Iuka reporter., 1890-04-17
Adele for my wife, She shall marry


witted.
Il was so hopeful of finding some
clew when L entered the house." he
said to himself; "yot Ileave just about
as wise as when came"
As tho thought fitted through his
mind he turned his head aud in the
spacious fower-garden which lay spread
out like variegated carpet all round
the Lawrence mansion, he saw the girl
Maggie Willett. She WAS busy gather
ing flowers to mako into bouquets
for the house. At sight of the detect
i've her sallow face grew white as death,
sod her eyes fell before his steady
gaze.
Arthur Wynne had come prepared
tor this emergency. He Went straight
to the girl, and babe her a kindly
good-morning. She courtesied humbly.
Good morning. sir." she made an
swer. "And, if YOU please, sir, have
you heard any news vet of the poor
young lady?'
He shook his head, drawing from
his pocket at the same time the coral
comb.
This is your property, Maggie y he
said, tersely. II found it in Miss
Rubys room, after it had been locked
to keep out all intruders. Now, tell
me, Maggie, what is your price-how
much do you ask--in short, how large
a sum must | pay you for telling me
how that comb came into Miss Rubv's
toom?"
The girl was staring into his face
with great, wide-open, honest black
eyes.
Me. sir" she CALCULATED, frankly
@why, sir, I never was in that room
since the day-you remember the day,
siri'
Aye, that he did! He remembered
it, to his sorrow; he would remember
it to the day of his death.
The combs not mine" added Mag
gle, shrinking from contact with the
article rs though it were poison. Il
have just such a comb,' she went on,
glibly, "and / mislaid it; but I found
it again. You see, SIR"
And she dexterouslv whisked off her
big sun hat, revealing comb, the
counterpart of the one in Arthur's
hand, confining her ietty braids.
He had no reason but to take his de-
parture, which he did, with feeling
OF defeat, Without a backward glance
he left the place, re-entered his car
rage, and was driven home, sad, weary,
heart-sick. That very night he received
written message, in straight hand,
as follows:
If Mr.. Arthur Wynne will 90 down
to the lake, and out to the end of the
pier, tonight, at nine precisely, he
will learn where to look for Ruby Law.
renee"
1T may be trapl" he said. slowly.
as he laid the note aside; "but J. must
leave no stone unturned which NAV
hide clew to my darling's fate! Twill
go to the pier tonight"
Nine! tolled from the clocks in all
the church towers, and the darkness OF
Erebus had settled down over all
things, when tall figure stepped upon
the pier which iutted out into the black
waters of the lake.
Close behind that figure another
form loomed up, black patch against
the inky darkness of the sky. On. on
to the very end of the long pier the
first form made it's way. with that
black shallow following, unsuspected.
IN its wake. A pause, and silence fol-
lows.
Then sickening thud, as heavy
blow is dealt; dull splash, as the dark
waters open hungrily; and there il
only one person standing above upon
the pier, in the night and in the dark
ness. Surely. murder has been done!
CHAPTER xyr
A NEW MOVE
Chief Ludlowe sat alone in his Office
that NIGHT look Of care unon h;s
plain. grave face his sves fnlI of any.
iety
III don't like the looks of it,v he OK.
claimed address;n0 himself nHa;s
the most headlono rash youne fellow
| know. paws attention to every anon.
ymous letter that comes in his way
Bless my sonl, old detective as T am
would not think of GOING to every
rendezvous annn;ntad in snonxmons
letters Gona fo Tho Nor On bic note
informs me- 1Hs t,,rnaa 10 an onan
letter mon the desk before him ) sHnd
here ;s tho anonymons letter
~ bel;eyaI lnow tbat wr;t;no,n ~ bo
exclaimed suddenly "I1l het = nickel