Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-11-22

Then came the natural reaction.
rs it hoax, / wonder q trick
played up me by some di missed UNI
derlng? Yet how should any orc
know how to put his finger on the spot
| that gals? Unless it were that scoun-
drel Wyatt, who hates me like pc son.
We'll, at least, can take the hint, and
be on the watch Gcd help Cyprian
Davenant II he Gro ses my threshold
with evil intent. He may have de-
ceiyed me once. He shall not deceive
me again.
Mr.. Sinclair went to Ascot next day
as he had intended. Any change in
his plans would have put his W fe upon
her guard. He went to the races, Look
ing uncommonly glum, as his friends
informed him; so gloomy, indeed were
his looks that some OF his intimates
made haste to hedge their bets about
Goblin, making very sure that the
Derby winner had been seized by some
sudden indispostion The event re-
warded their caution, for Goblin, al
though brought up to the starting post
in magnificent condition failed to get
u place Gilbert bore his disappoint-
ment with supreme stoicism. COLLINS
V Glory would not have made him
smile: his failure hardly touched him.
IL was provoking, of course, but De:-
tiny and Mr. Sinclair had long been at
odos; it was only another item aided
TO an old account.
He drove to the station directly Cob
Inns race was over, and as there was
-, m "a mo hn n,pt YNluno I'm,
the ain easily. 1t started immedi-
ately, and he was in London before
o'clock, and on his way to Dayenant
at 8. He had not stopred to dine. A
biscuit and glass Of brandy and soda
was all he cared to take in his present
frame OF mind
1t was striking nine as he left the
quiet lite Kentish station, not quite
clear as to what his next step ought to
be. He had been told to watch his
wife's room between 10 and II. TO do
this with any effect, he must get into
the house unol served or find a safe
post of observation in the garden, To
announce his return home would he, Of
course, to destroy his chance OF max
ing any discovery; and by this time he
had made up his mind that there wGs
domestic treachery to be discovered.
AS to the means, he cared little or
nothing. To meet treachery with
treachery could BE- no dishonor.
1t was dusk, the sweet SUNNI er dusk,
when he entered the park through a
gate seldom used by any one but the
gamekeepers or servants. The night
ingales were breaking out into sudden
gushes of melody, calling and answer
chestnut or beach, but Mr. Sinclair
took no heed of the nightingales. In
his happiest frame OF mind that melo.
dious jug-juggling would have made no
particular impress, ion upon his unsensi-
tive ear; tonight all senses were in
more or less allegiance. He found his
way along the narrow footpath mechan-
ically, looking neither to the right nor
to the left and only reused himse {
when he came within sight of the
house.
How to get in unobserved and reac h
his room without meeting any Of the
servants was the question.
A moments reflection showed him
that this ought to be easy enough.
Half-past nine o'clock was the serv-
ants supper hour at Davenant and
meals in the servants hall are an in
stitution which even domestic convul-
sions leave unshaken, A funeral makes
no difference in the divine right of serv-
ants to dine and sup at certain hour;
o wedding may cause some supereroga-
tory feasting, but can hardly over
throw the regular order of the daily
meals. Mr.. Sinclair had no fear, there
fore, of any alteration in the routine
of the household, and he knew by ex-
perience that his servants liked to take
their tine at the social evening meal
1t was twenty minutes to ten when
he stopped for minute or so in
the shrubbery to consider his plans.
Between ten and eleven, said the
anonymous letter. He had no time to
lose.
He skirted the lawn in front Of the
drawing room windows, keeping in the
shadow of the trees. The windows were
all open, and he could &c the whole OF
the room. Lamps were burning on the
table candles on the piano, but his
wife was not there. He went in at one
of the windows. The child toys were
lying on the floor by Constance's favor
ito chair, and an open work basket a
little pile of books on a gypsy table,
showed that the room had been lately
occupied.
she ha Como to the balcony-room To
keep her appointment, he thought,
savagely, for by this time he had &C
cepted the anonymous warning as a
! truth.
The hall was as empty as the draw
ing-room the lamps burned dimly,
being the last invention in lamps that
do not illuminate. Gilbert went softly
up the shallow old stAircase to the
corridor which ran the length of the
house, and ended at the door of his
own snuggery. He reached this door
without meeting any enc, went quietly
into the room, and locked the door,
The oliel-wiudow of this room com
manded the balcony room, which was
recessed in the southern front, be
tween two projecting wings. There
could be no better post of observation
for the man who had been told tC
watch the garden approach to his
wifes rooms.
There we're matches and candles or
the mantel-piece, but to strike light
would be to make his presence know
to any one in the ba cony room, 81
Gilbert waited quiet y in the half dark
ness of summer night, and fount
what he wanted easily enough by thC
sense of touch. There was no moor
yet, but a few stars. were shining
family in the calm gray sky. The