now
that she may have been decoyed away, though what for
we cannot imagine. It was no love affair, unless she is
the most consummate actress that ever lived—and she
is not—l have not seen much of her, but I have heard
nothing but good of her, and I am sure she is blame-
less, however this business has come about.'
'Thank you for that,' said Mr. Stone, with startling
suddenness; and then seeing that they regarded him
with rather a startled air, he apologised.
'I am a rough fellow,' he said: and not much used
to the society of ladies. You must excuse me if I
am blunt. but I like to hear one woman stand up for
another.'
'What a queer man,' whispered Henrietta to her
sister; and her mother thought the same thing,
though she did not put it into words.'
' Did you know Mr. Hatherleigh,' she asked
presently, for Mr. Stone seemed to be rather at a loss
what to say or do next.
Ah, the young fellow that was to have married
Miss Ramsay.'
was 6 Yae st
e;
rwr
ieorlee youatTa ar qwuea innatve do
notwith
goth ovimer iliis death
t yet.'
d enough. She
wasn't worthy of her; not half good
Yes, I keew him,' Mr. Stone replied shortly. He
would have found that out if the had married him: a
lucky escape for her, I should say. I
shouli like to
hear what Mr. Jarvis has said about this mysterious
atlair ; you kindly said you would let me.'
He evidently . did not Ike the sub;ect of Frank
Ilatherleigh. He, spoke as if he had known no good
of him ; the ladies were puzzled what to make of lam.
Mrs. Jarvis fetched her husband's Leiters and
telegrams, and read part of them to his client. The
lawyer was decidedly of opinion now that Helen's
vanishing had been in some sort an abduction. She
had been enticed away from Biarritz by some means
or other, he felt sure. But ,by whom, or for what, was
a profound mystery still.
'Thank you,' said Mr. Stone, when he had heard all.
'You would forgive me, I am sure, for having
intruded on you if yen knew all. I Could not rest
till I had heard something from headquarters, as it
were; there are so many contradictory tales going
about.' He rose to go; but Mrs. Jarvis asked him
to stay luncheon with them. She was sure she was
justified in showing this new client of her husband's
, any civility that came in her way.
'Thank you; no, not this time,' he said,' I have
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