Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-03-19


"Wattw she said, stopping and draaOta0
back.
"Precisely. Well see about that
presently. First let US see what we
ought to do in this matter, supposing
the letters genuine. What can he do?
He won't threaten you. He knows bet
ter than to do that for personal reasons.
If you were q poor and obscure indi-
vidual, and if Miss Leycester were a
wretched, friendless girl, nothing would
be easier than to take you both by the
throat, so to speak, and just shake the
knowledge out Of you. There's no
difference between rich and poor in the
eye of the law, you know, but there's a
deal of difference between 'em in the
hands of the police, 1 can tell you, ,"
said Mr. Clifford dryly.
"As it is," he continued after a
pause, 1.-THE inspector comes to you all
soft tongued and pleasant, hints that if
you We been hoaxed You may wish to
see that the thing is put right, and so
on. know all that sort of talk, and,
putting it bluntly, it means that so
long as you don't speak he daren't try
to make you unless-unless, mind you,
he can get some definite, positive evil
dence. You needn't bother yourself one
little bit about the thing yet, therefore,
but when he comes, as he will, OF
course, you can just say that you
wouldn't think of doing anything, be-
sause some skulking coward has written
as an anonymous letter what newspa-
per penny liner might hint for the
purpose of getting up sensation, and
if-excuse my giving you a hint-if
you'll put on a little grandee manner
and tell him you are surprised he should
let himself be fooled by an ANONYMOUS
correspondent you may do good deal
to check him.
"This is all very distastefuI to me,
Mr.. Clifford" said Sir Jaffray after he
had thought over the others suggestion.
"I've no doubt it is, Sir Jaffray, re-
turned his companion shortly, "but the
alternative is an immediate warrant fol
Lady Walcote's arrest on the charge Of
murder"
But l object very strongly to any
course that entails this deceit and false.
hood. I have no right to put this indig'
nifty upon Miss Leycester. If she were
questioned"-
"She'd be quite equal to keeping Mr..
Borderham at bay" interposed MIR.
Clifford bIuntly. "The world isn't q
palace of truth, sir, and if we have tt
have nodding acquaintance now ant
then with the father of lies it needn'
hurt u.s. But of course you can do a
you like, only if you're going to d.
this I may as we'll 60 back to town"
"But what do you expect to gain b..
keeping up this thing now that it j.
suspccted?"
"Time, Sir Jaffray, which is every
thing. Let US put the thing plainly tc
Miss Leycester know what shell
say"
Sir Jaffray assented to this, and Mr..
Clifford went over the whole ground
with Beryl, telling her precisely what
be had told the baronet and leaving
her to decide Without a moments
hesitation she decided in favor of stand.
ing by what they had done.
II don't like tine deception, Beryl,
said Sir Jaffray at the close. "Wher
Mr.. Borderham comes to question you,
you will be placed in most awkward
fix. But 1 will do this: will consent
to saying nothing for three days-no
longer. Theu, whatever happens, the
facts shall be told"
1t was left so, but there was no need
for even so long a delay, for the next
day brought startling development.
The inspector came in the morning
and by his desire saw Beryl and Sill
Jaffray together. Mr.. Clifford was pres
ent
II want you to understand my posi-
tion exactly, Sir Jaffray," he said quiet
" and deferentially. ~ told you yes
terday of an anonymous letter which
had been sent to me saying that the
dagger and bracelet had been put in the
places where we four found them after
the death of the Frenchman. have
now had another letter which says that
when Miss Leycester called here on the
day of tho discovery she drove hurried
ly home and back again, and that be
| fore she went she had had an interview
with Mr.. Clifford here, who had told
you of the discovery Of the dead body
and had given to you part of the brace
let, the rest of which myself brought
here. | am not able to answer the ques
tions involved either one way or an
other, but I am sure you, Sir Jatfray'
and you, Miss Leycester, and you, too
Mr.. Clifford, indeed, will see the gray
ity of the matter and of my position
and will wish to give an explanation.
Before any one answers such
charge We should know the person who
makes it," said Mr. Clifford.
II know no more than tell you,
replied the inspector, land l am most
painfully placed. l do not see how
can act otherwise than as am doing
"Supposing it should turn out thai
there has been some mistake OF the