Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-02-11

Crackenthorpe's malevolent nature
Had he, l thought. found an oppor-
tunityl to pay off his grudge against
me? 1t was time, however, to meet the
difficulty Stating what had happened,
l requested CrackentlrOrpe to at once
summon his master, II at hand.
Lord Mountfalcon listened to my
statement with the greatest calmness
and patience. In reply, he said most
likely / must have inadvertently drop
ped the picture among the prints or
other things on the table. The keep
er and a footman We're then ordered to
make search through everything. 1t
was perfectly fruitless. The nobleman,
whose eyes had never left me, said:
What explanation have you? !
learn that you have been alone with
the works of art more than half an
hour and during the time no one has
been near the gallery
1T is matter of opinion. my lord"
returned looking hard at the keeper;
"a noise heard warrants my belief
that someone secretly did enter"
DO you want to throw suspicion on
me-" exclaimed Crackenthorpe. 1T
would not be the first time you have
falsely charged me with dishonesty"
The nobleman waved his hand and
said to me:
1T is painful to me. but / have no
alternative. You must be searched"
"Forbear, my lord calmly replied:
spare me such humiliation"
Hear me for a moment only cried
the keeper. Il assure you he is a man
of disreputable character" and, creep
ing closer to me. CrackenthOrpe struck
my breast pocket and Kissed out, What
have you there?'
/ knew full well, heaven knows. but
what could do:
Il have no property of Lord Mount
falcons l said. and Mr.. Cracken-
thorpe knows that perfectly we'll
"Disprove his charge. then. by pro-
ducing what your pocket contains,
was the answer Il can have no more
| delay. If you again refuse what is
| demanded one of my servants must
| ride off to Salisbury for constable
Surveying the whole situation. l an
l swered:
ALLOW me private interview, Lord
| Mount falcon. and l can give you such
! an explanation that must remove all
/ suspicion
What the nObleman's answer might
have been l know not. At the moment
a Wild. hooking cry came from the
/ garden.
What is that" exclaimed Lord
/ Mountfalcon anXiously; surely | know
/ he sound
In an instant he had quilted the gal
! ,ery. Soon confused voices, inter-
/ mingled with the angry tones of the
l master of the mansion. arose in the
| corridor. Something unusual had taken
| place. In a few minutes Lord Mount
/ falcon. strangely pale, re-enteredA and
1 laid the missing miniature on the table
1 He said to me, with extended hand:
Il deeply regret we have caused you
so much anxiety. Hear my explana-
lion. A niece of mine unfortunately OF
/ weak intellect, gained admission in
some ineXplicable manner to the gal
! lery The noise you heard doubtless
l came from her entrance or departure
gardener observed her unattended
and. following the young lady. saw hel
l east something into the rosary. 1t was
/ he portrait taken from the table where
l you had deposited it I deeply regret
you should have been placed in such an
awkward situation"
l bowed and prepared to depart Lord
Mountfalcon would not hear of it.
stating he wished to see me in private
by the way" he added to Cracken-
thorpe. lit is a mystery to me how
Lady Hester could have obtained en-
trance here. BY means of that locked
loor she is entirely cut off from this
! side of the mansion. Has the door
/ been unlocked since my orders?'
Il have no knowledge of it," faltered
he keeper, turning pale.
i Lord Mountfalcon crossed to the door
! and it opened on the handle being
turned. What transpired l did not
/ learn until an hour later.
AS ! sat down over my luncheon
began to see my way to the possibility
1 Of obtaining a clew to the history OF
l the miniature in my pocket. Ather-
1 stone had given me some facts. but
had been sensitive about disclosing
them. 1t was not long before l was
I closeted with the owner of ShrewtOr
court. In a lull of conversation his
lordship observed in quiet tone:
! Was it solely an interest in art
| bringing you to Merivale?'
/ answered in the negative.
Il thought So was the reply. now
/ we have established friendly relations
may l ask why you at first so firmly
] resisted my demand of your being
/ searched
I because, my lord I answered. 81
have such a terrible witness of guilt in
| my pocket"
! What was ito" observed the noble
Imam.
"Only this" I replied. handing over
/ the replica.
l Silence in the room was only broker
| by the faint ticking of a small French
| clock. Il am astOunded,' cried the
nObleman. Surely this is my NINA
ture. Yet, no. My own was slightly
| stained by the wet grass of the rosary
To whom does it belong?"
Il am ignorant" was my answer
1T has been in the hands of a dealer
for SALE and one of his clients is eager
| to ascertain how it came to be painted.
Who is that?"
Il have no knowledge" replied.
"Well.' observed the nobleman, 81
would pay a handsome reward to find
out the history of the thing. Have you
1 fn ha