Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-12-31
LOST MANS LANE.
Bv ANNA KATHARINE GREEN.
Copyright, 1897, by Anna X. Rohlfs.
CHAPTER XXXII
LUCETTA.


vigor had returned. A new problem was
before me, a problem which had in
creased in interest since it had become
narrowed down by the elimination from
it of the Knollys household. Mother
Jane and the jewels were to bs Mr..
Gryce's starting point for future investi-
CATION. Should they be mine? Thought
l would take an early stroll and see.
There was silence in the house when
I passed through on my way to the
front door. But that silence had lost its
terrors and theeold house its absorbing
mystery. Yet It was not robbed Of its
interest. WhenI realized that Althea
Knollys, the Althea Of my youth, had
actually breathed this same atmosphere
with me, and that within few days, I
felt that no old time romance nor any
terror which fitting ghost or stalking
apparition might bring could compare
with the wonder of this return and the
strange and thrilling circumstances
which had attended it And thu end
was not yet. Peaceful as everything
looked this morning, I still felt that the
end had not come.
The fact that Saracen was loose in
the yard gave me some slight concern
as I opened the great front door aid
looked out. But the control undr
which 1 had held him the day befos
encouraged mo in my venture, and afte
8 few words with Hannah, who wa
careful not to let me slip away unno,
ticed, l boldly stepped forth and took
my solitary way down to the gate.
1t was not yet 6, and the grass was
still heavy with dew. At the gate
paused. wished to go farther, but MIR.
Gryce's injunction had been imperative
about venturing into the lane alone. Be-
sides No, that was not horses hoof.
There could be no one on the road sc
early as this I was alarming myself
unnecessarily, yet Well, held my
place, little awkwardly, perhaps Sell
consciousness is always awkward, and
could not help being a trife self con
scious at a meeting so unexpected and
But the more I attempt to explain the
more confused my expressions become,
so will just say that by this very
strange chance I was leaning over thu
gate when Mr.. Trohm rode up for the
second time and found me there
did not attempt any excuses. he II
gentleman enough to understand ths
a woman Of my temperament rises early
and must have the morning air. Tha
he should feel the same necessity is
coincidence, natural perhaps, but still
coincidence. So there was nothing to b;
said about it.
But had there been would not have
spoken, for he seemed so gratified al
finding me enjoying nature at this early
hour that any words from me woulc
have been quite superfuous. He did no
dismount-that would have been to-
marked perhaps-but he stopped, and
we'll, we have both passed the age O
romance, and what he said cannot be o
interest to the general public, especial
" as it did not deal with the disappear
ance or with the discoveries made il
the Knollys house the day before o
with any of those questions which yo'
have been trying to solve with me t
this time.
That we were engaged more than fiv
minutes in this conversation | canno
believe. | have always been extremel
accurate in regard to time, yet goo
half hour was lost by me some time tha
morning for which l have never bee
able to account. Perhaps it was sper
in the short discussion which followed
q discussion which may be of interes
to you, for that was upon the action
the police.
Nothing came Of the investigation
made by MIR. Gryce yesterday, l pei
ceiye," Mr.. Trohm had remarked, wit
some reluctance, as he gathered up hi
reins to depart. "Well, I did not expet
anything. How could be hope to fin
anything there?'
"How could he indeed? Yet," said
determined to allay this one mans SUI
picions at once, which, notwithstandln
the openness Of his remark, was sti
observable in his tones, "you say th'
with an air I should hardly expect frol
so good neighbor and friend. Why
that, Mr.. Trohm? Surely you do not a
sociate crime with the Knollys?"
Crime? Oh, no, certainly not. \
one could associate crime with Il
Knollys. If my tone was at fault, it W;
due perhaps to my embarrassment-th
meeting, your kindness, the beauty
the day and the feeling these all ca
forth. Well, may be pardoned if n
tones are not quite true in discussir
other topics. My thoughts were Wi
the one addressed. :"
"Then that tone of doubt was all Il
more misplaced, retorted. II am
frank cannot bear innuendo in other
Besides, Mr.. Trohm, the worst folly
this home was laid bare yesterday IN
way to set at rest all darker suspicion
You knew that William INDUCED
vivisection. Well, that is bad, but
could IL be called criminal. Let US
Justice to him, then, and for his sister
sake see how we can re-eStabllsh nj
in the good graces Of the community
But Mr.. Trohm, who for all our she
acquaintance was not without We
decided appreciation for certain polr
in nv character, shook his head a.
with a smiling air returned:
"You are asking the impossible
only Of the community, but yourse
William can never re-establish himse
He is of too rude a make. The gl
now may recover the esteem they SET
to have lost. but William Why