Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-05-23
CHAPTER ~.

Vailing fashion of the day His sitting
room was hung with dark-red curtains
and carpet to match, and the furniture
being Of the kind designed to promote
ease and comfort, it looked very snug,
particularly at night. There was a desk
IN one corner of the room piled up With
a disorderIy heap Of papers. Over this
we're fencing fOiis and boxing gloves,
arranged against the wall, and the pict-.
ures mostly consisted of photographs Of
pretty women and paintings of celebrat-
ed horses. There was a small table near
the fireplace on which lay pipes, cigar
boxes, and tobacco Jars, and on a side
board spirit stand, which was much in
favor with CallistOn's friends. small
bookcase contained an assortment of
French novels, principally Of the lola
and Mendes school, and, Judging from
the shabby appearance of the books,
must have been pretty well read. The
whole apartment had dissipsted air, and
the atmosphere was still impregnated
with a faint OdOr Of stale tObaccO-smoke.
Opening off this apartment we're a dress
ing-rOom and bedroom, and, though the
whole menage was somewhat limited, yet
1t made up in quality what it lacked in
quantity.
When CaIIiston was away his Lares
and Penates were looked after by a
worthy lady, who rejoiced in the name Of
Mrs. POVy, generally known by the name
Of TOtty. She was elderly, very stout,
with round red face, the tint Of which
was due to health and not drink, as she
seldom imbibed anything stronger than
tea. Totty was addicted to a kind Of
regulation uniform, consisting of q black
dress, huge white apron, and muslin
cap, set cOquettishly on the side of her
elderly head. She was one of these
quaint old mOtherly creatures who never
offended, no matter what they say, and
she frequently 1ectured Calliston on the
irregularity of his life, which that noble
lord accepted with an amused laugh.
The late Mr.. POvy had long since de-
parted this life, and having been what is
vulgarly known as warm man, had left
1 otty comfortably off, so that lady Occu-
pied her present position more from choice
than necessity. She had a gruE voice,
and her casual remarks had the sound of
positive commands, which she found Of
great use with refractory servants.
lofty learned from the papers that
Lord Cailiston had gone of to the Azores
with Lady BaIscombe, and expressed her
disapprOVal Of his action in the most en-
phatic manner to Mrs. Swizzle "a friend
of her YOUTH as they sat over their four
o'clock tea.
@Ah, said lofty, fixing her eyes pen
siVely on the little black teapot, lit amt
no good being a refOrmatOry. The way
I've talked to him about his goings on,
and now look at his goings off.
Perhaps b. couldn't help himself,
said Mrs. Swizzle, who was tall and thin,
and spoke in a kind of subdued whistle.
At this moment there came a ring at
the door, and lofty hurrYing away to at
tend to it, Mrs. SWizzle made the best
use of her time by eating up the buttered
toast as rapidly as she could.
when Mrs. Povey opened the door she
cd Tyya Ion in
which was none other than DOwker, come
to prosecute his inquiries concerning Miss
Sarschine.
well, inquired Totty, grufiy, an
nOyed at being disturbed, and what do
you want?"
Dowker gazed on the substantial figure
before him and sighed.
"A few words with you about Lord
CallistOn, he said, softly.
What's up?" she gasped. HAS Lord
Calliston bin doing anything wrOng?"
NO no, replied DOWker, sOothingly.
4 only want to obtain some information
about Miss Sarschine.
Il don't know that kind of pusson, &"
said lofty, angrily.
Never mind if you know her or not, ."
retOrted DOwker, steTnly, but answer my
questions"
Mrs. Povy shifted and would have re-
fused, but there was something in the de-
tectives eye which queIled her, so she
yielded an ungraciOus assent.
when did Lord Calliston leave town
for his yacht?"
About a week ago-on Monday last.
Where was his yacht lying?"
"At ShOreham. He went to London
Bridge Station to catch the ten minutes
past nine train. His yOtsh was to leave
next morning.
Did he go alOpe?"
las far as know, retorted lofty. "If
Lady Balscombe went with him you can
see it in the papers. 1 know no more
than that?"
How often did Miss sarschine call on
Monday"
-Onoe, in the afternoon, to see Lord
CalHston.
did she see him?"
mo; he was out, so she said she'd call
again in the evening.
And did she?"
"Yes; but Lord Calliston had gone
about eight o'clock to catch his train. I
suppose she thought he wouldn't 60 Till
next morning.
Did she know he was going to eIope
with Lady Balscombe?"
Not that know Of
Did she see any one when she came
the second timer"
Yes; Mr.. Desmonds my Lords cousin. "
What time was thGt?"
About twelve-between eleven and
twelve"
Dowker pondersd a little. So she
called here to see Calliston just before
she was murdered, and saw Desmond.
Now, the question was, what had Des-
mOnd to do with the affair?
Was Mr.. Desmond here on that even
ing by accident?"
@No; he told me he had come to give
Miss Sarschine a message from Lord
/ CalIston."
You did not overhear their converse
tion?"
Mel" growled Tctty. Indignantly, q
never 1isten-but when she was leaving
/ they were having row"
About what timer"
Il think at ten minutes after twelve.
Did she go out alone?"
Yes; Mr. Desmond followed shortly
afterward