Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-05-11
LOST MANS LANE.
BY ANNA KATHARINE GREEN i.
CHAPTER XXX-Continued.

StrOlleu out.
"Well," said l, eff ever girl had
reason for breaking such compact you
are certainly that girl. l could never
have been as silent as you have been-
that is, if I had any suspicious ON SO Sc
rious a subject, as from your appear
ance you certainly have. Why, your
own good name is impugned-yours and
that of every other person living Ill this
lane"
Miss Butterworth, she replied, Il
have gone too far. Besides, you have
misunderstood me. / have no more
knowledge than any one else as to the
source of these terrible tragedies. l only
know that an almost superhuman cum
ming lies at the bottom of so many I'M
accountable disappearances, cunning
SO great that only a crazy person.
"Ah," murmured eagerly Moth
er janet"
She did not answer. Instantly l took
resolution.
"Lucetta, said 1, sis Deacon Spear
rich man?'
Starting violently, she looked at me
amazed.
eff he is, l should like to hazard the
guess that he is tho man who has held
you in such thraldom for years "
and if he were?" said she.
II could understand Williams an
tipathy to him and also his suspicious. "
She gave me strange look, then
without answering walked over and
took Loreen by the hand "Hush!'
thought 1 heard her whisper. At all
events the two sisters were silent for
more than moment. Then Lucetta said {:
Deacon Spear is well off, but moth
ing will ever make me accuse living
man Of crime so dreadful" And she
walked away, drawing Loreen after her.
In another moment she was out of the
room, leaving me in state of great ex
element
"This girl holds the secret to the
whole situation, thought |. 1.-The be-
lief that nothing more can be learned
from the Knollys is false one. must
see Mr.. Gryce. William S rOdOmantades
are so much empty air. but Lucetta's
silence has O meaning we cannot afford
to ignore. "
So impressed was by this that took
the first opportunity which presented
itself of seeing the detective. This was
early the next morning. He and several
of the townspeople had made their ap-
pearance at Mother James cottage, with
spades and picks and the sight had
naturally drawn us all down to the gate,
where we stood watching operations in
a silence which would have been con-
sidered unnatural by any one who did
not realize the conflicting nature of the
emotions underlying it. William, to
whom the death of his mother seemed
to be great deliverance, had been in
clined to be more or less jOcular, but
his sallies meeting with no response he
had sauntered away to have it out with
his dogs, leaving me alone with the two
girls and Hannah.
This latter seemed to be absorbed en-
tirely by the aspect of Mother Jane,
who stood upon her doorstep in an at
titude so menacing that it was little
short of tragic. Her hood, for the first
time in the memory of those present,
had fallen away from her head, show
ing a wealth of gray hair which flew
away from her head like weird halo.
Her features we could not distinguish,
but the emotion which inspired her
breathed in every gesture of her uplift-
ed arms and swaying body. 1t was
wrath personified, and yet an unreason-
ing wrath. One could see she was as
much dazed as outraged. Her lares and
penates were being attacked, and she
had come from the heart of her solitude
to defend them.
II declare! !" murmured Hannah. 1T
is pitiful. She has nothing in the world
but that garden, and now they are 60
ing to root it up"
''Do you think" said |, that the
sight of little money would appcase
herr" wished an excuse for dropping
word into the ear of Mr.. Gryce
"Perhaps," said Hannah. She dear
ly loves money, but it will not take
away her fright"
''It will if she has nothing to be
frightened about" said l, and turning
to the girls l asked them, somewhat
mincingly for me, if they thought |
would make myself conspicuous if /
crossed the road ON this errand, and
when Loreen answered that that would
not deter her if she had the money and
Lucetta added that the sight of such
misery was too painful for any mere
personal consideration took advantage
of this complaisance and hastily made
my way over to the group, who were de-
batting as to the point they would at
tack first.
Gentlemen" said l, good morn
ing. I am here on an errand of mercy.
Poor old Mother Jane is half imbecile
and does not understand why you in
wade her premises with these imple-
ments. Will you object if endeavor to
distract her mind with little piece of
gold / happen to have in my pocket? She
may not deserve it, but it will make
your task easier and save US some posi-
BILE concern"
Half OF the men at once took off their
hats. The other half nudged each 9th.
er's elbows and whispered and grimaced
like the fools they were. The first halt
We're gentlemen, though not all of them
wore gentlemen's clothes.
1t was Mr.. Gryce who spoke:
Certainly, madam. Give the ole
woman anything you please, butt
And here he stepped up to me and be
gan to whisper: You want something
What is it?''
! answered in the same quick way
1.-The mine you thought exhausted hal
still its possibilities. Question Lucetta
1t may prove more fruitful task thai
turning up the soil"