The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-09-04

the previous evening. he had next hunted
out the only bath chair proprietor to b,
found in Grandchester, with the same re
suit. Time had not allowed him to visit tn,
numerous chemists shops in that thriving
city, and that remained to be done.
There was no evidence on Mr.. Caulfeld',
behalf, except the vicar of Freshmead,
evidence as to his character and ante
cedents, and to the fact that he only parted
with him at eleven o'clock on the previous
morning at the Freshmead Road station.
Freshmead was seven miles from Grand,
chester.
What was Mr. Caulfield going to do wher
he left you" asked the coroner
Ale was going to spend the day in Grand
chester"
"Has he friends or acquaintance in thai
cityf
@No. He wa going to look at the c. me
dral and law courts, and to spend an nour
or two in the o. lbury library"
Ale was to dine somewhere, | suppose"
He meant to dine at a restaurant. There
are good many dining places in Grand
chester; he could take his choice among
Them
After this witness had been examined the
inquiry was adjourned for a week
AT the close Of the proceedings, Mr.
Brockbank, the lawyer, asked if his client
might be released on bail, the vicar of
Frashmead being prepared to offer himself
as security TO any amount, but the coroner
replied that the case was of too serious a
nature to admit of bail.
So Mr.. Garfield went back to the stony
place whence he had come, where the
utmost privilege that could be accorded
him was the liberty to see his friends at
stated hours, and to have his meals supplied
from an ad jacent hotel.
His spirits would have assuredlv gone
down to the point of utter dependency on
that gloomy winter evening, when the moldy
fly that had conveyed him TO the George
hotel carried him back to the jail, had be
not been supported and sustained by the in
domitable cheerfulness of his friend the
vicar
what do you think Of the case now?' he
asked
"Think!" cried Mr. Lsworthv. SWhv,
that / shall have so much to do in Grand
chester ferreting out this mystery of yours
during the next six days that | don't know
how the deuce my parish work is to get
done"
Won't you employ the polica9"
"Of course shall; but shall employ my
self, too. Don't YOU be down hearted.
George. mean to ser You safely through
this business, and I shall do it right away,
as they say on the other side of the At
lanticr
George Caulfisld's confidence in his fathers
old friend was unbounded. He had seen in
the past how the vicar of Freshmead could
conquer difficulties which the ruck of men
would have found insurmountable. Mr.
Lsworthy dined with him as cheerfully as
if they had been eating white bait at Green
wich or turtle in Alders-ate street under
the most exhilarating circumstances; and
stimulated by the force of example. George.
who had scarcely broken his fast since be
left Grandchester, found himself ENJOYING
the tavern steak and the tavern cIaret.
His friend left him soon after dinner to 60
back to Grandchester by the nine O'Clock
train, and then came dreary interval until
ten, when the prisoner lay down on his pa =
let bed and slept on7dly, exhausted by the
bevlJdering emotions of the last twenty-four
hours. He was very downhearted. now that
he had before him the prospect of a weeks
solitude in that miserable cell, for Mr.. Lee
worthy had told him that he should not re
turn to Milldale until the day fixed for the
adjourned inquiry. by which time he hoped
TO have unearthed the man who had used
Mr. Elsden's card
An agitating surprise awaited Mr.. Caul-
field next morning. Whila he was break
fasting dismalv upon tea and dry toast, the
guardian of his solitude came in to tell him
that lady wished 10 see him.
"a LADY," cried the curate. "There must
be some mistake, don't know a creature
IN the town. Pray don't let me be made
show OF to crafty any ones morbid Curl
osity."
Lord love you. sir, as if we sbopld do
such a thiugl It's all right; the ladv's cot
an order. Shes relative. no doubt"
The-man Withdrew into the stony passare
outside; then came rustling sound George
Caulfeld knew well-a sweeping, stately
step, and au elderly Ia lv, gray AMI tail and
slim, came quickly in and threw her arms
round his neck.
Mother" cried the3 curate, "how could
you do such thingF'
How conld I do anything elseg' said his
mother, striving heroicaliy to be cheerful
"Doyou suppose was going to stay in Lon
don after received your letter. The post
man brought the letter at seven, Sophia had
my trunk packed by half-past, and Jane had a
cab at the door-such good girls, and so
anxious about you! was at Euston by ten
minutes past eight, and caught the train that
leaves at quarter past eight. was at
Milldale half an hour after midnight-too
late to come here, OF course, so ! went to the
nearest hotel The chambermaid told me
they were sending you your meals | felt
quite interested in them, and at home with
them directly"
She was "A wonderful old lady. carried hor-
self so bravery spoke SO brightly looked at
her son with eyes so full o. confidence and
hope. He would have been unworthy of
such mother had he not faced his position
unfalteringly They sat down side by side
on the prison bench, and he told.her all that
had Unopened since he wrote his letter TO
her, and spoke as if nothi z were mora GER
tain than his speedy jus ification.