Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-03-05
CHAPTER XIX.
HEAVEN HELP MEL BELIEVE SHE'S
MADr'

HEAVEN HELP ME! l BELIEVE SHE
MAD!
Nothing came of Sir Jaffray's Giscov-
ery in Ash Tree wood to help in unrav.
cling the puzzle.
He had not had the wood searched
and had contented himself with search
ing it 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 ne
could not bring them to the place with
out telling them what they were 10 look
for he would not do anything till it
was at least clear that Lola did not
mean of her own will to return.
He reckoned, moreover, that as she
had not left the immediate neighbor-
hood of the manor it would not be diff.
cult to find her wherever it should
prove necessary to search Systematically
When the morning came and he had
been home about couple of hours, lie
began to expect with feverish impa.
thence the arrival of tie private detect
i've to whom he had telegraphed. He
wanted to feel that the matter was II
skilled hands.
When the reply to his telegram ar
rived, it was to the effect that Mr..
Clifford would start for Walcote ut the
earliest moment and would arrive about
midday.
Feeling his anxiety in some degree
lessened by this fact, Sir Jaffray went
out to make inquiries about the move
ments of Pierre Turrian and to find him
and drag from him the truth as tc
whether he had any connection with
Lola's flight.
But there was not soul anywhere
who could give the remotest or faintest
help in tracing the Frenchman. Ec
might have vanished completely off the
face of the 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 iii
Jaffray's order, Lad turned him out ci
the place said that he walked away il
the direction of tie village, and that
they had watched him till bend il
the road had hidden him, and after tina;
they had seen nothing whatever Of him.
As to the clothes which he lad lief,
at the manor, he had said that he would
send for them either the samo day ol
the next, but no sort of message haC
been received.
The man had thus vanished, leaving
no trace behind him, nor was there
seemingly any one who had set eyes Oh
him after he had left the manor.
A little before. noon Mr.. Clifford ar
rived, and in very businesslike, shrewc
way absorbed the circumstances as Sil
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 tel
me everything. I want from you every
fact you have observed and every cir
cumstance that is connected with the
case, whether you think it does or doe'
not affect it. Speak quite unreservedly
please, or call in some other help"
"You can question me as you please, ,
Sir Jaffray answered, land consciousl.
will not keep back a word.'
And question him the man certainl,
did, but the fullest story of the fact
did not seem to help them far.
cit is strange case, Sir Jaffray, 1
very strange one," was all the verdic
Mr.. Clifford would give at the end O
the interview. "You don't anticipate
any foul play anywhere"
Here is my wife's letter." he an
swered, pointing to it. but for that
should certainly have dreaded it. This
however, points clearly to the fact tha
she left me voluntarily, though why
can't for my life understand. -
"You say the wood has not beel