The free press., 1895-01-10

turned home to await the answers.
None were forthcoming. He waited
an hour, then thinking the kilograms
must have miscarried he repeated
them, sending Barnaby's to Maythorn
Villa. Still there was no answer. By
this time he was thoroughly alarmed.
"There must be something wrong"
he told his wife and daughter. "Who
knows? The house may have been
robbed and Barnaby and cook both
murdered in their beds. I shall go
home at once. You had better follow
by the first train tomorrow. Mind
you bring Captain Dashbury," and he
rushed away.
Shortly after II next morning Mrs.
Goldby and Bessie, escorted by the
Captain and accompanied by their
maid, arrived at Twickenham station,
and leaving the luggage to follow pro-
ceeded home in hired landau. Fif-
teen minutes later they reached May
thorn Villa. Captain Dashbury rang.
No one came to the door. He rang
| again and knocked. No result. The
house seemed deserted, strangely ST.
lent. Then Mrs. Goldby noticed that
all the blinds were drawn.
"What can have happened?" she
cried and ran to the back. The door
| was wide open. Passing swiftly
through the hall she admitted the
| others and went straight to the draw
| ing-room. Next instant shrek, such
| only rs terrified woman can utter,
startled all within hearing. Bessie
followed quickly and found her mo-
ther staring with frightened eyes at
the body of man lying flat on its
back on the hearthrug.
1t was John Goldby, not dead, in
deed, but snoring almost loud enough
to wake the dead.
"He's been murdered!" cried Bess-
| lie, and she burst into tears.
But Captain Dashbury knew better.
"No, mol 1t isn't SO bad as that
Don't distress yourself. He's only
in fit" he said, and stopping he un-
fastened the insensible gentleman's
collar and tried to lit him into a
chair. But John Goldby was no light
weight, and the Captain had to let
him fall; indeed, he fell with him,
rising deathly pale.
"Tm afraid I've wrenched myself" !"
he said, looking ready to faint.
"Oh, I'm SO sorry" murmured
poor, terrified Mrs. Goldby, glancing
hastily round for cordial. A decan-
ter and wine-glass stood on q gypsy
table. Seizing both, she filled the
glass overfilled it, for her fingers
trembled SO that she quite spoiled the
carpet. "Drink this!" she cried.
He took the glass and gulped down
the wine. AS he did so the maid
burst into the room, wringing her
hands.
"Oh, if you please ma'am, I've
been to the kitchen. Cooks fast
asleep in her chair and / can't waken
herp'
"What shall we do" cried Bessie.
Captain Dashbury, what are we to
do?"
But the Captain was staggering
about the room.
"That wines drugged!' he mutter-
ed, and fell ON an ottoman insensible.
The maid rushed from the house
shouting for the police At the gar
den gate she ran against Barnaby in
evening dress He had been to the
office to see the letters, and had now
come to assure himself that all was
right at Maythorn Villa, change his
clothes and give the cook sum OF
money, as was instructed by telegram.
"Back already!' he cried. "Why,
what's the matter?"
$50 in, go ln!" she answered, and
shouted "Police." louder than before.
Instinctively he guessed something
of what had happened, but he was
quite unprepared for the reality.
Hurrying into the house, he saw his
uncle and stranger lying insensible,
his aunt and cousin in Mysteries, and
ran at his best speed for doctor and
stomach-pump.
''This has ruined me! |" he muttered
as he ran. "Uncle will never let me
have Bessie now. Dick Selby you'll
have something to answer for.