The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-04-01
CHAPTER XVII

4
tho memorable day, 10 Isabel, OF tho lun
chcon at the iarm
On the next day Nhe ninth Of tho month,
Lady Lydlard 'ent for her steward and TO
qucstcd him 10 explain his conduct IN ro
poatcdly leaving the house without assigning
any reason for his absence, She did not dis.
puto his claims 20 freedom Of acton which
would not bc permitted TO an ordinary scry.
ant Her objection 10 his present. course
Of proceeding related ontircly 20 the mystery
In which II was involved aud 20 the uncor.
tainty In which the household was left as
TO the hour Of his return On these grounds
she thought herself entitled 10 an expana.
ton. Moudy's hnbtual resorvN-strength,
ened on this occasion by his drond or ridlCulo
II his efforts 10 servo Isabel ended In failure
-dldnclined him 20 take Lady Lydard into
his confidence whilo his inquiries were still
bosot with obstacles and doubts. He rospect-
fully cntrcnlcd her ladyship TO grant him n
delay Of u few weeks before hO entered on
his explanation Lady Lydiards quck tenn
per resented this request, Sho told Moody
plainly that he was guilty Of nm net Of pre-
sumption In making his own conditions with
his employer Ho received the rcproof with
exemplary resignation, but he held TO his
conditions nevertheless, From that moment
the result of tho interview was no longer In
doubt Moody was directed to send In his
accounts, The accounts having been cx-
Ominol, and found TO bo scrupulously cor.
rect, he declined accepting the balance OF
salary that was offered TO him The next
day he left Lady LydardS service.
On the 10Th Of the month her ladyship ro-
ccivcd lcttor from her nephew
The health Of Folk had not improved fIo
had made up his mind TO 90 abroad again
towards the end OF the month, In tho moan
time he had written 20 his friend at Paris
and ho had. the pleasure Of forwarding an
answer The letter incloSod announced that
the lost f6OO note had been madc the subject
OF careful inquiry In Paris, II had not boon
traced Tho French police offered 10 send 10
London one of thgir best men, well nc-
guantcd with tho English language, if Lady
Lydinrd was dcsirous Of employing him Ho
would bo perfectly willing TO net with on
English officer In conducting the inyostlga'
tion, should II be thought necessary Mr.
Troy, being consulted rs 10 the oxpodloncy
OF accepting this proposal, objected TO tho
pccuninry terms demanded as bcng oxtrnvn-
gonlly high He suggested whiting u little
before any reply was sent 10 Paris; and ho
engaged meanwhile 10 consult a London so.
licitor who had gront experience In eases Of
theft and whose advice might enable thom
to dispense entirely with tho services Of tho
Fronch poico
Bcing now u froc man again, Moody was
able TO TO low his own inclmations In regard
IA ihA A. tul,iah h. hun ttnNai.
from Old sharon
The course that had been recommended 10
him was rcpolIent 10 tho selfrospect aud the
scnso Of dclicacy which wore among tho In.
bred virtues Of Moody's character He
shronk from forcing himself ns frond on
Hnrdymnn valet; he rocoilcd from tho idea
Of tempting Q man TO steal specimen Of
his masters handwriting. Aftcr somo con.
siderotlon hc decided on applying to the
agent who collected the rents ut Hardymans
London chambers Being nm old acquaint-
nnco of Moodys, this person would certainly
not hesitate 10 communicate tho address Of
Hnrdymuns bankers II he know H. Tho OK.
pertinent, tried under these favorlng clrcum-
Stances proved perfectly successful Moody
proceeded 10 Shnron's lodgings tho samc dny
with the address OF tho bankers In his pocket.
book Tho old vagabond, greatly amused by
Moody's scruplcs, saw plainly enough thatsc
long ~ ho wrote the supposed lettor from
Hardyman In tho third person ID mottorod
little what handwriting was employed, seeing
TINT no signature would DO nee ssary The
letter was NJ once composed, on tho model
which Sharon had already suggested 10
Moody, and n respectable messenger $50 far
IA outward appearance vent was employed
TO take IL 10 the lauk. In half nm hour the
answer came back. II added one more 10
the difficulties which besot The inquiry after
the lost money No such sum ny ebOO liad
been paid, within the datos mentioned, 10 the
credit Of llardymnn's account
Old Sharon was not In the least discom.
posed by this fresh check "Give my love 10
the dear young Indy" ho sald, witt hl, Gus
tomnry i'm ulenco, and toll her We are ono
degree nearer 10 finding tho thief"
Moody locked at him, doubling whether
he was In jest or In earnest
"Must squeeze little more information
into TINT thick head of youpr asked Sharon.
With this question he produced n weekly
newspaper and pointed 10 n paragraph
which reported, among the items OF sporting
news Hnrdyman's recent visit TO sale OF
horses at q town In the north of France.
"Wo know he didn't pay the bank note in 10
his account, Sharon remarked. what ,lso
did he do with iti Took II topay for he
horses that he bought IN Francel DO yo1 500
your way little plniner nowi Very good.
Lots try next it the money holds out Some.
body must cross the channel In search OF tho
,ioto Witch Of ns two ~ TO dt IN th' steani.
boat with white basln on his lapi Old