Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-11
JAIL RIGHTs Reserved

fered for any information concerning the
disappearance of Gerard, Lord Gilmore
that young man named Tyrone, who
had been staying at one of the villages
up the Thames for over six weeks, had
come forward and stated that more than
man, whom he knew well by sight, row
up to the little landing place of small
riverside villa, which he could point out.
The police, acting on this intor nation +,
had gone TO this riverside villa, &C
compauied by Mr.. Tyrone, but they had
found the villa shut up, and the whole
place deserted. They then discovered
that this villa belonged to a certain
builder in Maidenhead who had once re-
sided there, but during the last two
years, finding it too small for his family
had removed TO a larger house and had
let this villa to anyone he could get to
take 1t.
The police then had gone to Mr.. Glib
son, the builder, and the owner of the
villa, and this gentleman had been ready
TO give them any information in his
power. house agent had let the villa
in the beginning of March to foreign
lady, named Madame de Costa, who had
the place for six months, and paid the
rent in advance. But to MIR. Gibson s
surprise he had received a communion
tion from the house agent to tell him that
the foreign lady after staying little
over ten weeks at the villa had left it,
and had returned the keys to the house
agent, who wrote TO ask Mr.. Gibson s
wishes respecting the future letting of
the place.
This was all Mr. Gibson knew about
the last tenant, but when the house
agent at Maldenhead was applied TO he
had more to tell. He stated that Ma
dame de Costa personally took the villa
of him, and that she was tall, dark
and seemingly very handsome woman,
though he never saw her without veil,
aud she spoke English very we'll, though
with a slight foreign accent. She had how
ever, two foreign servants who could not
speak a word OF English, and these two
were the only attendants the house agent
saw when the lady took possession of the
villa, having paid six months rent in ad
vance. The house agent also stated that
the lady seemed wealthy, and brought
many beautiful things with her; that
when she left she returned the keys of
the villa to him by parcel post, informing
him in letter she enclosed that the ILL
ness of q relation had suddenly recalled
her TO the south of France.
Erne read all these details, and then q
sudden vague suspicion darted across his
mind. He further read that the police
were most anxious to receive information
regarding Madame de Costa. Mr.. Ty-
rone's statement undoubtedly proved
CilTnora had ham in rho bal ,tt
of going to the riverside villa during her
tenancy. and that this fact might ac-
count for where he spent the two hours
on the night of the 29th of April, when
he left the Rookery in time TO catch the
nine train, but did not arrive at the sta
ton at Maidenhead until few minutes
before eleven o'clock when he started il
the train, which was the last time he had
been seen or heard of.
Erne was a man with a clear acute
mind as well as a strong will and during
the remainder of the evening after he
had read this newspaper account Of the
first clue towards the discovery of 1.-THE
missing lord - he sat and pondered fire.
quently on the strange mystery that
surrounded Lord Gilmore's disappear
auce.r He had meant to leave town the
next day, but he did not do this, but
telegraphed to General Blenkinsop to
tell him he was detained. Then about
twelve o CLOCK the next morning he went
to Nancy's house TO inquire after her,
and was requested by the footman TO go
in, as Mrs. Clifford had given orders that
If he called he was to be admitted.
He was shown into the drawing room,
and a few moments later Nancy entered
il. She looked around agitated and i'll,
and after shaking hands with Erns, she
at once began to talk on the very sui jsct
that Erne had been thinking of
so deeply.
"In the papers this morning. she
said, nervously, There is something
about Gerard S disappearance-some-
thing about some woman he used to visit
down the river-have you seen it?''
Eyes, ," answered Erne gravely.
''And-aud l suppose they will try TO
trace this woman?' asked Nance quick
ly.
81 suppose so; but it will be very diff
cult unless she voluntarily comes for
ward, which is very unlikely.
"Thsn you think she will have left
England?'
''If she has had anything to do with
his disappearance no doubt she has. -
''His wife knew nothing about this
woman, did she?'
al conclude not. or the fact of his
going 20 this riverside villa would have
been mentioned before. But at all
events it would seem as though nothing
could have happened to him there, as he
was last seen at the station at Maiden
head. -
Erne's eyes were fixed on Nancy's
face as he said this, and in a moment
sudden color flushed over it, which faded
as quickly as it came.
"He-might have returned, - she said
an instant later, as though she were
forcing the words from her lips.
"1rue, he might; the police will,
however, probably thoroughly search the
villa now, aud some trace of him may be
discovered. feel SO interested in the
case that l think l shall go down TO
Maideuhead this afternoon; and If 1 may
be allowed l shall come in during the
evening and tell you what 1 see aud
hear
Eyes, do-and, Maj. Erne, there is
l have got to say to you; will
you please kindly not mention to anyone
that-Mr. Clifford has forsaken me for
another woman. Let it be said we have
quarreled-anything- not that
"lf you wish me not TO mention it I
shall certainly not do so
"No one knows about that letter
that shameful letter-but my mother
and you. My mother will never breathe