The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-29
LOLA GRAVSHAlY.
! By A. W. NARoRkoHT, B. A.
Author of "Maser Hoddlcvs Ssoyse."
"The Mystery Of Morttmore Strange"
"Bu Vince Handf' "The Old
MIL Gysterv," etc., etc.
rcopyrishx. 1897. by the Author.1

This ID unWdrrantaDl0 trlHlu8s MI
Giffordl exclaimed Sir Jaffray indig-
nantly, and the inspector seconded this
opinion with a look. "We are here in
the midst of the gravest crisis Of our
lives, and you, having backed ont Of
the serious business this morning, now
come with some sort Of fippant trivial
ity on your lips. I must ask you to
withdraw"
ut is no triviality, Sir Jaffray," re-
turned Mr.. Clifford apologetically. II
am not given to play the clown in the
middle Of tragedy. What I say is cor
rect, however. have charge Of theft
to make against a servant in the house,
and repeat that 1t must be heard here
before anything more is DONE"
He went to the door, and, opening IL,
beckoned to some one outside to come
in. A woman who had been in charge
Of two footmen entered.
She was Lady Walcote's French
maid, Christelle Duval. She held her
head up with q saucy, Haunting air Of
bravado and looked angrily at Mr.. Gif-
ford.
II charge this woman, Christelle
Duval, with the theft of this DRESS, !"
said Mr.. Clifford, rapidly Understanding
the parcel which he had been carrying
and holding up black dress trimmed
with silk and lace 1t is one of your
dresses, Lady waloote," he said, "and
mas been found among this woman's
Clothes"
"You are . fool" cried the woman
angrily and with vigorous gesture.
speaking with French accent, "a
stupid fooli Have I not tell you 20
times it is dress madame gave me?
You know it, madame-you know what
say. ;You give it me since month in
London. Is it not so? 1t is only al old
thing you have done with. You say,
'Christelle, you can have this, but this
man, this fool, fix on it and say steal
1t. He is-bahl'
She finished with wave Of the hand
Of infinite contempt, as if the detective
were too much of fool even for words.
"Now you are lying, you Frenchwo-
man, he said coarsely. "You have TAX
en- that dress out Of Lady Walcote's
wardrobe within the last two days and
since Lady Walcote left the manor. You
have stolen it. Do you hear?'
"Ah," she exclaimed, with toss Of
the head aud a sneer, II have 1t q
month, and it never leave my possession
one minutel Miladi knows. What do
you say? Tell this-this oochon that he
is fool md then let ME CO."
The witnesses of this scene had lis
tened in blank bewilderment while this
had passed, and now Sir Jaffray inter-
posed angrily.
"This is insufferablel'' he cried.
II think can settle this in a mo-
ment," said Lola, who kept cool.
"What Christelle says is quite true,
Mr.. Clifford gave her the dress at least
month ago. 1t is hers, and certainly
she cannot be said to have stolen ii"
"Therer' said the girl, tossing her
head again and curling her lip. "What
did l say?"
"Is that SO? Then l have made a
mistake" said Mr.. Clifford. with a
very crestfallen air. "Do you mean
that you gave her this for her own, to
wear when she pleased?'
"Of course. What else. stupid?" ex-
claimed the woman, laughing sauoily.
II tell You the dress has never been out
of my possession, and I have worn 1T
when l pleased" She repeated his
words in mocking tone and laughed.
II think this has gone far enough,
Mr.. Clifford" said the police inspector.
ut is clear you have made mistake.
You had better leave the room," he
added to the girl.
Zone moment, please said Mr..
Clifford calmly. II am not quite the
fool you seem to think. Now have
something serious to say. You have all
heard this woman" pointing at her
with his forefinger, town that that
dress is hers, that she has had it q
month and more, that it has never left
her possession, and that she has worn
IL, L Uu IuuIhGu tHuuS "a VI you' AN
paused and looked around him.
"Well?" asked Inspector Borderham
in tone and with an expression thai
seemed to say the whole business was
tedious interruption.
"Well, withdraw the charge against
her Of having stolen the dress, and i'll
! stead"-he stopped and glanced around
| as if to enjoy the full effect of his next
words-"I charge her with the murde,
Of Pierre Turrianl'
If he had aimed at producing dra
matic effect, he could not have beer
| more successful.
The words fell like . bomb in thu
| midst of them all
Lola turned as pale a. death ant
leaned for u moment against Beryl, BY
whom she was again sitting, and int
Beryl's eyes there came look Of in
finite pleasure, making her face glow
with warmth. Sir Jatfray waited il
breathless suspense and fixed his eye!
on the woman against whom the charg'
was hurled.
She turned on the detective like ,
wild animal at bay, bending her heas
aside rs if half crouching between fea
and desperation, her large dark eye
looking larger by contrast with tn
blanched face in which not vestige O
color was left.
"This is serious matter, Mr. Gift
ford" said Inspector Borderham
What grounds have you?"
"Ask her to tell you where Is tho bi
Of lace that is torn from that place
You'll see the pattern of the. lace Is
very marked one and the tear very sin
gular in form.
"Well, what do you say?' asked MI
Borderham, turning to the woman
"You need not answer unless you like
and if you do answer what you say ma.
be used against you. Mind that.
There was pause, during which tn
woman breathed twice through he
widespread nostrils. Then, with an ms
sumption Of indifference, bnt i'll voio
that showed her nervousness. she said
with shrug Of the shoulders:
| How can tell how tear every lit
tie bit of lace that wear?"
"Well, when did you wear that dres
| ,a.t,,, o,l,od Mr. Clifford