The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-05-04

save II now, considering euo o taio"H
away by eloping with Lord Calilston; but
what else is there in his favor?' -
The principal thing is the dagger,
said Norwood; "he told me he took 1t from
Lena Sarschine and brought it home-so
if his landlady or any one else put IL
away, they must have seen lt-and 30 1t
will. show the truth of his stc.7."
Then in order TO ind out II will De
best to see his landlady."
"Certainly-but don't know where she
lives"
Il do-Primrose Crescent, Blooms
bury. You 60 there and find out what
Il may as we'll try" said Norwood,
thoughtfully, "but I'm afraid it's for
lorn hope"
lForlorn hopes generally succeed, re-
piled May. with confident smile. SO
YOU 20 to his lodgings, and then let me
known the result Of your inquiries.
Norwood agreed to this, and after MISS
Penfold had departed, called cab and
drove to the address of Myles Desmond.
Rondalina, more wan and ghost-like than
ever, opened the door and informed the
lawyer that Mrs. Mulgy had gone out.
That's q pity" said Norwood, In q
Disappointed dna1,p tone. Are you the SER
yes, sir, replied Rondalina, dropping
q courtesy.
aAnd you attend to all the lodgers?'
Yes, sir"
'Oh! then perhaps you can tell me
what I want to know" said Norwood,
cheerfully. Take me up to Mr.. Des-
mond's room"
Rondalina, being London girl, was
very sharp, and looked keenly at Mr..
Norwood to see if he had any design of
burglary. The scrutiny proving salts
factory, she led him upstairs, and showed
him Desmond's sitting g-room.
Nov, then," said Norwood, taking a
seat, Il want you to answer me a few
questions.
Rondalina looked frightened, and said,
Yes, sir" in mechanical manner.
First" asked Norwood, do you dust
this room and put things straight"
Il do, sir"
DO you remember seeing o broken
dagger about the place--a blade and a
handler"
Rondalina twisted her apron up into a
knot and thought hard, and then inti-
mated she had seen it.
"Oh!-and when did you see it?
About week or 80 ago, Sir, replied
Rondalina. Mr.. Desmond, sir, he comes
in at o'clock when was a-layin' of the
cloth for dinner, and ses he, I amt
sgoin' to stay in for dinner, cause I'm
aeoin' hout,' then he takes the knife from
his pocket, being broken in two, and
throws the bits on the table and goes out
to put his clothes on. takes the dinner
things downstairs, and when l comes ur
he were gone, so sets to work an tides
up the room"
WAS the dagger still on the table?"
THE knife, sir" corrected Rondalina.
Yes, sir, it were, and I puts the bits in
the Tournaments so as to keep 'em out of
the way Of the children, an I 'ope il
weren't wrong, sir"
mo, not at all" replied Norwood, but
tell me, did Mr.. Desmond come back on
that night?"
Yes, sir-but not till late, sir-3
o'clock in the morning. He admit his
latch-key, 30 I 'ad to git h'up and let
him in.
WAS he sober2"
Quite, sir, only he seemed upset like,
and goes up to his room without saying a
word"
This was all the information obtain
parted from the house very much salts
fed with what he had discovered. He
drove straight to Park lane and told May
Penfold all Rondslina had said.
You see," he said, in conclusion, this
evidence will prove one thing, that Des-
mond could not have committed the crime
with that dagger"
Then I suppose they'll say he did it
with another" said May, bitterly.
IF they do 80 they will damage their
own case, replied Norwood, coolly, for
Dowker swears the crime was committed
by this special dagger, and if Desmond
did not use it-as can be proved by the
evidence Of the servant-no one else
could have done so; by the way. you say
Sir Rupert was down at Berkshire on that
night"
He was," replied May, 4but he came
up by a late train and then went to his
club shortly before twelve"
is he in?" asked the lawyer.
NO; but you will be able to see him
about S o'clock, said Miss Penfold. He
has been shut up in his library since the
elopment Of his wife, but had to 60 out
to-day on business"
I'll call then"
What do you want to see him about?"
Il am anxious to ascertain if he knew
of his wife's movements on that night,
and whether she left the house."
Il don't think he can tell you that, as
his wife and be were on bad terms, and
occupied different rooms. Besides, even
if you find out that Lady Balscombe Wis
tied Lord Collisions chambers on that
night, it won't save Myles"
oon't know SO much about that, re-
piled Norwood, cheerfully. 1T will help
to unravel this mystery. and when every
thing is made plain I'm certain Myles
Desmond won't be the man to suffer for
this crime"
CHAPTER XIII.