Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-10-11
London. We can SEQ no other way OF
arTesting inquiry and scandal" 10
CHAPTER XIV.

/
be admitted TO the family council his re-
quest was granted. With the letter In
his hand he went into the library and
pondered what had happened. The Ques-
ton he had TO solve was, what motive
could have been strong enough TO force
Beatrice to take such step
She was unhappy. Her own words
said so. Did some danger overhang her!
Did some evil threaten herr What dan
ger? What evll7 Why could not he,
Frank Carruthers, be at her side to shield
and aidS Heaven knows he would do 1t
and seek no reward.
He must find Beatrice. Sacred as her
wish not to be traced might be TO Horace
and Herbert, Frank felt that 1t did not
affect him. lie would not of course stOop
to calling in detective aid, but the utmost
he could do to solve the mystery should
be done. To Frank Beatrice's flight APP
peared in a far more serious light than it
did to her uncles.
He must go and look at her portrait.
! There was fine one in the dra wing
room. lie went there, stood before 1t for
a long time, and to the representation OF
herself vowed she was the faireSt woman
on earth, we'll worthy for man to live or
die for. Then he began to retrace his
steps TO the library. AS he crossed the
hall he saw q strange sight.
Whitaker the irreproachable, the dig
nifed, with indigna ion written in every
line of his black coated limbs, was stand
ing at the front door against which he
leaned his full weight, whilst with his
right hand he was struggling with some
object which prevented him from abso-
lutely shutting the door. Closer eXamina-
ton showed Frank that this was the end,
about six inches, OF stout walkinS-stlck
a contemplate OBJECT, yet as 1t was held
powerful enough 10 foil the cd ser ants
efforts. Whitaker was putting and blow
ing, not so much from his eXertiOns as
from anger. His face was as red as a
turkey-cocks. Nothing impressed Frank
more strongly with the feeling that unus-
ual things were happening at Lakewood
House than the sight of this respectable
old retainer in such abnormal difficulties.
What the natter" he said going to
the door.
IT'S a man, Mr.. Carruthers," pulled
out Whitaker.
'What does he want?'
''He asked for Miss Clau'on, sir; l told
him she was away from home.
"Well, what them" Frank grew in
terested. The parties outside and inside
remained in the dea flock.
He called me a damned liar, Mr.. Car.
ruthers > said Whitaker.
"Open the door and let me have look
at him, a" said frank.
IL wouldn't Mr. Carruthers if | were
you, sr. believe he meditateS making
an attack of personal violence. y
".Never mind, open the door He won't
personal 'iolen Ii e; and you can stand
behind me. "
Ills, as he was head and shoulders
Ia Ter than Frank, Whitaker felt to be
sarcasm. How yer, being accustomed to
obey, he opened the door, and Frank
about his own age. A strengthening,
muscular fellow, dressed in the very
height of fashICn-too far up, in fact, t.
look a gentleman.
Maurice Hervey, Of course. Having
given b atrice more than twenty-fOur
hours grace, he put in execution his
threat OF looking her up.
Hervey oked at Frank; Frank, little
guessing what this mans existence meant
to him and Beatrice, looked at llervey.
"Well?" no said, coldly.
al wish to repeat few inquiries which
| made OF the servant when he so uncivil-
| ly shut the door in my face, said Her
vey.
II beg to repeat the servants answers
which you 20 uncivilly received" said
Frank.
"Yoa do not know her address,"
''lf you are speaking of Miss Clauson,
/ do not.
Hervey hesitatel. ''You are not Mr..
Tall ert?" he said.
~ am not, said Frank, coldy.
MIR. Talbert an no DO 1T give me the
information"
mo doubt. But ! presume he will
want to know your reasons for asking"
II will wait and see him.. ;"
~ don think you will. OF course
have no power to prevent your calling
again, but you will not wait here. -
Hervey scowled. ''Will you try and
tnrn me out?" he said dehantly.
Certainly not said Frank pleasantly.
''Iou stand higher than de-; you must
weigh two stone heavier; you look in per-
feet condition. Oh, no, | shall merely
send round to the stables and have the
dogs loOsed, or | may even send as far as
the village and fetch the constable.
shall not interfere further than that"
Hervey muttered what Frank knew was
an oath. He turned away as if about
10 take Franks waning. Suddenly he
changed his mind and came back.
| 'DOeS MT. lalDert know his niece 5
address," he a. ked.
For second Frank felt almost sick.
His interrogation had tried to ask the cues
ton as il it bore no hidden meaning, but
he had failed AS by inspiration Frank
knew that this man, whoever he might
be, was aware that Beatrice had fed.
mo, he said, looking him straight in
the face. ''Mr. Talbert Goes not know
| it g."
Without a word IIervey turned and
strobe away. rank, with his head i'm
ferment. walked across to the library.
He paused at the door, and called to
Whitaker. Whitaker came "You set
that fellow down properly, Mr.. Carruth-
ers, he said, approvingly.
''Did /? IL were you, Whitaker
should not mention the affair to your
masters
Sir" said Whitaker, with emotion,
81 should be ashamed to breathe a word
about it. Both Mr.. Talbert and Mr.. Her
bert would be so mortified at the thought
of servant of theirs being called such an
approbrious epithet:"
al should not mention 1t to the maids
either, Whitaker"
'sSr!v exclaimed Whitaker I'm n tone