The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-17
copyright, 1896. by Bachelor, Johnson and
Bacheller.l Z.
PART V.

"You know, Jack" he said, that you
must always give me time TO think over
things. Let us have a pipe together,
and when that's through. maybe Lmay
have seen summat, but it looks dark to
me now!"
So we sat in the coffee-room of the
hotel and smoked together in silence.
Ben finished his first pipe and filled an
other, and sat there, with crossed
knees and closed eyes, for all the world
like n craven image and about as mo-
tionless. i thought he would have
never done, but | knew MIN too well to
interrupt his train of thought. At last,
after a good hour or more. he opened his
eyes-stretched himself-yawned and
said:
"Let's go for q walk and AVE a look
about the PLACED"
IL was IL wet morning, not at all
fitted for q stroll, but / wouldn't
gainsay Ben, so we sailed out side by
side, and took our way up the village
street. until we reached the open
country.
you don't seem to catch on TO the
lutd VI IL lcNtIs DELL, Il NSublith W say
"No, Jack! / don't" he answered
briefly.
why not?"
Because no lady would be such q fool
as TO meet q man, as she oughtn't
to, in her w grounds and before the
eyes of her servants. Mind! ] don't
say as they haven't done it and worse
things besides, but not such n oma
as you describe this Lady Ellesmere,
with a determined character and mas
terful will. If she went to meet the
man at all. which / doubt,-and you
know how servants are always ready
to make the worst Of everything their
employers may do, especially if, as in
this case, they don't like them-she
went TO send him away, or warn him oil
the grounds. Sir Charles told you he
believed that a spy was set upon his
movements, which, as likely ms not, is
true. What if this loafer were the spy,
and her ladyship, believing the young
man was gone for good, went to pay and
dismiss him? It's as likely n notion as
not"
"Of course 1t might be-" 1 answered,
In a dissatisfied tone, for I had felt SO
sure that Ben would fall in with the
ideas / had formed concerning the
case; "but how, then, do you suppose
the jewels were distracted"
"Have %patiencel" he replied, ~
haven't come to that part of the mat.
ter yet"
We were walking along some fields as
he spoke, and drawing near to the
churchyard where Sir Henry lay
buried.
This is where they put the poor old
man." / observed, as we entered the
wicket gate. Its a pity he can't rise
again for an hour or two and let US
hear what he knows about the AFFAIR."
Ben grinned in his queer manner
and we walked TO the opposite side oil
the churchyard where the baronet was
buried. 1t had been his particular wish
SO / had been told-not to be laid in
the damp family vault, with his mold.
ering forcfathers, but out in the open
space where the light and sunshine
might fall upon his grave. So as yet
there was only a mound of earth
heaped above his remains, the monu.
ment which Sir Charles had ordered
to be erected to his memory not being
ready.
AS Ben and / came in sight of the
grave we were startled to see what
looked like a bundle laid upon II, but
which proved on n nearer inspection 60
be the figure of the poor dwarf, Miss
Craley, who was lying out there all OF
n heap in the rain.
"Poor c%reature!" l exclaimed; "they
told me her love for the old gentlema.l
was more like that of n dog than q hui.
man being, and so it must nave been.
No one but n dog would have the fidel.
ity to forget discomfort like this in its
grief for the loss Of what it loved. But
she mustn't lie here. She will catch her
death of cold! Here, Miss Craley," !
continued, raising my voice, Miss
Craley! you must let me take you
homel You must not stay here in the
lainl"
But l might as well have spoken to
the grave itself, for all the notice she
took of my words.
"Hushi" said Ben, laying his hand
on my arm; "this is the poor little
humpback you told me of Let us try
and communicate with herl IL is an
excellent opportunity, finding her here
~alonel"
ID, n is deaf and dumb i re-
piled; "she can neither hear nor IN
swer.'
81 know the dumb alphabet" said
Zen, "and doubtless she knows IL, tool!
They have told you that il these jewels
were taken from the baronet's bed
room. she must have seen IL done, ns
she was present all the timel Let US
try IL she can tell us anything about the
matterl"
at is useless I demurred; "if she
could talk with her fingers. they would
have got II ali out of her at once"
And the upshot proved was right.
We went MP TO the grave and touched
A.. .l...-f .w..tt.. -, .G. al,.1T.r Oh,