Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-03-09
at the story to WINCH tney had iiscened


feeling so chilled that she trembled VIC
lently.
"She must be madl 1t is the only
possible cause" burst from Sir Jaffray
like moan of pain.
Then a knock was heard at the door.
AMI Mr.. Clifford came back into the
room again, shut the door carefully be.
b nd him and advanced right into the
middle of the room before he spoke.
Excuse me, Sir Jaffray, but there's
a point which you'll perhaps like to
Iave put very plain to you. l don't ask
lny questions about the ownership of
that dagger, but of course you'll see
that great deal must turn Oh it.
don't know VII. ther you think that the
grave complications which would GER
tainly arise if il were proved to belong
to any one particular can be in any Way
avoided, but if that can be done it
should be done, and that without a
minutes needless delay. l thought Id
mention the point; that's all" And
without saying any more he went away
again.
Sir Jaffray hung his head in bier
humiliation.
But Beryl jumped up.
Are you going?" he asked as if dis.
appointed at her leaving him. 81 want
to talk all this over with you. It's got
to be broken to the mother, too, " he
said.
81 shall come back again, but | must
90 home. For one thing l want to see
how my father is, she answered with
out meeting his eyes.
She went out to her carriage, and. get
ting in, told the coachman to drive houe
as quickly as possible In an inconceiv-
ably short time she was back again, and
she found Sir Jaffray still pacing the
room where she had left him, fighting
down the fears which would force them
selves upon him as the result of Mr.
Gifford's discoveries.
"What have you been doing, Beryl?"
he asked as she entered.
~ have been home, Jaffray. Mr..
Clifford started an idea in my thoughts,
and 1 have been home to carry it out.
Let US be frank with one another in
this terrible business Have you any
idea of what it all means or of what we
Can do?'
"There is only one possible explana-
tion-if this mans thoughts have any
foundation-only one. My poor wife
has gone mad, and all these awful con-
sequences are the outcome. have been
thinking aud thinking and thinking
about it all until am almost mad my.
self" And he threw, up his hands with
a gesture of despair. ut is horrible.
horrible beyond belief, horriblel And |
feel as helpless as child. "
"Well, l have thought of one thing
that we can d., said Beryl, land /
have been home to prepare for it."
"What is it?" asked Sir Jaffray
eagerly.
at is not necessary to believe all
that Mr.. Clifford says and seems to
think, but we may act as though what
he believes is correct and do what we
can to make any proof much harder.
You heard what he said about the dag
ger, and we know to whom it really be-
longs, and we know what people will
think if it is found out that such a
weapon were ever taken from the manor
house.
How can they help finding that
out?" burst in Sir Jaffray.
II have been thinking of that, and
that was why Invent home. You re-
member you brought home two of those
daggers from America and that one Of
them was given to papa? Well, | have
been to fetch it, and thought that if it
were placed where the other ought to
be, supposing, as We fear, it is not
there, it would help to turn aside sus-
picion, for time at any rate. "
"You are true friend, Beryl?' ex-
claimed Sir Jaffray. taking her hand
and pressing 1t. Let US 60 at once
and put it there. 1t was always kept in
that old oak cabinet in the blue draw
ing ROOM"
They went at once to the room and
found the dagger gone, as they had ex-
pected, and the cabinet locked, but with
the key in the lock.
In moment the dagger which Beryl
had brought was put into the place of
the other, the outline of the weapon
showing on the plush lining exactly the
spot where it had lain.
Sir Jaffray locked the door Of the
cabinet and put the key in his pocket
with sigh Of relief.
II thought your wits would help me,
Beryl," he said. feeling very grateful
to her. "You were always a clever
counselor.
81 have had another idea," she said
"That little gold filigree ball was taken
off one of the pair of bracelets Of which
Lola gave me one. l have brought it
with me, and l should like to put it
back among her jewelry, as it will de-
stroy another of the links which seem
to have had such effect upon MIR. Gift
ford. Even if the rest of the bracelet
should be found and this is here among
her jewelrv :here IL 90 connection
shown"
"You are right, certainly right" e1-
claimed Sir Jaffray "Let US 60 to her
room and put it there.
They went up without saying any
thing more, and after searching in
effectually among Lola's jewels for the
bracelet they put Bcryl's among them.
"What shall we do about the mother,
Jaffray?" asked Bcryl when they had
lncEp6 mn the Jewels