Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-04-13

openly anxious and distraught than at
any former time Of anxiety and trouble.
AS they looked up and saw my face
Loreen paused and laid her hand ON Lu-
cetta's arm. But Lucetta was not to be
restrained.
'Ho has dared, she cried, dared to
enter our gates, bringing police officer
with him. We know he is police Off
Ger because he was here once before, and
though he was kind enough then he
cannot have come the second time, and
with this man, except to-
Here the pressure of Loreen's hand
was so strong as to make the feeble Lu-
cetta culver. She stopped, and Miss
Knollys took up her words:
Except to make us talk ON subjects
much better buried in Oblivion. Miss
Butterworth, will you go down with
US? Your presence may act as re-
straint. Mr. Trohm seems to have some
respect for you.
"Mr. Trohm?"
Eyes. 1t is his coming which has so
agitated Lucetta. He and man named
Gryce are just coming up the walk.
There goes the knocker. Lucetta, you
must control yourself or leave mo to
face these unwelcome visitors alone"
Lucetta, with sudden, fierce effort,
subdued her trembling.
IF he must be met" said she, my
anger and disdain may give some weight
to your quiet acceptance of the family's
disgrace. I shall not accept his denun-
Citations quietly, Loreen. You must ex-
pect me to show some of the feelings
that 1 have held in check all these
years. And without waiting for reply,
without waiting even to see what effect
these strange words had had upon me,
whom she must presume to have been
entirely unprepared for them, she dashed
down the stairs and pulled open the
front door,
We had followed rapidly, too rapidly
for speech ourselves, and were therefore
in the hall when the door swung back,
revealing the two persons had been led
to expect. Mr.. Trohm spoke first, ovi-
IDENTIFY in answer to the defiance to be
seen in Lucetta's face.
Miss Knollys, thousand pardons
l know / am transgressing, but the &C.
casion warrants it, assure you. l am
sure you will acknowledge that when
you hear what my errand is. -
"Your errand-what can it be, she
cried, but to-
Why did she pause? Mr.. Gryce had
not looked a. her. Yet that it was I'M
der his influence she ceased to commit
herself was as certain as we can be of
anything in world which is half de-
ceit.
'Let us hear your errand," put in
Loreen, with that gentle emphasis
which is no sign of weakness.
II will let this gentleman say" re-
turned Mr.. Trohm. "You have seen
him before-a New York detective of
whose business in this town you cannot
be ignorant.
He professed, fell from Lucetta's
lips in cold and distinct tones, Ito have
visited this lane for the purpose of seek
ing out clew to the many disappear
ances which have unfortunately taken
place within its precincts.
YES Mr. Trohm's nod seemed to
say. But Lucetta was looking at the
detective.
SIS that your business?" sine asked.
Miss Knollys," he began - how
quiet and fatherly his accents fell after
the alternate fire and iciness with which
she herself had addressed his companion
and herself-"I hardly know how to
answer you without arousing your Juss
anger. If your brother is IN
"My brother would face yor with less
patience than we. Talk to us, Mr..
Gryce, and not till we fail to answer
you or to satisfy all your demands call
in my brother, who will not answer
you and will not satisfy your demands.
To be Continued.