Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-09-01

How long has she been here?'' he
asked after moments consideration.
"About 'alf an hour - she said, re-
treating to her own domain.
Mr.. Padger's usual avocations had
served to render him suspicious, and ne
hesitated for some time before entering
the sitting room. In his own house he
could easily have obtained a surrep-
titfous inspection of his unknown yisi-
tor, but here that was ont OF
the question, and he was con-
sequently reduced to mere conjecture
The only young woman he knew in the
town was Mary Carne, and he had seen
sufficient of her to be certain that visit
to him in his own apartments was the
last thing she would dream of. Who
then was the unknown, and, which was
of more Importance, what did she want
with him? More than once he had had
his schemes overturned, or his success
taken from him by spies, and he had
learnt caution. Failing, however, to
discover any other method of ascertain
ing her identity he walked into the
room.
A hasty glance showed him that the
drawer, the repository of his precious Sc
orets was apparently untampered with
anu he IuTuOu Tue "uO HsiOt
risen from a seat near the window on his
entrance.
"Mr. Padger?'' She queried in q
strongly marked foreign accent.
Now who are you?'' thought Mr..
Padger, as he acknowledged his claim
to that appellation. Her pale, vindic-
tive face was quite unknown to him.
She was rather a good looking girl of
three or four and twenty, simply dressed
in some plain black material.
"You want to know something's The
accent conveying the question which
the construction of the speech failed to
Indicate
81 want to know a good many
things, - remarked Mr.. Padger, as he
offered her q chair and took one himself.
"Oh, yes, q good many, she re-
peated, with a grim, saIdonic laugh.
"Have you got anything to teach
me?'' he asked, as she sat regarding
him without making any further re-
mark.
Perhaps, she answered with a
peculiar falling infection.
well, for goodness sake! hurry uD
and tell it, then, - thought Mr.. Padger
with considerable irritation, but he only
said, with an air of extreme Indifference
SO What?''
"About Miss Gertrude Ennis, is 1t
not?''
''What about her?" exclaimed Mr..
Padger, his interest and curiosity fully
aroused.
''You want to know what she do be-
tween half past twelve and a quarter less
two the day of the murder?'
''Can you tell me?'' SAID Mr.. Padger,
answering one question with another.
"Perhaps.
''Will you?''
"Perhaps.
''Look here, ;" said Mr.. Padger, stung
by her cool deliberation; elf you we got
any information, fire ahead. If you
want anything for it, out with it.
''Will you give him to me?'
''Give who?'' said Mr.. Padger, sur
prised out of his grammar.
''What l want -
''What is it?''
"Revenge!' Kissed the girl, and such
baleful CLEAN of poisonous hatred shot
from her eyes that Mr.. Padger started.
"Oh, ho!' he thought to himself.
''This is likely to prove interesting. -
"Will you, then?' she persisted.
"Weu, 1 don't know. Revenge on
whom?''
con her. On Miss Ennis -
81 say said Mr. Padger, amazed at
her eagerness, 'Who are you?''
''My name is Natalia Rozart.
"Why do you want to be revenged on
Miss Ennis?''
81 was her mothers maid. 1t was a
good place. but Miss Ennis found me out,
and insisted on my dismissal.
"Humph,' reflected Mr.. Padger.
"a discharged servant. Evidence to be
received with caution.
"Found you out IN what?' he said
aloud.
'That makes nothing, - she said hur-
riedly. "You will act on what 1 tell
vou?''
"Of course I shall - said Mr. Padger
eff there s anything to be made of it. -
81 was sitting that day, you know, at
1915 o CLOCK in the public garden near
the esplanade. It was empty, but be-
hind me was some strawberries. Pres
emily hear voice, a man IS voice. lie
says, how long You have been, and
voice of much agitation replies, 4 could
not manage it before That voice, it
was Miss Ennis
What" cried Mr.. Padger; care
you sure?
81 would swear to it,, exclaimed the
girl, extending her right hand melodra-
matically, and speaking with almost an
exultation of gratified hate. "'Then he
say Make haste now, we have no time
to lose, and she cries, I am so fright
ened. They talk for some time, but 1
cannot hear what they say. He is eager,
earnest, almost rough. She cries much.
Presently they walk away. AT a distance
/ follow. l do not deceive myself-it is
Miss Ennis. l foilow-stiIl at distance.
At length l turn a corner-they are
gone.
care you sure?' said Mr.. Padger, a
erIible apprehension growing up in his
mind.
81 tell you I could swear to it.
cat what corner did you lose sight of
them?'
''From High street into the market
place. -
Five minutes from the gardens, +"
said Mr.. Padger, half aloud.
1T is tTue-at five minutes to one -
Mr.. Padger made rapid mental cal
culation. From five minutes to one to
quarter to twO-ffty minutes. From the
corner of the High street to Monplasir-
twenty minutes walk at the outside. Half
an hour still unaccounted for.
"'Who was the man?'' he asked at