The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-10-28

less wreck upon the floor. The irons that |
supported the subject stood there gro
tesque skeleton of the living figures, but
the modelled clay was heaped upon the
floor in a shapeless mass, the original de-
sign beaten out Of recognition
For the moment thought that, finding
itfallen and his work spoiled, hehimself had
trampled upon it in ht Of frenzied exas
peration.
WAS It too dampW asked, knowing
the care he took to wiring out the wetted
cloths that envefoped the group at night
time.
He shook his head.
"Then who has done thiss" asked.
1.-THE car" he replied. His arm is
long"
But not SO long as yours" said I, fired
with spirit of reyengeful wrath. "You
will not give in because of this. You will
fight him to the end. What you have done
before you can do again. You can build up
the figures once more and make them as
beautiful as they were. 1t is only matter
OF time"
My brave Aurar' said he, laying his
hand affcctionately on my shoulder, "you
give me the courage lack. Yes, that is
the way to face disaster like this. Take
up the sword and fight on. That alone
makes defeat honorable What does it
matter-the delay of few monthsf We
shouldn't be content to do nothing. They've
left me the bones at any rate" he added,
with laugh and nod at the rusted iron,
"and VIC shall soon see the flesh grow again
on them. Let us go down now. After
breakfast we will begin again. It's good to
have brave friend at such time as this.
Come, Aura"
But for all my bravery could eat no
breakfast, and when Taras spoke of our
visit to Kew burst into flood of uncon-
trollable tears with n recollection Of the
confident hope and pride which had filled
us with such happiness and content.
When Gordon and the workmen came,
let them go up to the workshop without
word, but determined TO spare Taras the
pain of telling the story again, and SO
when Kavanagh came l stopped him in
the passage, and, taking him into the sit.
ting room, myself related what had hap
pened. lie listened with astonishment,
and seemed greatly shocked.
Good heavens" he exclaimed, ''what
terrible blow for poor Tarasl Gordon told
me that they were to begin casting the
group today. / came to congratulate my
friend on having finished his work. Poor
fellowl What is ho going to doS'
make another group" | answered fierce
that. You don't think he's going to give
up, do you?"
He paused in reflective silence for n min
ute, then went to the door and looked into
the passage. He stood there for another
minute, closed the dooras silently rs he had
opened it, and returning to my side con-
tinucd;
NO." he said quietly; "that wasn't
however, exactly what | meant. Can you
tell me II he has taken any steps to dis
cover the person who committed the out
ragc?"
"IIe hasn't taken any steps. He knows
who did it. 1t was the czar. He says SO.
There's no getting at him"
but we ought got at the men employ
ed by him, for what il to prevent them
doing this again when the next model is
finished ii they are allowed to escape
nowgn
.,weii, how are they to be caugbts"
"That is what we who are the friends of
Taras ought to try and find ont. Taras is
too intent on striking Mt the car to occupy
himself with the agents, but we have not
that excuse for indifference, and we might
at least attempt to find them. That at any
rate is my feeling, and / think it Is yours
too.n
'Of course it is can't sleep at night
for fearing what they may do"
Then let us make a practical beginning
now, We need not bother Taras about it.
Let us try to find the enemy out Just as If
he were an ordinary thief who had broken
into the house. Do you agree to thatS"
why, certainly"
"Tell me now" said he, drawing his chair
little nearer and lowering his voice,
when did this take place."
II don't know. We found it all smashed
Al.
before breakfast this morning, 1t was all
right when we were there on Saturday
night"
You did not go in there yesterday"
mo"
"fhen it must have happened between
Saturday night and this morning. Now"
dropping his voice almost to a whisper,
'what time does Mere Lucas go to bedfn
The question startled me, but answered
that she was never up later than Q.
''Tnras sleeps at the top OF the house,
doesn't hesn
Yes"
And Mere Lucas on the same floor as
your room-the first foorfn
"Yesn
"Tell me, does she ever go down stairs
after you go to your room!"
Not that know Off"
DO you ever hear any peculiar noise in
the night?"
NO." replied, with an uncomfortable
creeping of the flesh.
Kavanagh reflected for minute or two,
stroking the short black beard that COW
cred his handsome face, his sleepy eyes so
closed that only narrow slits of light were
reflected under the long curved lashes, and
then again bending forward he murmured
in a tone perfectly inaudible beyond our
selves;
"Were you at home all day yesterday"
"No we went to Kew in the afternoon
and came home latlsh."
"Ahl you left the house in the care of
Mere Lucasf"
"Yes"
WAS she at home when you returned"
"No; she came in about ten minutes
later"
He nodded as IL he had expected this
"Did she say where she had beene" he
asked.
"she went to see friend in Soho, think
she said"
"Have you ever seen friend call upon
her here3"
No"
He shook his head, smiling again. as if he
had expected my reply.
"Of course" he said, lyon found no locks
broken or anything of that kindf"
No"
We'll, that is all / have to ask you for
the present, think. But need not tell you
how important it is that no one should
know of this conversation, least Of all
Mere Lucas"
why, you don't suspect she did 1t, do
your" whispered.
No" he replied, drawing the word out
doubtfully, "but feel tolerably certain on
one point There is very little doubt that
il you had gone into the studio before
Mere Lucas returned you would baye
found the mischief done Whether she is !
moro closely concerned in this abominnble
affair shall be able to tell you when |
have found out more about that mysteri-