The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-11-04
CHAPTER XI.

CHAPTER XI.
AS Fancourt left Mrs. Dalton's gate,
he found him elf suddenly face to face
with person who was just about to
ring for abundance.
This was a small wiry man with
clean-shaven face, shrewd gray eyes,
bushy eyebrows. and thin lips slightly
uptlTned at the corners. giving an eX-
preston to the face as of perpetual
smile, lie was dressed in plain suit
OF black, neither very new nor very
fashionably cut, and carried in his hand
blue bag. FanCOurt would have passed
him without notice. but for the fact
of running against him at Mrs. DaltOn's
gate: he took him for lawyers clerk,
and wondered what his business might
be. He was not aware that with
sharp glance the man had photographed
his exterior on his brain for any future
occasion that might arise.
FancOurt had little attention to spare
for so insignificant a person. His
thoughts reverted to the house he had
just left, and to what he had heard and
seen there. He did not doubt for a
moment that it was Julie LemOnt who
had personated the widow lady and got
possession of the ring. He ground his
teeth savagely as his determination be-
came more fixed to get rid OF this Wom-
an who was 50 dangerously mixed up
with his affairs. To get rid of her-he
did not yet tell himself by what means.
He had been struck with Lena Dal-
tons beauty when he had met her by
chance in Alphington Park. Now that
he had seen her again, she had taken
complete hold of his 5ensuous magma
ton; and he then and there made firm
resolve to win Lena Dalton and to mar
ry her. An inward voice seemed to
whisper to him that with her the heir
to an earldom need not despair; nor did
he suppose the consent of the mother
would be difficult to obtain. The young
er sister, he perceived, would be his
enemy-but what Of that? What could
she do against a determined will such
as his? He ClenChed his hand in his
delicate lemOn-cOlOred kid glove, as he
swore to himself to clear all obstacles
from his path. and to crush all that
stood in the way of the attainment of
his desires.
Sarah had not closed the gate when
the newcomer appeared. Sarah felt
that life at Ivy Cottage passed in more
secluded manner than quite suited her
taste; 50 she generally took the oppOr-
tunity, when she conducted the visitor
to the gate, of indulgng at peep at
the outer world. Sometimes the milk
man might be passing. or neighbours
servant visible, and thus a few min
utes' chat be obtained with some one
more lively than old Martha. So. stand
ing with the gate open IN her hand, she
also found herself face to face with the
little man with the blue bag.
as your mistress at home, my dear?"
said he, slipping in through the gate as
he spoke,
what may please to be your bush
ness?n Sarah inquired not over well
pleased with the familiarity Of the adj
dress.
Just you tell Mrs. Dalton that Mr.
Riggs wishes TO see her. She won't
know my name. but you may tell her |
come on Lord Alphington'S business"
said the man.
At this name Sarah dropped a collr-
tesy, and begging MI Riggs to proceed
toward the house, she fastened forward
to deliver the message,
"On Lord AIphington's business"
Mrs. Dalton repeated, in surprise. ''Oh,
! do believe it's about that horrid ring
again, | suppose he must come in
She appealed to Bertha.
Yes, mamma-why not?' said Ber-
tina.
Ask him in, Sarah. Oh. dear, dear,
We shall never near the last of it, do
believe Mrs, Dalton lamented. Il do
wish, Bertha, you would cut that heavy
fringe off your shawl; it VIII be carry
ing off somebody's purse. or watch, or
10 one knows what some day. Pray
come in.
This was in answer to Mr.. Riggs
"Seryant, ladies' as he stood in the
doorway, his hat in his hand.
Now that his hat was removed. it was
seen that he had shiny bald head, with
d fringe OF close-cut, light-colOred hair.
He carried blue cotton pocket hand.
kerChief in the crown of his hat. This
he took out, polishing his head as lie
stood.
You come from Lord Arlington?
Pray sit down. said Mrs. Dalton.
Mr.. Riggs took a seat near the. door,
placing his hat under the chair and tax.
ing rapid survey of the room, in the
course OF which every article in it was
mentally catalogued
Yes, marm," Mr.. Riggs replied.
vi m a detective constable. and I've
called to make some inquiries about
missing ring, if you've no objection"
None whatever" said Mrs. Dalton,
In a furry; but | really can't tell you
who or whether anybody took it. |
think it much more likely that it's no.
body, and that it's lying here in some
crevice, where goodness knows who's
to get at it without pulling the house
down"
Mr.. Riggs smiled-but then he was
always smiling.
There would be little employment