Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-02-16

but give him my card, and pray tell
him my business is of the utmost impor-
lance" urges Lance, slipping half SOW
ereign into the mans palm as means of
eXpediting his movements.
Before long he returns and conducts
him into gloomy looking study, announc-
ing at the same time that Mr.. Herrick
will be down Immediately.
Now, what is it, Mr.. Stapleton" asks
a harsh, cynical voice as, few minutes
after, Mr.. Herrick enters his study
Lance starts, and comes forward Gag
erl.
Mr.. Herrick, pray excuse me-" he says,
"but this is a serious affair, and l want
a friend on whose advice | can rely with
confidence. | trust you will excuse my
want of ceremony in coming at such an
hour as this to see you; but once before"
Exactly" chimes in the gruff voice,
which certainly does not accord with the
owners kind and quizzical looking face.
"Once before | was foolish enough to es-
tablish a precedent, and now
''But really, Mr.. Herrick, this is"
"Who is she?" asks the old man alb
rupt.y, interrupting his explanation.
Lance stops, and colors all over his
boyish, bashful face.
'T-I never sad-'' he stammers.
NO" interposes Mr.. Herrick, with a
quiet chuckle, you never said; but you
forget you are talking to an Old Bailey
lawyer, my boy; and he can see just a
little bit through a stone wall still. Now
sit down." he adds, pushing the young
man into an easy old-fashioned armchair,
and taking one opposite to it for himself,
land tell me all about it in as few words
as possible. / can't afford to sacrifice
beauty sleep even on the shrine Of friend
ship. young fellow"
well, then" says Lance, plunging
without more ado into the midst of his
subject, cts a case of suspected murder;
and the most laundering, Anticipated fool
of police inspector ever known has
thought fit to fasten his suspicious on the
most unlikely person as the guilty party"
'She's a friend of yours. naturally"
THE young lady is beautiful and high
ly connected-a daughter of Mervyn of
Mervyn Court in fact"
And the murdered person." interro-
gates Mr.. Herrick
''No other than Denzil Charters of
Beechhampton. He disappeared mysteri-
in the loneliest part Of the woods. The
coroner's jury brought it in Accidental
Death, but Budd-'
ooh. this is one of Budd's cases, is it?''
asks Mr.. Herrick, chuckling more than
ever.
Eyes You know him, supposew
81 have had dealings with him." says
the old lawyer, in a voice of sly enjoy
ment, his eyes cleaning with the fire of
old and aforementioned trays. "What
mares nest has he got hold of now?'
Lance repeats the case, and lays bare
the evidence accumulated by Budd, and
made the most Of by that clever luminary
of the law at the inquest
"Humphr' says the old lawyer, at the
conclusion of the statement. $50 that's
how the land lies! And you want my
help, do you? Why, isn't the case over as
far as the girls concerned?
NO" answers Lance sadly; that fool
is still spying and prying about the place.
He won't let the matter rest, | know.
What | fear is that he will apply for a
warrant against her. What l want to
know is this-if the worst comes to the
worst, will you fightct~e her? There is
no one l know to whom..< could trust her
case with safety but yourself, and, if
But you know l have given up prac-
ticingw exclaims the old lawyer, with
surprise.
eyes: but in an extreme case like this -
urges Lance beseechingy.
'.Why don't you say, and for my sake,
Mr., Herrick. because | once saved your
ife%" asks the old man, good-naturedly.
hnv 70
urge that plea, even for the sake of the
woman you love! Well, WEEK. don't trou-
bic Yourself I'll think about it,
At an early hour next morning Lance
Stapleton and Mr.. Herricll find them
selves at Mervyn Court. All the village is
astir as they pass through it, for to-day
the body of the unfortunate owner of
| Beechhampton is to be buried; and from
,, far and near the county is fiocking to
swell the retinue of the mourning train.
They are shown into the library, hav-
,, ing sent up their cards to Miss Skipton in
the first instance. A message is dispatch
ed to Yolande in her room, and the three
remain awaiting her presence in the Ii
brary, with various degrees of agitation.
Some five minutes elapse, and then the
door opens, and three eager pairs of eyes
turn swiftly and instantly towards it.
There stands there only Enid-Enid. with
face white as the paper she holds in her
hand-Enid, with eyes from which the
swift tears rain. as she flies in terror and
anxiety to the side of her governess.
"Oh. read this!' she cries. Whatever
can it mean? | cannot believe it-yet /
found it in her room just now!'
Ere Miss Skipton can take the paper
from her outstretched hand, Lance is by
her side.
LET me see..' he cries hoarsely, and
then, without apology or explanation,
snatches the little note, and reads it with
eyes where great agony and an intense
bewilderment struggle for supremacy at
every fatal line.
Darling Enid'-so runs the letter
Don't think too hardly of ME for what /
am going to do. / cannot stay here any
longer. 1t will kill me to look upon my
fathers face and know what | have given