Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-03-27

lie mad already tossed aside his dress.
!ng-gown, and substituted a coat. then
he discarded his slippers, and, soon
properly equipped for the street. stood
before his friend.
Tell me, Ludlowe," he began. "tel1
me all the new developments0cle
no, mol Upon second thoughts will
not haar world Go with me to Law.
renee Park at once; let me get there
before anything has been disturbed.
and L will judge for myself Ten
chances to one will find some clew
That you and the others have over.
looked
But, my dear fellow, you have eaten
nothing to-day. Wynne, YOU are a
hot-headed youngsterl A mans will
is the winds will; and the thoughts of
youth are long, long thoughts saws
the old proverb. Go and oct some
breakfast; will wait for YOU. No
SIR; not one step do you go to Law.
renee Park. until you have obeyed melu
Ludlowe rang the bell himself. and
ordered breakfast for Arthur to be
brought to the room. He insisted upon
the young mans breaking his fast; afte,
which he announced himself in read.
ness and they drove away together TO
Lawrence Park.
They found the great house in con.
fusion; Mrs. Chillingworth in bvs.
terlcs; while, in the sumptuous draw,
mg-room, the body of the master Inv
in state. Arthur cast swift glance
around, then he turned to Ludlowe.
Let us go upstairs to her room.n
ne said, hurriedly; and without a word
the chief obeyed
Outside the door of Ruby's chamber
the officer, who had played so impor.
tant part in her arrest, was sitting
sullen and crestfallen over the unex,
pected turn that affairs had taken.
Upon the veranda, below the window
OF Rubys room, the other guard had
been discovered insensible, from the
evident effects of bottle of old rye.
which, nearly emptied of its contents,
stood suspiciously near. Arthur laid |
his hand upon the door-knob and
turned it slowly.
Has any one been in this room ?" he
asked the officer, Since since"
He broke off abruptly.
The officer shook his head.
NO, SIT; no one; we were waiting
for you and Mr.. Ludlowe."
Slowly Arthur opened the door and
entered the pretty chamber which il
seemed profanity to invade. Ludlowe
followed in his footsteps; and once in,
side they closed the door
Arthur glanced around the pretty
room with its rich appointments and |
elegant tr1fies, ana low groan burst
from his lips. There was the impress
OF her golden head upon the soft. |
white, lace-trimmed pillow; he stooped !
and laid his cheek for an instant upon
the spot where hers had lain. The
room was furnished all in blue and |
white. A white velvet carpet dotted
with blue forget-me-nots; the window
curtains of azure silk and frosty white
lace; the same delicate silk and lace
draped the low rosewood bedstead; the
furniture was upholstered in blue satin.
and the entire apartment bore the ap-
pearance of having been lately occu-
pied and hastily quilted. There was a
tiny bronze slipper upon the velvet
chair hung the W6itss f hfek oS st e Nil
which Ruby had worn to the theater
That last night upon which she had
known pleasure and the amusements
OF the gay world. Arthur recognized
the cloak. He thought of the slight
form which he had snatched from the
devouring flames, and how he had held
her in his arms for one brief, blissful
minute; then he turned his attention
calmly to the task before him.
"See!" he cried, excitedly; "there
are signs of struggle; the hangings
of the bed are torn and the window
curtains And-good heavens! Lud-
lowe, lookp
The two men We're standing near q
window, which was open. The rich
curtains were rumpled and torn, as
though some one had clutched wildly
at them; and there, upon the window
sill, was broad blotcb Of fresh red
blood!
"She has been murdered!" painted
Arthur, at last; cor carried away by
force, and she has striven to defend
herselfp
The eaief shook his head doubtfully.
"Who would carry her way forcibly,
RAoIui AeHueIlcu, SruNely. NO, mol
1t is more than likely that it's all
put UP job, and that she-Miss Law
rence-had friends outside to assist her,
and SO has made her escape. My word
for-it, Arthur, you will aaaZ. see her
againp
"Mr. Ludlowew
Arthur Wynne's voice rang out loud
and clear as trumpet call.
IF you dare condemn that innocent
girl unheard, you are worse man than
can believe you'll There is some mys-
terry, some devilish mystery, behind all
this, and it shall be the object of my
life to ferret it out! Henceforth Ided-
icate my existence to that end NY
wealth, my time, my every endeavor,
shah be devoted to the clearing up of
This mysteryl Mr.. Ludlowe, do you
withdraw from the case?"
"No!" said the chief, firmly. IT in
tend to stand by you through it all. We
must leave no stone unturned in the
way of evidence. Let us examine the
toilet table yonder; in the drawers we
nay find something which may prove
Isafnl 80 claw !"
CHAPTER X-rCoNTINUED.J
H. Il