Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-05-11

where to dig. They seem little at sea
over there, and living, as you do few
rods from Mother Jane, he may imagine
that from some sign or other she can
direct him where to first plant the
spade. +"
"It's an insult cried Loreen. "All
these talks and visits are insults. To be
sure, this detective has some excuse,
butt
"Watchp' / interrupted. "Lucetta
is shaking her head and looking very
positive. She will prove to him it is an
insult. We need not interfere, think. +"
But Loreen had grown pensive and
did not heed my suggestion. A look
that was almost wistful had supplanted
the expression of indignant revolt with
which she had addressed me, and when
next moment the two we had been
watching turned and came slowly to-
ward us it was with decided energy for
her she bounded forward and joined
them.
"What is this?" she asked. "What
does Mr.. Gryce want, Lucetta?'
Mr.. Gryce himself spoke.
~ want her." said he, "to give me
just little clew from her Utmost
thoughts. When was in your house, !"
he explained, with careful considera-
ton for me and my relations to these
girls, which was one of the good points
with which he offset some which were
of an eXaspcrating nature to me, Il
saw something in her attitude, being,
as you may surmise, something OF q
keen observer, which convinced me that
as a dweller in this lane Miss Knollys
was not without her suspicious as to
the secret cause of the dread mysteries
which l have been sent here to clear up.
Today have frankly asked her, and
she-she will not tell me, Miss Loreon.
Yet her face shows even at this moment
that my old eyes were not at fault in
my reading of her. She does suspect
romcbOdy, and it is not Mother Jane. 1"
"How can you say that?" began Lu
cctta, but tho eyes which Loreen that
moment turned upon her seemed to
trouble her, for she did not attempt to
say any mOre-only looked equally OBJ
stinato and distressed.
eff Lucetta suspects any one, LoreeE
now remarked steadily, "then l think
she ought to tell you just who and
why"
"You do. Then perhaps you"-com.
menCCd Mr. Gryce-''can persuade her
as to her duty" he finished as he saw
her head rise III protest of what he evil
IDENTIFY had intended to demand.
"Lucetta will not yield to persua-
sion" was her quiet reply. Nothing
short of conviction will move the sweet
est natured but the most determined Of
all my mothers children. What she
thinks is right, she will do. l will not
attempt to influence her."
Mr.. Gryce, with one comprehensive
survey Of the two, hesitated no longer.
saw the rising of the blood into his
forehead, which always precedes the
beginning Of one of his great moves,
and filled with sudden excitement, l
awaited his next words as a tyro awaits
the first unfolding Of the plan he has
seen working in the brain of some ia
nous strategist
Miss Knollys'-his very tone was
changed, changed in o way to make us
all start Notwithstanding the prepara-
ton his momentary silence had given
us-"I have been thus pressing and per-
haps rude in my appeal because Of
something which has come to my knowl-
edge which cannot but make you of all
persons extremely anxious as to the
meaning of this terrible mystery. I am
an old man and you will not mind my
bluntness. have been told-and your
agitation tells me it is true-that you
have a lover, q Mr.. Ostrander''-
"Ah" She had sunk as if crushed
by one terrific blow to the earth. The
eyes, the lips, the whole pitiful face
that was upturned to us remain in my
memory today as the most terrible and
yet the most moving spectacle that has
come into my by no means uneventful
life. what has come to him? Quick,
quick, tell me-. "
For answer Mr.. Gryce drew out a
telegram.
From the master of the ship ON
which he was to sail, said he. 1T
asks if Mr.. Ostrander left this town on
Tuesday last, as no news has come from
him"
"LOreen! Loreen! He passed down
that way!" shrieked the girl, rising
like spirit and pointing down the road
toward Deacon Spears. "He is gonel
He is lost, but his fate shall not remain
a mystery. will dare its solution. L
/ Tonight you will hear from me
again.
And without another glance at any
Of us she turned and fled toward the
house.
4 IlnlINIl NXNIII