The Morning herald., 1878-11-23

greater sensation, lnteNSlneQ as IL WAS ny
the mysterious disappearance Of the wealthy
land d-owner. ~
Under the direction of detectives from
the adjoining city, the search for the miss
ing man went forward, while sturdy men,
early the morning following the fire, began
dragging the river.
Jared Clark stationed himself at the
waters edge, and remained there while the
divers were at their melancholy work. anx-
iously watching their movements.
As for the young mistress of Clayton, the
terrible strain on her brain was too severe,
and the future prospect too black. Her for
titude gave way. She was found, shortly
after the burning, lying on her bed, in
deep swoon. 5R -.
The family physician was again sent for,
and pronounced the patients nervous sys-
tenn entirely Frustrated. Only tenderest
care could save her from lapsing into brain
fever.
% ''Whatever the result of this search may
be-" said the practitioner, ''she must be
kept in ignorance of it. Rest is most essen
tial for her now. Have the room darkened,
and admit no one without orders from me-"
These instructions, delivered to the house.
keeper, who became nurse, for the time be-
ing, were religiously carried out.
The toll of the searchers went unre-
warded. No clue to John Clayton, alive or
dead, was found by them, SO, as day sue
ceeded day, the belief became general that
he must have been foully dealt with and his
body cast into the swift-fowing Connecticut
aud carried out to sea. ..s
To robbery was attributed the cause when
it became ascertained that the victim bore
on his person valuable gold watch, dia-
mond pin, and considerable sum of money
The worthy prison official who had taken
care, in his own wonderful manner, OF Ned
Jasper, could have shed some light upon
the subject, or at least started train OF
circumstantial evidence. But Jared Clark
determined that he should forget the garden
scene, and Miss Clayton's peremptory de-
mands. Accordingly, before the official left
the house, Clark found time to interview
him. n5
Extracting hundred-dollar note from his
pocketbook, the villain pompously handed
It to the jailer, remarking, as he did 80:
F. sit is always we'll to reward such un-
firing devotion as you have displayed
Your superiors in authority may censure
YOU for neglect, but there is no reason that
thew should. You are at liberty to use my
inAuence to-that is, if called upon, I can
testify to your Incompatible ability" z.,as
The conscientious official pocketed the
money with cunning wink.
"Not altogether my fault that the fellow
was roasted, cap. Understand"
"TYue," responded Clark; 81 helped take
care of him. Yet was no more powerless
to save him than you would have been.
lam ready to assist you out of any scrape
on account of it, if you will forget the little
circumstance attendant on Miss. Claytons .
grief at her loss-her arraignInent OF myself
as the cause. People will talk, and don't
care to have my name mixed up IN the
affair"
The taller was not quite stupid enough to
| fail to see that there was something behino
| this but he did not seem at all concerned.
can right sir! Quite right - quite
Jared Clark smiled blandly, and patted
him on the back. -,
"You understand your business, Betts!'
he said at parting. "You are tne rlgn1 man
| in the right place"
/ Cecil gradually recovered. Mrs. Denton,
the housekeeper, proved herself competent
nurse, and carried out the doctors orders
without putting her own experience in com
hat with his The patient was left weak,
but perfectly able 10 converse. Yet she
asked no questions when informed OF the
failure of the detectives. ,,
She seemed to have lost all care and 10
have become oblivious. But beneath tnat
calm, Indifferent exterior pulsated frenzled
heart On her bed Of sickness, she could
scarce restrain the wild desire that possessed
her. The idea being impressed on her
mind that she was an orphan-tatherless,
nerhaps motherless came thoughts Of
reyenre! In her own hands would she take
the crime, and, link by link, close the chain
of evidence about the neck Of the guilty.
How she should begin she did not know,
hut her brain kept busily working, working
at the problem when all around her thought
her in state of lethargy. =,
OF Philip she often thought with feelings
of pain. Why did he not CALI why mao
, be not been to the house during her illness
To ut least inquire about her? Surely ne
ronat have seen that she reciprocated MS
affection. hard as she had tried TO hide 1t
/ Philin's letter did not reach it's destination
t iii she was too unwell to read it, and now
low heneath portfolio, forgotten by Mrs.
Denton. who had received and placed II
there. .4
The first week of convalescence past,
Cecil shook off her seeming lethargy, ano
ordered her trunks packed and sent to New
York. of ~.
family lawyer, whose hunt for VIII nae nao
heen as fruitless as the hunt for the missing
nroperty-owner. Mrs. Denton was to retalr
command of the servants, and take charge
of the household affairs, pending 1urthel
, instructions. IA,
These arrangements were made with ar
;mneriousness which forbade interference
,Fhe stricken girl, vindictive woman
now, took sad, last look Of the home once