The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1882-10-25
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.
Detectives were baked at every
point. Mrs. Merrivale's father had
been travelling abroad for several
months, and the old ~housckecpcr was
interviewed with her knowledge and
without her knowledge by these re-
morseless individuals, but it was plain
that she was as ignorant as everybody
else. More than once Mr.. Merrivale
had been summoned to the morgue,
with the expectation of recognition,
but Mildred was not there. Once a
mass of long fine hair was the first
thing to meet his eyes, and for an in
slant the strong, stern IMAM succumbed
to his anguish.
"Mr. Merrivale groaned quite like
other folks" the detective said. 81
didn't suppose twas in him."
But the beautiful hair was not Mill
reds; and when John M%errivale walked
out into the sunshine again it was with
his usual stoical composure.
During all these miserable weeks he
had nursed the thought Of Clarke's
knowledge of Mildred's secret until
now he was sure of it as Of his own cX-
istence.
lie would gladly have been in the
great house alone, free to think his
own thoughts and indulge his misery
in his own way, but he was entirely
dominated by the thought that some
time, like "murder," Clarke's COM
plicity would "out."
With this feeling stronger than ever
in his mind he, me afternoon, walked
into Clarke's room during his absence
and looked about.
He felt like a sneak thief as he did
SO, for his guests quarters were GER
tainly as sacred in his eyes as his own
private rooms.
Bnt he was the head detective, he
told himself, and everything was fair
in such an emergency as the present.
Mr.. Merrivale started several times
as he turned over the accumulation of
letters on Clarke's writing table, think
ing he heard a step approaching, and
more than once decided to leave the
room with his purpose unaccomplished.
But here was Clarke's memorandum
book, with ever SO many items care
fully erased, as it was on the very day
that Mildred left.
This was suspicious, of course. Here
was part of a letter in which Clarke
had written of the great trouble of
Jack, with a slight criticism of Jacks
manner Of managing the dreadful
business.
Nh. Merrivale was about to abandon
the search, when, upon taking up a
portfolio of sketches, he came upon a
scrap of writing which was as familiar
to him as his own. 1t wasthe tag end
of a note, and read as follows:
and shall be obliged to name
another day. Never mind. 1t will be
just as well. NJ. NJ"
John Merrivale hadfound more than
he had looked for. No wonder that
his guest was anxious to leave his
house. And this was the sequel to it
all. His wife had left him for
another man, and that man his best
friend, living as a brother under his
roof and partaking of his bountiful
hospitality. Mildred's tears were easily
explained now. There was no ncces-
sity of looking further. This was
evidence enough, and now, with his
teeth set and his eyes full of a deadly
determination, the outraged husband
Stalked out of the O
1t was after 10 o'clock that evening
when Clarke returned, and John Mcr-
rivale awaited him in the library with
the same fever of Impotence that he
had watched for his wife two months
before.
al am glad you are home, Jack!' the
newcomer exclaimed as he drew a
chair close to his friends. "Ive heard
some news
"Ah!"
"Mr. Harding returned from Europe
to-day, and Charlie Wellington says
there was a lady in the carriage with
him whom he could almost swear was
Mil Mrs. Merrivalc."
There was something in his com.
panion's face and manner that didn't
seem exactly favorable to first names.
and Clarke awkwardly corrected him.
self.
cit does seem though" he went on.
that if Mrs. Mcrrivalc had taken
passage on a steamer from New York
that you would have found it out"
Eyes" Mr.. Merrivale responded,
with singular deliberaticn; "but my
wife did not 60 to Europe and you
know it."
The speaker did not see the color
die out of his companions face, for it
was an impossibility for John Merit
vale even to accuse his friend of crime
and look him in the face at the same
time.
81 know it," Clarke repeated, with
q pitiful culver in his voice. "Your
wife did not 60 to Europe and l know
it?"
EYES, and you know it." Mr.. Merri-
vale responded, driving back with Il
supreme effort the demon that thirsted
for quick and summary vengeance. 81
have found you out" he went on,
"and all l now ask is that you tell me
where Mrs. Merrivale is hiding"
"Oh, Jack, can it be-" Clarke began,
imploringly.
drop that" his companion replied,
sternly. 81 want to know where my
wife is, and then, heaven help me, I
never want to see your face again in
this world or the next. Speak quick
", man"--this Kissed between set
teeth-"o OF my patience will give out"
"Let it give out and be hanged to
it !" Clarke exclaimed, now fairly wild
with rage. my patiencehas given out,
and what are you going to do about
it?"
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