The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-04-27
hePiccadinyPuzzIe
THE STORY OF 4 TERRIBLE EPISODE
In THE LIFE OF AN ENGLISH
NOBLEMAN.
BY F. w. HUME
CHAPTER X-Continued.


First" asked Dowker, do You remem'
Der the night when Lady BaIscombe
eloped?"
Not being a born fool, I do," retorted
Miss Lifford sharply. Such goings on l
Can you tell me all that took place on
that night?"
Miss Iifford shifted thoughtfully.
There was q ball they was going to-"
Who were going to?"
Lady Balscombe and Miss Penfold
They did 60, and left shortly before ten,
but before had time to turn round they
we're back again. 90 Lady Balscombe said
she had headache.
-Oh, 30 suppose she went to bed:"
Then YOU suppose wrong" retorted
Annie triumphsutly, for there was pus-
son waiting to see her"
"A LADY," asked Dowker eagerly.
y don't know" retorted Miss Lifford
sharply. she had veil on"
Can YOU describe her dress?"
Miss Lifford thought moment, while
Lydia bent forward an1iously to hear her
"A hat trimmed with blue and brown
velvet, and q sealskin jacket.
Lydia Fenny sank back in her seat with
soh, my poor mistress!"
Your mistress!" echoed Miss Litord,
turning sharply. 1T could not have
been Miss Ssrschine who called on that
night"
But I'm certain it was," said Dowker.
What impertinence!" muttered the
virtuous Annie.
Never mind" said Dowker, sharply.
~Go on with your story"
Miss Lifford shifted Indignantly and
resumed:
Lady Balsc mbe returned at half-past
ten and went up to her dresslng-room,
where this-this lady was waiting for
ber. Miss Penfold went to bed. don't
know how long the lady was with my
mistress, as was told that my mistress
would not require me again that night;
but 7 waited about in case I should be
wanted, and saw the lady leave the house
shortly after eleven"
Miss Sarschine?"
.Yes-at least the lady in the sealskin
Jacket, and you say it was Miss Sarschine,
60 suppose it was. then went to Lady
Balscombe's room, but found the door
locked; so, as I thought she hsd gone to
bed, went down-sta to get my supper.
When I came upstairs again, about
twelve, the door was still locked, SO went
to bed
Lady Bslscombe could not have gone
out in the meantime?"
No; because I asked the footman if
anyone had gone out or come in, and he
said no one.
She could not have gone out without
attracting the notice of the servants, I
suppose?" -,
NO, they would have recognized her at
once. I think she waited till everyone
was in bed and then went of to meet Lord
Calliston."
But you are sure she did not leave till
after twelve?"
I'D swear it anywhere" returned Miss
Lifford, impatiently.
In that case," muttered Dowker, 1T
could not have been Lady Balscombe who
saw Mr.. Desmond al Lord Calliston's
chambers, so itmust have been Lena Sars-
chine"
DO you want to know more:" asked
Miss Lifford, icily.
"Yes. Tell me, what was Lady Balls
eombe ike?"
Miss Lifford laughed contemptuously.
why, don't you know" she replied
You ought to, as she was one Of the beau
ties of the season. Her portrait was all
over the place. Why" catching sight of
the photograph on the study table, you
have one."
Dowker handed her the photograph.
DO you say that is Lady Balscombe:"
Yes, certainly"
What nonsense!" said Lydia. Why,
that is Miss Sarschine."
Il never saw Miss Sarschine," retorted
Miss Lifford, but I know that's Lady
Balscombe."
Il never saw Lady Balscombe." replied
Lydia, angrily, but 1 know that's Miss
Sarschine."
Dowker looked from one to the other
and then slipped the photograph into his
poke. along with the letters and the other
photograph.
There's only one way of settling this,
he said, quietly "lll call on the photog-
rapher and ask him who it is"
BE gave Annie Lifford some money,
and then left the house wrapped in
thought. :,
This is new complication, he said
to himself, this resemblance-they must
be very like one another if their maids
mix them up like this-and then Lena
Sarschine calling on Lady Balscombe; !
wonder if there can be any relationship
between them-not likely-a lady of title
and a woman of light cbaracter-well,'
finished up Dowker, philosophically, Il
think the best thing for me to do is to dis.
cover as much about Lena Sarschine's
previous life as possible. and to do this
I'll run down to FoIkestone and sook "
Captain Michael Dicksfsll.
CHAPTER NJ.
A FAMILY HISTORY.