Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-02-21


the same, I am not clever enough to win
it. do not see where to begin
do you think that the manuscript in
the bureau was the motive for the crime?''
mo. Why should any one have killed
Mr. Edermont to gain a worthless man
uscrlpt?"
1T might not have been worthless to
the assassin" objected Dora ut contain
ed the story of Mr.. Edermont's past life"
But what has his past life TO do with
his violent death?'
Everything. You forget that Mr. Ed
ermont believed himself to be a threat
ened man."
And so we get back to the starting
point of our argument" laughed Pride.
Dora laughed also, and finding that they
were arguing in circle, changed that
particular line Of conversation
You knew Mr.. Edermont well?" she
asked, after q pause.
"Yes-for quite fifteen years. He was
very good to me, and helped me to the
post 1 now hold"
Did you know Mr.. Edermont at Christ
church,"
"Christchurch?" repeated Pride, slowly.
NO. did not know him then Did he
live there?"
II believe So" said Dora, CURLY, and
| closed the conversation
! Evidently there was nothing to be learnt
from Pride. His knowledge Of Edermont
only extended back fifteen years and
Dora believed that the motive of the crime
was to be found as far back as twenty.
Moreover, II he knew anything conclu-
sive, he would be certain TO utilize it for
his own benefit and thus gain the reward
| Under these circumstances Dora hardly
regarded Pride in the light Of an import
ant factor I'm the course she was pursu-
| ing, and took no further notice of him
from that point of view. They chatted
on Indifferent subjects until the train ar
rived at Victoria Station. Here Pride
| took his leave, and Dora went forward
on her mission.
Jersey Place was easily found by ask
| ing a convenient policeman Dora was
! impressed with the magniflcence Of the
| houses and by the aristocratic seclusion
Of the square. If possible. No. % was even
more imposing than the surrounding
mansions and as Dora rang the bell she
:
! dertaking a difficult task Here was a
rich and titled lady evidently q power in
society. fenced round. as it were. by
wealth and position. Yet she proposed to
accuse this powerful parsonage of a crime;
/ she intended to save her lover at the cost
of casting down this formidable goddess
| from her pedestal It was dangerous.
almost q hopeless, task, but Dora did not
shrink from its fulfllment Too much
depended upon the issue Of the coming in
| terview for her to retreat at the eleventh
/ hour.
She was introduced by the footman into
a small ante-room on the left of the en-
trance hail. and there she remained while
he took her card up to Lady Burville In
a few moments he returned with the in
formation that his mistress would see her.
Dora followed the man upstairs and was
shown into the drawing room. 1t was
empty at the moment, and she had ample
! leisure to survey the splendid room and
its still more splendid furniture. The
! apartment was sumptuous is the extreme.
Everything that art and luxury could sup
! ply was gathered together between these
four walls. The East AMI the West had
! contributed TO adorn this house. It was
more like a palace than the residence OF a
private person, and gave Dora large ideas
of the wealth of Sir John Burville.
His portrait-as she guessed-hung In a
conspicuous part of the room. A strong,
burly man he appeared to be, with
! shrewd coarse face. Parvenu was writ
| large on his whole personality; and Dora
|
he possessed a violent temper. The por-
| trait was not prepossessing, and she left
It to look at the picture Of a frail and deli
| cate woman. This without doubt, was
Lady Burville, and her suspicion was con-
! frmed in a few minutes; for as she was
contemplating the portrait the door opened
to admit the original.
Lady Burville was small. slender, and
usually as daintily tinted as a statuette Of
! Dresden china. But at the present moment
her face was pale; and her eyes, filled with
alarm. looked apprehensively at Dora from
under the loose fringe of her golden hair.
Arrayed in tea gown of some white filmy
material, she looked like a ghost as she
| glided towards the girl. Dora put these
terrified looks down to a secret knowledge
! Of her guilt, and believed in her own mind
! that Lady Burville had really slain Mr.
Edermont. But again, she thought. it Is
| impossible that so frail a creature could
have struck so deadly a blow. Yet why
was she so terrified?
Miss Carew, I believer" said Lady Bur-
vile, trying to smile with her lips. "Win
you not be seated2'
mo, thank you. Lady Burville," replied
Dora stifAy. Il am obliged to you for
granting me this interview"
ct am only too pleased. You are a ward
of Mr.. Edermonts, I believe"
IT was his ward Lady Burville."
Eyes. yes; how stupid Of me! I forgot
about that terrible murder"
Dora deliberately produced the pearl
| brooch from her pocket, and held 1t to-
wards the other. Perhaps this will re-
| fresh your memory" she said slowly.
"AIy brooch" said Lady Burville in sur
Prise How did you come by 1t? How
did you find it?"
81 did not find IT, but DR.. Scott did"
Really Where?"
"On the floor OF the room in which Mr..
| Edermont was killed"
LADY Burvllle's face turned even whittier
! than Il was before. IL do not under
stand" she stammered, shrinking back
"I can explain" continued Dora pitt
lesslv. you visited the Red House on the
night of the second of august you drop
ned this brooch there and you there killed
my guardian"
NO. mol II did not! Who dares to
say such thing?'
II dare" said Dora calmly. I say It
arain. You killed Mn Edermont.'