Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-07
[ALL RIGHTS REsERvED.l

tell that since the reward had been Of
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 ak weeks, had
come forward and stated that more than
once he had seen q young hunch0acked
man, whom he knew well by sight, row
up to the little landing place of a small
riverside villa, which he could point out.
The police, acting on this in tor nation,
had gone to this riverside villa, ac-
oompanied by Mr.. Tyrone, but they had
found the villa shut up, aud 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 larger house and had
let this villa to anyone he could get to
take it.
The police then had gone to Mr.. Glib
son, the builder, and the owner of the
villa, and this gentleman had been ready
10 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 8
surprise he had received a communica-
ton 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 MRIdenhead 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
aud seemingly d very handsome woman,
though he never saw her without a veil,
and she spoke English very we'll, though
with 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 pOsses sion 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 10y parcel post, Informing
him in letter she enclosed that the AZ
ness OF a relation had suddenly recalled
her to the south OF France.
Erne read all these details, and then
sudden vague suspicion darted across his
mind. He further read thai the police
were most anxious to receive information
regarding Mudame de Costa. Mr.. "
rOue's statement undoubtedly proved
that Lord Gilmore had been in the habit
lin -
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 man with clear acute
mind as well as a strong will and during
the remainder of the evening after be
had read this newspaper account of the
first clue towards the discovery of 1.-THE
missing lord - he sat and pondered fire.
quentIy on the strange mystery that
surrounded Lord Gilmore s dlsappeHr-
auce. 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 CLOCK the next morning. he went
10 NanCy's house TO inquire after her,
and was requested by the footInan 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 q few moments later Nancy entered
il. She looked around agitated and i'll,
and after shaking hands with Erne, she
at once began TO talk on the very subject
that Erne had been thinking of
so deeply.
''In the papers this morning." she
suid, nervously, Hthere 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-and l suppose they will try TO
trace this WOman?' asked Nance quick
ly.
az suppose so; but it will be very diff
cult unless she voluntarily comes for
ward, which is very unlikely. "
"Then 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 to this riverside villa would have
been mentioned before. But at all
events II would seem as though nothing
could have happened to him there, as he
was last seen at the station at Maiden
head. -
Erue's eyes were fixed on Nancy's
face as he said this, and in a moment a
sudden color flushed over 1t, which faded
as quickly as it came.
HHe-might have returned. - abe said
an instant later, as though she were
forcing the words II ON her lips.
'lrue, he might; the police will,
however, probably thoroughly search the
villa now, and some trace of HIM may be
discovered. / feel so interested in the
case that l think l shall go down to
Naidenhead this afternoons; and if | NAV
he allowed l shall come in during the
evaning and tell you what l see and
hear.
Eyes, do-and, Mai. Erne, there is
something have got to say to you; will
Won please kindly not mention to anyone
Ibat-Mr. Clifford has forsaken me for
onother woman. Let it be sail we have
ouarreled-anything-b not that"
uIt you wish me not TO mention it
.balI certainly not do so -
ono one knows about that letter
that shameful ietter-but my mother