New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-09
THE ARDS HOUSE MYSTERY

as well set down here what l know about the
matter. This is indeed, all that is to know, and
more than ANYBODY els. knows, for happened to
be intimately mixed up IN It, , ,
The Ards is the name OF small estate in the
neghborhoOd of Ashbury, where was stationed
for a number Of years, and Ards House, Where
the proprietor and his family resided a moderate
sized country mansion, was situated apouV a nun
bred yards off the London ROAD. Nhch the re-
markable occurrences | am about to narrate TOOK
place the family consisted OF Mr. Ausuu, tne
Squire as lac was sometimes called Dy CUNT
people OF the oldfashiOned type, grandson
granddan ghtrr, and more distant relative Il
Young man TO whom Miss Wiloughby. the grand
daughter was reported TO be engaged The DO
mcstic affairs of the family were, as usual IN
districts not thicl;ly peoped, pretty well known
to their neghbors: but much of what Will
here mention by way OF Introduction TO my larIH-
tive was learned after events had brought me
into closer contact with some of It's members.
Till within eighteen months of the time when
these events occurred the Austin family had con
sisted only of Mr.. Austin and his two grand
children. Horace Austin was the only son OF an
only son, and had lived with Ny. Ausun IRON ron
childhood the recognized as well as rlghttul
heir TO the estate lie had grown mp amid country
occupations, and might have sat TO character
PAINTER as model for the ideal country gentleman
Stoutly made, healtfN horld complexion, merry
brown eyes, mass Of light curly hair, and
frank pleasant smile for every one ne met Man
ners rather jolly than refined and more gwen 10
field sports than what are called intellectual
pursuits His relations with his grandfather had
hitherto been understood TO bc OF the most
Florence Willoughby was the child of daughter
who had married we'll and like Horace was now an
orphan. She was heircss in her own right TO
considerable wealth. and it was understood that
her future provision would form no burd n on the
estate. When ! first saw her She was nineteen
Horace being about half dozen years older,
and nicer young lady thn she was then
never clapped eyes upon, and | have seen lew
in my day. Mr. Austns cherished wish was that
the two cousins should marry, and an enga cement
had seemed likely L come about so lar as
could learn. while Horace almost worshipped his
Young and beautiful cousin. the side Of Flor
had reClpFOcatlOQ the
ment. She liked Horace, however, ana seemed
wiling in time to crafty the desire OF her grand
father.
But the introduction into the house of new
inmate altered matters entirely.
Gerald Lowe the son of a distant and poor
connection of the family TO whom at one time
Mr.. Austin believed he had been under deep
obligation. BY way Of rcpaying this debt he had
taken charge of Gerald's education, carried nm
forward in preparation for the legal procession
and just before ctarting him on an lnde iendcnt
career had invited him TO pay long visit at
Ards House. His studies had been prosecuted IN
London, where his home was, and this was his
first introduction TO The family of his benefactor
Handsome. rather refined IN appearance ana OF
insinuating address, the newcomer seems to nave
secured in short time the good opinion OF all
and more especially of the young heir S. The
heart which had stood out against the solid merits
of Horace Austin yielded TO the more attractive
accomplishments of Gerald Lowe Horace was
fair and 'feshy': Gerald was dark, interestingly
pale, and spirit uel las they say in novels Horace
was neither literary nor musical Gerald was 0Oth
and the favorable i'm nreSSion made by his elegant
exterior was deepened by an intercourse, winch
discovered common tastes and sentiments whether
Lowe fell IA victim to the beauty OF the girl or
allured by the wealth Of the heircNs Is hard
to tell but ne was soon Miss WilOughby's declared
and accepted lover. II could not but be that
he should now fall in the estimation. or at least
in the favor, of the two Austns but after some
opposition the part of her grandfather, and a
last appeal the part of her cousin the In
evitable was aoquiesced in, and an engagement
Crudglngly sanctioned
Gerald Lowe was, of course. no match in
worldly sense for the young heiress, and his having
awaited himself Of the opportunity afforded by his
patrons bencfcence to entrap the affections OF his
granddau Chter was considered by some TO prove
himself unworthy Of her in other respects. Mr.:
Austin however, as l learned from friend of
his TO whom he was in the habit OF
unburthenng himself endeavored to take more
favorable view of the matter. i am, Of course.
deeply grievod BY the turn affairs have taken, he
has been we'll educated is of good character so far
as know and she has money enough for both.
And love. you know, obeys no aws-at least none
but lis own
This was how matters stood when nj an early
hour one summer morning Gt was July ., g. a
rushed into our office with the Intelligence
night by thieves who had at the same time carried
away some valuable property.
In two minutes was hurrving, accompanied bv
Simpldns my trusty subordinate, toward Ards
House.
We arrived at the house a most simultaneously
with Dr. Gaylcn. 10 whom also a hasty summons
had been dispatched We were ushered into the
short exam nation assured Dr. Gaylen that life
was irrccOVCrably gone
He has certainly died from violence he said
4 should say from stranguation, by the grip of
human hands; the marks Of the fingers are but
too apparent. blow has also been given with
some blunt weapon on the temple. He has been
dead some hours. You must communicate with the |
coroner at once.
] now prOcCede 10 examine and question, and |
the result, shortly stated was as follows
The servant on going TO call his master at the |
@l, lnIp 1,nl-.
unusual circumstance, it app ais-and falling 10
obtain reply after repeatedly knocking, had given
the alarm. Access having been obtained another
way. Mr.. Austin Wa discovered a 81 him:
his eyes glazed and staring, his hands cenchcl
and the marks alluded TO by the doctor his
temple and neck The window was open, and
search proved that gold watch with valuable APP
pcndages, and two silver cups with lnScr pt!ons
which had stood under glass covers on side table
had been carried away: These we're the only
thoroughly scrutinized the room. the windows,
the doors 1t was large room, which MI Austin
which had been locked INSIDE opened on the cor
rdor; the other, by which entrance had been
gained communicated through dressing room
with another bedroom, IN which Horace Austin
slept. The hOusekceper, a portlv dame, who
seemed half-dazed by the horrible occurrence,
thought the doors between the two bedrooms
shared between the two men, and had been so
since Horace was boy Horace was in the habit
OF lOcklHg I1S DcufOOn uOOr, ana one that Opcncd
on the torrid T. but thought he had found il open
that morning, still could not be certain No one
she told me, had heard any noise during the night
nor had any suspicious characters, so far as she
knew, been lately noticed proving about the
premises. The window, she IT, ught was usually
fastened by Mr. Austin when h went to bcd-she
had often found II 50 next mOming-but he cor
tainly might forget il sometimes She sometimes
found il open in the morning. She supposed il
ns there We're no nncs broken w. es night
outside. measured the height of the window which
was not great, and might easily have been scaled
and carefully examined the ground beneath
/ was puzzled
Leaving Simpkns below, / re-entered the bed
room and took another look at the windowsin
Neither there nor the ground below were there
any marks TO indicate entrance or retreat Mus
ingly approached the bed where the dead man Law