The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-09-28
THE FINGER-END.
CHAPTER III.
WHAT THE MISCHIEF HAS AuNTy GOT TO
DO WITH ITH'

WHAT THE MISCHIEF HAS AuNTY GOT TO
DO WITH IT%'
This chilly, sunless, early March day The
Grange wore a cherries aspect, and Green
graves gazing in at the leatless trees and the
long formally shaped garden, wondered to
himself what could induce man of Sir
Richard Fordyce's undoubted wealth to
take up his residence at such place.
Perhaps he is good deal away from
home" said the detective to himself. Il
fancy should be too if were he"
Mr.. Greengraves did not first of all ring
the bell and enter the house. After the
manner of his class, he thought it best to
approach the scene of his investigations
with certain amount of circumlocution,
and having made sure he should be able at
any time to find The Grange again when he
wanted it, he turned his back upon it now,
and retraced his steps in the direction Of
the nearest public-house which he had pass
ed upon his way.
The town of Fulham is never very lively;
even when the great boat-race takes place
nearly all the fun is on the other side of the
water. On this particular day the High
street seemed duller than usual, and it
would have been flattery to say that trade
was slack, for it had stood still.
Crossing the threshold of the inn, Mr..
Greengraves found he had the bar all to
himself, but the tapping of twO-shilling
piece brought comfortable-looking stout
lady from the bar-parlor, who from the
half disguised yawn with which she APP
preached, Mr.. Greengrayes judged had been
taking nap.
Rather quiet to-day, amt you, ma'am?"
said he, after he had given his order,
'Quieter than usual, think" replied the
Iandlady, and goodness knows, that's not
needed"
Il suppose you do a gOodish business
sending out, though There appears to be
number of gentlemen's houses about"
"a few, but, bless you, they don't deal
with us. We get call from the servants,
perhaps, or the servants may now and then
send for little beer or spirits, but that's
ALL"
ut is Sir Richard Fordyce who lives at
that tall red-brck house down the lane,
isn't it? Rather a dismal-leoking shop. |
suppose he's an old bachelor~
"Old bachelor not he. | won't say he
doesn't look it. Well there, don't mind il
he is listening, but he's just one of those
men, to my thinking, that no woman alive
could ever really care for
You mean that-eh? Well, now only to
go by that precious STRAIGHTFORWARD garden
of his, should say he wasn't what you
might call very jolly sort of man?'
For that matter the inside of the house
is not very much more cheerful. Mr.. Charles,
who's footman there, says the drawng-room
would give one the horrors!"
Her ladyship, then, has rather a dull
time Of it, supposeP'
Il don't know that They keep good
deal Of company, which we learn by the
servants coming here; though Mr.. Charles
does say he should think the people who
came found 1t rather slow. And there's
never hardly laugh heard. There's to be a
large party, hear, tomorrow night"
She's young woman"
Yes; and pretty one. Bless you, she's
one of the beauties! They put her picture
III the paper the other day. The master
sad he'd have 1t framed. | have it here"
Saying this, the landady fetched num-
Der of the Hyde Park Journal, and handed
It to the detective. There, sure enough, was
Lady Fordyce's portrait. An oval face,
with sweet sad eyes. If the artist had not
nattered her very touch, she must have been
beautiful woman.
whilst Greengraves was still looking at
the engraving another customer arrived.
ms was person of about forty-fye to
nifty years Of age, who wore an imitation
sealskn-jack ct, black silk dress, rather
Shabby at the hem, a hat with q bright
feather, and fair display of aluminium
jewellery.
Ihere were traces Of good looks of times
past about face which now was rough and
blotched with red She ordered sixpenny.
worth of brandy hot and on being served
asked the way to The Grange.
Inc landlady had gone to the other end
vi Inc bar to get the spirits. On her return
before replying she looked quickly round
what's come to the gentleman won
uer! SAID she. "lhope he hasn't taken IN,
picture! No; here ii is. But he has lef
MS ale He's coming back, | suppose?'
iheh turning to the new conner. 81 beg par
non The gentleman was just asking abou
Inc Orange himself. You didn't notice him
perhaps?"
NO. What sort OF person?p
Tai and stout"
mo"
wen, u was rather odd, that Is all. Yo
want 10 know the way, you say?"
when the customer had finished her gro
she TOOK ner departure, and presently rim
Ing tile bell at The Grange gates. asked
she could see Hester Partridge.
Hester Partridge, the housekeeper's ow
maid, only recently engaged. had been ser
on an errand to Waham-green. The IL
quirer said 1t did not matter; she was in
hurry and would call next day or lit
later.
Would You, sir"-to Mr.. Charles skin,
. ly mention III you remember? I'm Hester
aunt"
.-9t