Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-02-24

fastened when he went his usual round
at midnight; and yet. now. a scullery
door was found unfastened. Undoubt-
edly It was by this the thief had mads
his ingress.
Sir Harold assisted his brother-in-
law in his Investigations. and. when
the police arrived, ne was foremost in
instructins them. I stood and listened
with an ever-deepe' ing sense OF hor-
ror.
Spare no pains 20 md the crirni.
nails" he said; and I shuddered when
I reflected that. before long, he must
needs be told that one at least, OF those
criminals was the woman he so entirely
worshipped.
was only anxious to see where
Beatrice Gramont went at half past
nvs In the evening and on what errand.
I doubted not / should gain then all
the proof needed. and It would be my
duty to tell him everything. 1 shall pass
over that uncomfortable and, to me,
most unhappy day. Everybody was full
or the robbery, and seemed unable to
talk Of anything else: and It was q
theme Of which I. knowing what did,
could not bear 70 speak. Stunned
Gwynne's society, for how could I look
him In the face while was concealinG
such secret from him7
I Stunned Vera's equally and It may
be imagined did not throw myself In
the way OF Lady Gramont. Just
moped about In oC<-of-the-way corners
and was. perhaps. as thoroughly UNI
comfortable as had ever been In my
life.
N pretty Christmas II will be for Us
air. thought grimly. Poor Gwynns
will carry broken heart. II ever man
did In this world. Vera will have to
know there Is something wrong, even
If she isn't told the whole truth, and 1
shall seem like the evil genius who has
caused the misery and wretchedness. I
wish to Heaven ia never come here
this Christmas, or, still better, that I
hadn't seen what did see last Christ
mas Day"
As the afternoon wore on, I watched
Lady Gramont intently, and I fancied
she showed some signs OF agitation.
The color In her face was trife deep
er than usual; her smile had lost some
thing OF Its sweet, bright serenity.
At half past four, Lady Mallory dis
pensed tea to her guests. and, imme-
diately after II. the ladies always re-
tired to their rooms, to dress for din
ner. for we dined rather early at Deep
NSAAS- oAA NEVER HhCQ TO take
his dinner later than six or half-past.
noticed that Lady Gramont was the
first to retire. watched her up the
staircase; then I. too. beat a retreat.
and hurrytng UP to my room. 1 put on
hat and an overcoat, and. coming
downstairs again. made my way out
side the house, and stationed myself in
little shrubbery. where I could COM
mand view or all the doors, save
those which belonged to the servants.
It must be remembered that. al
though knew the hour, did not know
the place OF meeting: and. therefore.
there was nothing for II but 20 watch
for Lady Gramont to leave the house.
and to follow her wherever she went.
It was bitterly cold as stood there.
among the leafiess trees. remembered
with something like n shudder that to-
morrow would be Christmas Eve-the
anniversary OF the day when that poor.
unknown wretch had been foully muir.
dered In the mountain pass. For about
twenty minutes stood auxiously watt
Ing. But. at length, my patience was
rewarded. One OF the French windows
of the library was opened, and Lady
Gramont stepped out. 1 saw her fea-
lures distinctly In the moonlight. I
saw, too. that she was enveloped from
hCdN W lOON III a iODR QaTk CLOAK. and
that she appeared to be carrying some
thing both bulky and heavy beneath Il.
She cast one swift, anxious look
around, as though to assure herself she
was not observed: then she crossed the
lawn, and entered long dark evenue
or trees, which led, as I knew. into n
small plantation that sldrted the road.
Noiseiessly. but swiftly. followed
her. keeping at a respectable distance
AS I could well afford to do, for the
ground was still covered with snow
and was thus enabled TO trace her by
her footprints. have since wondered
that. In view OF the fact OF a burglary
having been committed only the night
before. we were not-both Of us
watched in our turn by detectives. or
some such people. Assuredly, a watch
ought to have been set upon every per-
son In the house after such an event.
But, suppose. the truth was that the
county police, who had the case in
charge, were a set OF unmitigated duff
fers. and the man from Scotland Yard.
whom Sir Thomas had telegraphed for,
had not yet arrived
At any rate, Lady Gramont went the
whole length of the avenue, and 1 fol-
lowed her without our being intercept
ed by anyone.
was quite certain she was Carrying
something bulky and heavy beneath
her cloak, and 1t struck me II was most
likely some OF the stolen Jewels.
She was taking them to her confed-
crate. he not having been able to carry
off all the booty the night before.
When she got to the end OF the ave-
nue.. she Immediately entered the small
plantation 1 have spoken OF, and, for
| a moment or two, 1 lost sight OF her.
had to stoop to search for her foot
prints, and by the time had found
them, and followed on In their wake
for few steps. heard sounds which
convinced me had run my quarry to
earth. and that IL now behooved me to
| exercise the EXTREMIST caution.
] heard voices, the rich, sweet one OF
| Lady Gramont, and the hoarse, deem
| tones of a man.
| Another moment. and I saw both hin,
] and her distinctly.
| They were standing beneath an old
| elm-tree, which had been struck nv
/ lightning in the autumn.
| He was the same man whom had
/ a., 81