San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-10-10

nr. uinora nlmseir seemed to feel
that there was son Q strong reason for
the silence, and he made haste to break
it.
81 must go. There's a lot to do.
thought I'd better bring these two
things here" he said, pointing to the
bit of lace ard the little gold trinket,
land I'd have had the other if it hadn't
been that it would have been seen at
once. I'll keep this bit Of lace. | shall
want that, and you'd better say nothing
about it. / suppose you want me to go
on with the matter. Sir Jaffray?" And
he looked up as if waiting for instruc-
tions.
"Yes, you must 60 through with it.
Sift it to the bottom"
There's not much to sift now. The
man who puts his hand ON the owner of
that dagger and that little bauble there
and this scrap Of lace won't have any
difficulty in finding the murderess of
the Frenchman.
His two hearers shuddered at the
words.
"I'm not at all sure that. you re
right, said Sir Jaffray, 'but you must
find out at any cost. OF course, " he
added, with some hesitation, ''you un-
derstand that you are acting privately
for me, and you have no need to tell
anything of what you find N to any
one else. Your fees will be paid by me. p"
The mans eyes CLEANED in an instant
with a sort Of restrained avarice.
II have done my best, Sir Jaffray. i
know the extreme pain and trouble
which may often be saved by a little
silence. If you will excuse me now, l
will go. You know all SO far. / had
better be out and doing, because the po-
lice make such mistakes at times.
He took his hat and went away, and
Sir Jaffray and Beryl remained aghast
at the story to which they had listened
and all that it threatened.
Sir Jaffray was standing by the win
dow leaning against the side shutter
and pressing his head heavily against
nis hand, while Beryl sat quite still in
her chair by the table, pressing her
hands together feverishly in her lap and
feeling SO chilled that she trembled vio-
lently.
"She must be madl 1t is the only
possible cause" burst from Sir Jaffray
like a moan of pain.
Then a knock was heard at the door,
and Mr.. Clifford came back into the
room again, shut the door carefully be-
hind him and advanced right into the
middle of the room before he spoke.
Excuse me, Sir Jaffray, but there's
a point which you'll perhaps like to
Eav put very plain to you. l don't ask
my questions about the ownership of
that dagger, but of course you'll see
chat a great deal must turn on it. l
don't know whether you think that the
grave complications which would GER
tainly arise if it were proved to belong
to any one particular can be In any way
avoided, but if that can be done it
should be done, and that without a
minutes needless delay. ! thought I'd
mention the point; that's ALL" And
without saying any more he went away
again.
Sir Jaffray hung his head in bitter
humiliation.
But Beryl jumped up.
Are you going?" he asked as if dis
appointed at her leaving him. 81 want
to talk all this over with you. It's got
to be broken to tho mother, too, he
said.
81 shall come back again, but I must
90 home. For one thing I want to see
how my father is, she answered with
out meeting his eyes.
She went out TO her carriage, and, get
ting in, told the coachman to drive houle
as quickly as possible. In an ~inconceiv-
ably short time she was back again, and
she found Sir Jaffray still pacing the
room where she had left him, fighting
down the fears which would force them
selves upon him as the result OF Mr.
Gifford's discoveries.
"What have you been doing, Beryl?"
he asked as she entered.
~ have been home, Jaffray. Mr..
Clifford started an idea in my thoughts,
and | have been home to carry it out.
Let us be frank with one another in
this terrible business. Have you any
idea of what it all means or of what we
can do?"
"There is only one possible explana-
tion-if this mans thoughts have any
foundation-only N My poor wife
has gone mad, and all these awful con-
sequences are the outcome. / have been
thinking aud thinking and thinking
about it all until l am almost mad my
And he threw up his hands with
gesture of despair. at is horrible,
horrible beyond belief, horriblel And |
feel as helpless as a child"
well, l have thought of one thing
we can do, said Beryl. "and
have been home to prepare for it. J."
what is it?" asked Sir Jaffray |
ut is not necessary to believe all
that Mr.. Clifford saws and seems To