San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-10-03
CHAPTER XIX.

lish letters across one corner. Lola.
CHAPTER XIX.
HEAVEN HELP MRi BELIEVE eHR's
NADP'
Nothing came Of Sir Jaffray's discov-
cry In Ash Tree wood to help In unrav-
cling the puzzle
He had not had the wood searched
and had oontented himself with search
ing II alone for some hours He was
unwilling that the discovery Of Lola's
strange conduct should be made In the
presence Of a number Of the servants,
and he resolved. therefore. that as he
could not bring them to the place with
out telling them what they were to look
for he would not do anything till IL
was at least clear that Lola did not
mean Of her own will to return.
He reckoued, moreover. that as she
had not left the immediate neighbor-
hood Of the manor u would not be din.
cult to find her whenever 1t should
prove necessary to search Systematically.
When the morning came and he had
been home about couple Of hours, he
began to expect with feverish impa-
thence the arrival Of the private detect
i've to whom he had telegraphed. He
wanted to feel that the matter was in
skilled hands.
When the reply to his telegram ar
rived, Il was to the effect that Mr..
Clifford would start for Walcote at the
earliest moment and would arrive about
midday.
Feeling his anxiety In some degree
lessened by this fact Sir Jaffray went
ont to make inquiries about the move
ments Of Pierre Turrian and to find him
and drag from him the truth as to
whether he had any connection with
Lola's fight
But there was not a soul anywhere
who could give the remotest or faintest
help In tracing the Frenohman. He
might have vanished completely off the
face Of sths earth at the moment Of his
leaving the manor lodge gates so ut
terly had all trace Of him disappeared.
The servants who, In obedience to Sir
Jaffrsy's order, had turned him out Of
the place said that he walked away in
the direction Of the village, and that
they had watched him till a bend in
the road had hidden him, and after that
they had seen nothing whatever of him.
As to the clothes which he had left
at the manor, he had said that be would
send for them either the same day or
the next, but no sort Of message had
been received.
The man had thus vanished, leaving
no trace behind him, nor was there
seemingly any one who had set eyes on
him after he had left the manor
A little before noon Mr.. Clifford ar.
rived, and in very businesslike, shrewd
way absorbed the circumstances as Sir
Jaffray told them.
The latter, half unconsciously, made
the story as favorable as possible to-
ward Lola, and his listener soon saw
this.
Excuse me, Sir Jaffray," he said,
interposing at one point, "but it is alb
solutely necessary that you should tell
me everything. want from you every
fact you have observed and every cir
cumstance that is connected with the
case, whether you think it does or does
not affect it. Speak quite unreservedly,
please, or call In some other help"
"You oan question me as You please,
Sir Jaffray answered. "snd consciously
I will not keep back word"
And question him the man certainly
did, but the fullest story Of the facts
did not seem to help them far.
''It Is q strange case, Sir Jaffray, q
very strange one. was all the verdict
Mr.. Clifford would give AZ the end Of
the interview. "You don't anticipate
any foul play anywhere9'
Here is my wife's letter." he an
swered, pointing to 1t but for that /
should certainly have dreaded It. This,
however. points clearly to the fact that
she left me voluntarily. though why
can't for my life understand.
you say the wood has not been
searched except by You, and In the dark
too3"
mo. did nothing until you came. "
"And you are quite certain it was
your wife who came out Of the place
and stood In that hedge gapf"
"As certain as that I was on the
other side Of the road"
"Humphi Well" he said after
pause of thought, "I'll 60 and look
round bit, so as to get my bearings.
I'd rather be alone, please" he added
when Sir Jaffray rose to go with him,
and he went.
When he had gone. Sir JAffray went
ND TO his mother and told her the prog
ress Of matters and the absolute impos-
sibility Of finding any trace Of N. Tur-
rian's movements. Then he occupied
himself in seeing Mrs. De Witt away
and was not satisfied and did not leave
her until he bad seen her being driven
away to the station.