The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-28
A Mad MARRIAGE;
The HeireSs of Law.
renee Park.
4 STORY OF ABSORBING INTEREST.
BY MRS. E. b. COLLINS.
CHAPTER z.
A SHEET OF PAPER.

"Can I see Mr.. Wynne?"
Seven O'Clock had just rung from the
steeple of st. Pauls; seven chimed
from the antique clock upon the stairs
q which wound upward from the spa
eious entrance hall of Arthur Wynne's
sumptuous home. Mrs. Grey, the
housekeeper, passing through the hall,
herself answered the summons. Mr.
Ludlowe stood upon the marble steps
without, his face quite pale, and full OF
grave anxiety.
"Can T see Mr.. Wynne for few mo-
ments ?" he repeated; "it is upon bust.
nas of the utml lost Importance, or l
would not trouble him at so e'rly an
hour!"
Mrs. Grey nodded.
"Walk in, sir, if you please, and l
will let MIR. Wynne know. He has not
yet left his room. I do not think that
be is we'll"
"Let me go to his room,' said the
chief. II am Ludlowe, of the detect
i've force, and I know that he will be
glad to see me-"
The housekeerer led the way, and a
few moments later Mr.. Ludlowe raped
lightly upon the door OF Arthur's room,
and was at once admitted. The young
man was sitting, in a quilted satin
aressing-gown and velvet slippers, be-
fore o bright coal fire, his face very
grave and unusually thoughtful. He
started to his feet in surprise at sight
of his unexpected visitor.
"What has happened?" he demanded,
in tone of alarm, for an unerring in
stincs warned him that something had
happened. "Be seated, Mr.. Ludlowe,"
he went on, wheeling low, velvet
easy-chair to the fire, "and tell me what
It is"
Mr.. Ludlowe sank into the comfort
able seat with swift glance into
the handsome perturbed face before
him. s.-..-
"The worst has happened" he began,
slowly.
"No, mol" as Arthur clutched the
low marble mantel for support, uttering
aShe is not dead! Ruby Lawrence
lives, as far as I knowp
"As far as you knowl" repeated Ar
thur, 'blankly. "Mr. Ludlowe, what
do you mean? There! you have pre-
pared me; now go on, and tell me the
worstp b -..
"The worst is this" .
Ludlowe arose, and, laying his hand
upon the young mans shoulder, gazed
down into his pale face with kindly
; eyes. He had learned to love this
brave, generous, noble-hearted young
fellow, as though he were his own son.
my dear boy, be calm!' he began,
reassuringly. at may not be so bad
as it looks, after all! But this is the
simple truth. Ruby Lawrence is
gomez
sGone! Great Heavens, Ludlowe,
you are jesting-or mistaken! How
could she escape, even if she would ?
And. surely, she would not, for"
gasping the words forth as though
they hurt him, "why, man, her flight
would be a tacit acknowledgment ot
her guilt, and that is preposterous!
Chief Ludlowe was nodding his head
slowly, ike Chinese mandarin.
Exactly! That is just what public
opinion says, my dear boy! Now, Ar
thur, you have learned the worst; can
you conceive of anything any worse
than that which I have told you
looking at it from every possible
point?"
Arthur Wynne was as pale as death.
he had already tossed aside his dress
ing-gown, and substituted coat; then
he discarded his slippers, and, soon
properly equipped for the street, stood
before his friend.
"Ten me, Ludlowe," he began, @tell
me all the new developments-clews-
no, no! Upon second thoughts I will
not haar word! Go with me to Law
renee Park at once; let me get there
before anything has been disturbed,
and I will judge for myself! Ten
chances to one Twill find some clew
that you and the others have over
looked"
"But, my dear fellow, you have eaten
nothing to-day. Wynne, you are a
hot-headed youngster! "A mans will
is the winds will; and the thoughts of
youth are long, long thoughts says
the old proyerb. Go and get some
breakfast; I will wait for you. No,
SIR; not one step do you go to Law
renee Park, until you have obeyed mel"
Ludlowe rang the bell himself, and
ordered breakfast for Arthur to be
brought to the loom. He insisted upon
the young mans breaking his fast; after
which he announced himself in readi-
ness and they drove away together to
Lawrence Park.
They found the great house in con-
fusion; Mrs. Chillingworth in hys-
terics; while, in the sumptuous draw
ing-room, the body of the master lay
in state. Arthur cast swift glance
Ground, then he turned to Ludlowe.
"Let us 60 upstairs to her room, "
he said, hurriedly; and without word
the chief obeyed.
Outside the door of Ruby's chamber
the officer, who had, played so impor-
tant part in her arrest, was sitting
sullen and crestfallen over the unex.
pected turn that affairs had taken.
Upon the veranda, below the window
of Ruby's room, the other guard had
been discovered insensible, from the
evident effects of bottle of old rye
which, nearly emptied of it's contents,
stood suspiciously near. Arthur laid
his hand upon the door-knob and
turned it slowly.
"Has any one been in this room?" be
asked the officer, "since- since
He broke off abruptly.
The officer shook his head.