Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-09-16
THE MAN WHO VANISHED.
BY FERGUS HUME.
CHAPTER X-CoNrINuEn.

No. 40 Beryle square. to give his in
formation regarding Adrian Lancas-
ter's whereabouts. and Mrs. Bickles
was seated in the kitchen moralizing
over n glass OF ale and the remnants
OF frugal meal which she dignified
with the name of luncheon. Like
most old people. she was very garru-
louS and in default of better lis
tener talked TO herself when alone.
So she had no chance of interruption,
but had it all her own way.
'Its that heavy" SAID the lady vic
iously referring TO the bread, 'as
lead Is feathers to ton my STUN
mick 1t lies like PAWN stone and
the indigressions l suffers is night
mares in 'emselves. I'm getting as
thin as lamp post-a shadder of the
hold days-ah we'll" she continued
philosophically finishing the beer
lit don take much to fill a cofing as
I'll soon be occupying"
AT this moment the front door bell
rang and with a grumble at being
disturbed at her meal Mrs. BIckles
took large key in her withered claw
and crawled upstairs in an aggressive
temper
why can't they holler down the
airy. she whispered. pushing back
the bolts from the door 'Its a po-
iiceman or a post l kno-what with
'urrying up and skipping down. my
legs is a-shaking like aspinalls."
She unlocked the door and threw il
open, when, much 10 her surprise,
Olive Maunders stepped inside, fol.
lowed by young gentleman dressed
ia an irreproachable tweed suit with
a flower in his button hole and a smile
on his face. Mrs. B;ckles with many
curtseys began 70 apologize for her
delay in opening the door when
Olive cut her short in u peremptory
manner
What is the most presentable room
in the house?" she asked; Il have
come up on business but leave again
by the afternoon train"
The dorin-room's mu He'd up" en-
planned Mrs Bickles In a thoughtful
manner land the dinin' amt fit To
receive compingy-I won say as what
was the best bedroom needs dustin;
but | think the library is most de-
cent
Very well. then the library will
do" replied Olive walking toward it
followed by her escort and II anv
one calls to see me in about an hour
show him in"
Yes. miss said the ,charwoman.
with many genuieXions, 'but there
amt anythin' 10 eat"
Il don't want anything. thank you. "
answered Olive. and disappeared with
the gentleman into the library. leav-
ing Mrs. Bickles looking after them
In astonishment
Olive Maunders was seated on n
holland covered chair in the library.
talking earnestly to Teddy Rudail
who sat In similar chair with a puz.
zled look on his genial young face.
Il want you to understand plainly
why have asked you to come up with
me to-day. explained Olive deliber.
ately. II put an adVertisementint the
paper concerning Adrian Lancaster
and it is about that advertisement I
am here to-day"
Has il been answered." asked Ru-
dali with a look OF interest
Yes and in extremely bad En-
glish too, " replied the girl handing
him a scrap OF blue paper Read
1t please and see what you make of
Thus adjured, Teddy took the paper
and smoothing it out read as follows
in his slow, laHguid voice:
The writer of this knows soma.
thing OF Mr.. Adrian Lancaster-if
there is muny, he will come and tell
all he knowes without preggyduce-
adres d.. Manor Court Yew street
Hampstead.
Extraordinary document com.
mented Teddy. handing it back 10
Olive, particularly the last words
don know which to admire the most
the legal knowledge or the spelling
well, did yOu answer thisg"
Il did. and told d., whosoever ho
or she may be, to call here at 3 O'Clock
to-day"
'Oh! it's nearly now" said Ted
dy, glancing at his watch. and what
do you want me to dog
depends entirely on what / learn
from d.. ," replied Olive folding I'M
the letter and putting it away. Il did
not tell my father as | don't want TO
do so until find out something def.
mite about Adrian. "
''rll be delighted to do anything 7
can, said Rudall heartily. Il feel
awfully sorry for Adrian-it would
have been much better il he had
stayed and faced it out"
Yes / suppose so " answered Olive
sadly. but you see he acted on the
impulse OF the moment Adrian was
always so impulsive.
why speak OF him la the past
tenseP" asked Teddy lightly.
Olive rose 10 her feet and folding
her arms behind her back and
up and down the room SLOWLY
Il suppose / shouldn't" she re-
piled. after pause. The is no doubt
nil right and only hiding himself till
he knows how things are with Mr.
Trevanna Can you blame himP"
Not for pitching into Trevanna. ~
said Rudall coolly. Il don't know
INV nna with n nora aOo,.uo..-