The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-11-25
CHAPTER VII.
THE sARSFIELD ANTECEDENTs.

the ladies that morning when I returned
to the hotel. It was past luncheon time.
and the visitors who generally assembled
for that meal had once more separated to
follow their own devices. Life at By
thesea followed the usual lines of such
holiday resorts-bathing in the forenoon,
lounging on the Esplanade till lunch
time, then a lazy hour or two indoors,
till, in the afternoon, people turned out,
more or less smartly dressed, to walk or
drive while they listened to the band.
! had no real intention Of intruding
upon Mrs. Sarsfeld and her sister, not
outstanding the wishes Of the police;
but, as fate would have it, I encountered
Miss Bertram alone upon the Esplanade.
To lift my hat as we passed was but an
ordinary act of courtesy, and I found it
impossible to resist speaking q few com-
monplace words when I saw her return
my greeting with a shy, graceful bow,
and blushing consciously.
you are no worse, I trust, from what
happened yesterday? I am 80 sorry to
think that I was q party to anything that
annoyed you"
.Oh! pray do not mention it. Do not
speak of it again. I was silly to be SO
upset; but after that terrible morning I
was ready to 60 into Mysteries at the
IT was terrible, wasn't it? Poor fellowl
to meet his end in that way"
DO not speak Of it, I implore you! I
would give worlds, whole worlds, it had
never happened-for all our sakes, but
especially for his, poor fellow"
you knew him?"
7 could not forbear asking the question.
Il? Oh, dear, no. Why should you
think SOP"
What could I reply2 Should I remind
her of the strange impression conveyed
by her stealthy visit to No. 99p Or should
I confess to her that I had laid hands
upon the second hair-pin in her " bed
room?
Il can guess why you hesitate. But
you are wrong; You misinterpret my con-
duct. It can be 80 easily explained
some day, perhaps, but not now. Do not
ask me, please-not now. Not another
word about this, I implore. See, there
is my sister. I must 60 to her; she will
want me-"
HMrs. Sarsfeld is not alone; your
friend, Captain Fawcett, is with her."
MY friend!" There was no installing
the naughty scorn with which she re-
peated the expression.
He does not seem to stand very high
In your good graces, Miss Bertram. For
give me if I have used the wrong word;
but, as he is 80 much with you, I con-
cluded he was a great friend"
He is an old friend Of my sisters.
They met years ago in Spain"
Mr.. Sars6eld, you know, was q Span
tsh merchant" went on Miss Bertram,
with the pretty fuency Of an unaffected,
confding girl.
"A Spanish merchant, you said?"
"A Spanish-or, more exactly, q Cuban.
Mr.. Ssrsfeld's principal business was at
Havana, but he had q branch house at
Cadiz, and often came there; that was
where he first met Anna"
And where she met Captain Fawcett?"
Il suppose so, Sut I never heard ex-
actly. But, see, my sister is reckoning
me: I must GO to her at once" She said
this in a timid way, as though she were
afraid of Mrs. Sasfeld.
"Let me escort you" I said.
Not a word to her, please, about
you know-about-the halr-pin."
You can rely on nv discretion, Miss
Bertram, and on me, now or at any time
I added, with some emphasis.
Thank you so much. You are good
and kind, !! can see that. Some day,
perhaps
Where have you been Clara?" The in
terruption, spoken sharply, almost
angrily, was Mrs. Sarsfeld's. Who is
this?" and she looked at me with rather
i'll hammered inquiry, instead Of fin
ishing her sentence.
II was able to do Miss Bortrsm a
slight service yesterday" said I, raising
my hat. I'VE are staying at the same
hotel"
Don't you know Mr.. Leslie?" cried
Mr.. Fawcett, who was standing close by.
He is connected with the Bythesea
police"
Iturr ed upon Captain Fawcett, mean
ing to call him to account very sharply.
you have no right to make such an
assertion" I began. 1T is quite un-
founded"
us it? That is the way with you de-
tectives, you always hate to be known"
"A detective?" said Mrs. Sarsfeld, her
manner toward me changing completely
then and there. The incivility of her
address gave place to an eager, anxious,
almost cringing paliteness! "A detec
tive! How very interesting. Are YOU
engaged in any particular case just now?"
She tried to say this unconcernedly,
but there was q RIGHTEOUSNESS in her
voice which convinced me that she at.
tached deep importance to my reply.
Captain Fawcett answered for me.
"Of course. He is busy with the muir
the affair Of No. &c." He had toned down
the expression, no doubt, out Of consid-
Grafton for the ladies' nerves.
I waited anxiously to say what Mrs.
Sarsfeld would do next. She evidently
knew something of q damaging nature,
and had been compelled by his outspoken
caution to stop short when on the verge
of betraying it. She knew more than I
did, I was certain. She had 60 ned within
the last day some convincing proofs
against him, but vas restrained from
saying more by the power he evidently
bad oyer he'
The more I thought Of this the more
resolved I became TO make Mrs. Sarsield
speak; to induce her somehow or other,
by strategem, adroit questioning, or. II
need be-, by menace, to tell me what
che knew about Captain Fuwcett. -
Let us so hack to the hotel, Clara,
said Mrs.. Sarsfell, hoarsely. Are you
coming, Captain Fawcett2"
. Certainly, I will accompany you. We
will leave Mr.. Leslie to persecute some
n else with o subject that seems to alb
H~@a It NN