San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-11-08
CHAPTER III.
WHAT THE MISCHIEF HAS AUNTY GOT TO
DO WITH IT?"

WHAT THE MISCHIEF HAS AUNTY GOT TO
DO WITH IT"'
This chilly, sunless, early March day The
Grange wore cherries asp ct, and Green
graves gazing in at the leafless trees and the
long formally shaped garden, wondered to
himself what could induce a man Of Sir
Richard FOrdyces undOubted wealth to
take up his residence at such place.
Perhaps he is a good deal away fiOm
home" said the detective to himself. II
fancy / should be too if were he"
Mr.. Greengrayes 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 a 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 publc-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 plrticular day the High
street seemed duller than usual, and it
would have been fiattery 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 a twO-shilling
piece brought cOmfOrtable-lOoking stout
lady from the bar-parlor, who, from the
half disguised yawn with which she APP
preached, Mr.. Greengraves 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
landlady, land, goodness knows, that's not
needed"
81 suppose you do a goodish business
sending out, though. There appears TO be
a 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-brick house down the lane,
isn't it? Rather a dismal-lOOking shop. /
suppose he's an old bachelorp'
''Old bachelorl 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 nan?"
For that matter the inside of the house
is not very much NOR cheerful. Mr. Charles,
who's footman there, says the drawing-room
would give one the hororsr'
Her ladyship, then, has rather a dull
time Of 1t, SUPPOSE
II 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 it rather slow. And there's
never hardly laugh heard. There's to be
large party, / hear, tomorrow night"
shes young wOman"'
'Yes; and pretty one. Bless you, she's
one of the beautiesl They put her picture
in the paper the other day. The master
said he'd have 1t framed. | have il here"
Saying this, the landlady fetched num-
Der Of the Hyde Park Journal, and handed
1t to the detective. There, sure enough, was
Lady FOrdyce's portrait. An oval face,
with sweet sad eyes. IL the artist had not
flattered her very touch, she must have been
beautiful woman.
Whilst GreengTayes was still looking at
the engraving another customer arrived.
This was person Of about forty-five to
fifty years of age, who wore an imitation
sealskin-jacket black silk dress, rather
shabby at the hem, hat with a bright
feather, and fair display of aluminium
jewellery.
There 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 s,ryed
asked the way 10 The Grange.
The landlady had gone to the other end
of the bar 10 get the spirits, On her return,
before replying, she looked quickly round.
whats come to the gentleman, | Won
derF' said she. "lhope he hasn't taken my
pictured No; here II is Bat he has left
his ale. He's coming back, l suppose"
Then turning TO the new conner; II beg par