The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-09-28

open inward, and Charles was precip1-
tated headforemost into the room. his
evening pumps fourishing wildly in the
F! air. In an instant he was on his feet
again, gasping hard, and had seized the
I lamp out of Evelyn's hand. Before had
time to demonstrate on tho liberty that
he was taking we were all three in the
! room.
1t was empty.
In one corner stood box half hacked.
with various articles of clothing lying
by it. On the dressing table was a
/; whole medley of little feminine knick-
! knacks, with candlestick in the midst,
| the dead wick still smoking in the socket
and accounting for the disappearance of
the light few minutes before. The fire
had gone out, but on chair by it was
laid a little black laca evening gown,
evidently put out to be worn, while over
the fender dainty pair of silk stockings
had been hung, and two diminutive
black satin shoes were waiting on the
hearthrug. The whole aspect of the
room spoke of sudden and precipitate
fight.
''Bolted!" said Charles, when he had
recovered his breath. "And SO the mys-
terry is out at last! might have known
there was woman at the bottom of it.
unprecedented, though" he continued,
looking round. ''She meant to have
gone tomorrow, but your recognition of
that paper frightened her, though she
turned it off well to gain time. No fool
that. She only had an hour, and she
made the most of it, and got off, no
doubt, while we were ct dinner by the
500 London train, which is the last to-
night, and after the telegraph Office was
closed, too! She knew nothing could be
done till tomorrow. She has more wits
than gave her credit for"
Il distrusted her before, though had
no reason for it, but never thought she
was gone," said Evelyn. trembling VIC
lently. and still looking round the room.
81 knew it," said Charles. .'from the
moment l saw the light through the
keyhole. A keyhole with q key in it
would not have shown half the amount
of light through it; and a locked door
without key in it is safe to have been
locked from the outside. Had she
maid with herr"
NO." replied Evelyn, ''she used to
come to me, next door, when she wanted
help-but not often-because think she
knew did not like her, though tried
not to show it."
well, we have seen the last of her,
or l am much mistaken" said Charles.
And now" he added, COMPRISING his
lips, 81 suppose l must go and tell
Ralph"
"Oh, Ralph, Ralph" gasped Evelyn,
with a sudden Sob 'And he was so
fond of herr
"And so you distrusted her before,
Evelyn. And why did you not mention
that fact little sooner"
Without any reason for il? And
when Ralph-oh, couldn't! 1 couldn't!"
said the girl, crimsoning.
Charles gazed intently at her as she
turned away, pressing her hands tightly
together. and evidently struggling with
some sudden emotion for which there
really was no apparent reason. She was
overweight, suppose; and indeed the
exertion of breaking in the door had
been rather too much for Charles, too;
for, now that the excitement was over,
his hand shook SO much that he had to
put down the lamp, and even his voice
trembied little as he said:
Il don't think Ralph is very much to
be pitied. He has had a narrow escape"
Don't come down again either of
you," he continued moment later in
his usual voice. II had better go and
SCI it over at once. He will be wonder
ing what has become of us if 1 wait
much longer. Evelyn, good night. Good
night, Middleton. If it is too early for
you to go to bed you will find fire in
the smoking room"
I babe Evelyn good night and followed
Charles down the corridor He replaced
the lamp with hand that was steady
enough now and went slowly across the
picture gallery. The way to my room
led me through it also. Involuntarily |
stopped at the head of the great carved
staircase which led into the hall, and
watched him going down, step by step,
with tagging tread. From the morning
room came the distant sound of piano,
and mans voice singing to it, singing
softly, as though no Nemesis were ap-
preaching; singing slowly. as if there
were time enough and to spare. But
Mem isis had reached the bottom of the
staircase: Nemesis with heavy step
was going across the silent hall-was
even now opening the door of the morn
ing room. The door was gently closed
again, and then, in the middle of bar,
the music stopped