The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-11-05 00:00:00

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to the code of honour, and my—that is, Mary—that
is Mrs. Churchill's housemaid, was there when his
land!ady picked it up. She knows that Miss Ramssy
had it on when she went out that morning, for she
Wrapped a shawl round her neck and saw it. he had
often had the brooch in her hand. How did le come
by it if he neva saw her?'
Tell it me again, Barney,' the lawyer said; and
explain how it was that your—that is, M iry—Mrs.
Churchill's housemaid, came to give the thing to you,
instead of taking it to her mistress.'
Barney looked sheepish, but owned that he was
keeping company' with Mary, and that she had told
him how dreadful nervous the ladies were at Fe in-
be..nk since their troub'e. She knew how upset they
would all be if she told them, and she had managed to
see him and tell him all about it. He had taken the
bow and brooch, and resolved to go to Mr. Jarvis the
very first opportunity. and ask his advice.
You were quite right, Barney. This bit of ribbon
may be a clue to the circumstances under which she
left her home, poor child ! Of her fate I am afraid
we are only too certain. Don't mention the matter to
anyone.'
'I have not, sir.'
Barney's story was in the main correct, and Horace
Gayford was even then wondering, with no little
trepidation, what had become of the memento of his
meeting with Helen, which he had treasured carefully
for purposes of his own. He had not found it till
after his recovery from the accident. It had dropped
from her dress in her hurried flight from him, and
lain unnoticed covered by some loose gravel and
rubbish that had drifted upon it till he unearthed it by
accident.
He had searched for it everywhere amongst his
possessions and was much disturbed at not finding it,
being fearful of the very thing that had happened—
its falling into the hands of someone who would
recognise it. Mrs. Churchill's Mary had struck up an
intimacy with Mrs. Brown, and hdd been in her house
when she found the relic; she was taking the oppor-
tunity of a brief absence of her lodger to tidy up his
room, and had picked up the bow and brooch from
the floor.
That looks like a lady's ribbon,' she said to Mary,
who was gossiping to her as she dusted and
straightened and reduced the confusion of the place to
something like order. 'I can't think what has come
to Mr. Gayford. He used to be that particular about
tidiness there was no pleasing him; now he don't
seem to care a bit how his rooms go.'
Give me that ribbon, Mrs. Brown,' Mary said ex-
citedly. I know it; it's poor Miss Helen's! She
had it on when she went out that morning. Give it
to me, I say, and don't say anything about it if he
asks you for it. You have not seen it, mind that.
I won't get you into any trouble.'
And before the astonished Mrs. Brown could offer
any remonstrance, Mary had snatched the ribbon out
of her hands and rushed out of the house, hke a mad-
woman' as her friend said to herself when she thought
of the affair afterwards.

Horace Gayford did not ask for the ribbon, he only
searched for it, and wondered into whose hands it
might have fallen. He found out, when Mrs. Brown
threw open the door of his room a few evenings
afterwards and announced 'Mr. Jarvis.'
There was a stern, set look on the lawyer's face that
meant mischief, and Horace Gaylord felt uncomfort-
able as he rose to greet him with a very good imita-
tion of calmness.
How do you do, Mr. Jarvis?' he said. I was not
aware you were in Hillferd. What has procured me
the honour of this visit?'
' This !' and the lawyer laid the ribbon on the table.
'When Miss Ramsay left her home in Biarritz the day
she disappeared she wore this trinket. How did it
come into your possession?'
It never was in my possession that I know of,'
Horace Gaylord said, looking his visitor full in the
face. I hardly unders,and what you mean.'
It was picked up in your room by your landlady,
and taken from her by a person who recognised it,
and knew when Miss Ramsay wore it last. She had
it on the day she disappeared from Mrs. Churchill's
house. How came you by it? What have you done
with her?'
You are strangely illogical for a lawyer,' Horace
Gayford said, with a sneering smile. 'Supposing that
bit of ribbon was ever in my possession, which I deny,
it does not in the least connect me with Miss Ramsay's
disappearance. There are a hundred ways in which
it might have come here. Most likey "the person"
Who has handed it to you brought it herself—l am
assuming it was a woman you see; most clumsy plots
are hatched by them. If you have nothing else to
talk to me about, I ark sorry you took the troub e to
come. I warned you once before to leave me and my
affairs alone; don't neglect the warning a second
time, or, lawyer as you are, you shall rue-it:
Do you threaten me?'
If you choose to call it threatening, I do.'
Have a care, Mr. Gayford; you treat my suspicions
lightly. The time is coming when you may be made
to speak, and by other agency than mine.'
By whose agency, pray?'
'By the help of the dead! Frank Hatherleigh will
yet speak from his grave, and point the finger of
justice at his murderer. I have the clue in my hands
now, and I shall not let it go.'
You are mad !' exclaimed Horace Gaylord, starting
up. Do you dare to accuse me?'
I do. I have no direct evidence as yet, but it is
coming to me. In a little while I shall have the proof
in my hands that you and none other struck the
cowardly blow that rid you of the man that stood
between you and my ward. Have a care—defy me,
and you may feel the touch of the hangman's hand at
your throat, and know what it is to look for ward to a
dreadful death, execrated and scorned by all the
world.'
'And you have a care,' Horace Gaylord said, white
with passion, and with quivering lips that would
hardly obey his will. So surely as you promulgate
the lies you have hatched, and speak to me either in
conrection with the death of my cousin or your ward's
disappearance, so surely shall I take a revenge that
shall make you wish you had died a hundred deaths
'ourself rather than have planned mine. You do not
Know me if you think I am to be bullied and threat-
ened with impunity.'
' I know you now in your true colours,' Mr. Jarvis
said, calmly. Your threats do not frighten me. I
shall go my own way, and when the time comes I
shall act. I believe you to be the murderer of your
cousin, and I believe that my poor girl's death lies at
your door also. I feel as certain that you decoyed
her away, or were the means of her going, as I am
looking into your wicked face at this moment!'