The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-20
CHAPTER XIV.
nI.flN n$I<S rnrtN,Ic

Is Distinctly Curious.
The dark days of the London winter
frightened into spring, but the mystery
of old Mr.. Courtney's death remained an
enigma inexplicable to police and public.
Amber Jevons had prosecuted independent
inquiries assiduously in various quarters,
detectives had watched the subsequent
movements of Short and the other serV-
ants, but all to no purpose. The sudden
disappearance of Short was discovered to-
be due to the illness Of his brother.
The identity of the assassin, as well as
the mode in which the extraordinary
wound had been inflicted both remained
mysteries impenetrable.
At Guys we were a trlfe understaffed.
and my work was consequently heavy;
while, added to that, Sir Bernard was suf-
fering from the effects of a severe chill
and not had not been able to come to
town for nearly a month. Therefore,
had been kept at it practically night and
day. dividing my time between the hos
pita Harley street and my own rooms
saw little Of my friend Jevons, for his
partner had been ordered to Bournem outh
for his health. and. therefore, his con-
slant attendance at his office in Mark Lane
was imperati tive. Amber had now but lit
tie leisure save on Sundays when we
would usually dine together at the Cavour.
the Globe, the Florence or some other
foreign restaurant.
he would sigh, his face would assume a
puzzled expression, and he would declare
that the affair utterly passed his compre-
/ hension. Once or twice he referred to
! Ethelwynn, but it struck me that he did
not give tongue to what passed within
his mind for fear of offending me-. His
methods were based on patience, there
fore often wondered whether he was still
secretly at work upon the case. and, II
so. whether he had gained any additional
facts. Yet he told me nothing. 1t was
mystery, he said-that was all.
OF EthelWynn I saw but little. making
my constant occupation with Sir Bernard S
patients my excuse She had taken up
her abode with Mrs. Hennlxer-a married
cousin, living in Radcliffe Square, at
whose house Mary had stayed on the night
of the tragedy. The furniture at Rich
mond Road had been removed and the
house advertised for sale, young Mrs.
Courtenay having moved to her aunt s
house in the country, few miles from
Bath.
| On several occasions I had dined at
Radcliffe Square, finding both Mrs. Hen
mixer and her husband extremely agree
able Henniker was partner in big
brewing concern at Caphom, and very
good fellow. while his wife was a middle
aged fair haired woman of the type who
shop of afternoon in Hight street, Ken
/ sington Ethelwynn had always been q
particular favorite with both, hence she
was a welcome guest at Radcliffe Square
Old Mr.. Courtenay had had business re.
ations with Henniker d couple of years
before and slight difference had lee
to an open quarrel. For that reason they
had never visited at Kew. g,.. .- E.. ~.
On the occasions I had spent the even
ing with Ethelwynn at their house / hat
watched her narrowly yet neither by lool
nor by action did she betray any sig1
| of a guilty secret. Her manner had dur
ing those weeks changed entirely; TO
she seemed perfectly calm and self-pos
sessed. and although she alluded but sci
dom to our love, she treated me will
the same sweet tenderness as before tn
fatal night of her Aorotherin- as
SasSinatiOn. *fZ >-S. r. .S-se. .'.. " --s e
I must admit that her attitude, al
though it inspired me> with a certain
amount of confidence, nevertheless cause
me to ponder deeply. l knew enough @
human nature to be aware that it i
womans meter to keep up appearances
Was she keeping up an appearance of in
nocence, although her heart was black
ened by crime?
One evening, when we CHANGED to b
left alone in the little smoking-room afte
dinner, she suddenly turned to me, say
ing:
, I've often thought how strange 70
must have thought. my visit to your room
that night. Ralph. 1t was unpardonabl'
y I know-ony / wanted to warn you {
that man - .~ 42s- So
. '.Of Sir Bernardo" 1 observed, laugh
g ing. -@ Ill
. Yes. But it appears that you hay
not needed me-" she sighed. 81 fea
: Ralph. that you will regret some day"
S Why should l regret? Your fears al
S surely baseless."
h No" she answered decisvely. "The
-
4 ones-for urging you to break your cor
Z nection with him. He is no friend
- you
. | smiled. | knew quite well that
- was no friend of hers. Once or twice
late he had said in that peevsh snapl
e voice of his:
L wonder what that woman, MI
81 Courtenay's sister, is doing? 1 hear not
ing of her..
6 l did not enlighten him, for had no d
sire to hear her maligned 1 knew Il
. truth myself sufficiently well.
~ But turning to her 1 looked straig
20 into her dark luminous eyes, those eye
lie those eyes that held me always as b
,e meath "a spell. saying:
id He has proved himself my best frien
al up to tie present I have no reason
90 doubt him.
~ But YOU will have. I warn you.''
10 I'm what manner, then, is he n
ne She hesitated, as though half fear1
o. to respond to my question. Presently $
said:
~ He is my enemy-and therefore yours
~ why is he your enemy % / asked. Gag
III to clear up a point which had so long pu
n, zled me.
"a Il cannot tell she responded. 80
S. sometimes gives, offense and makes e1
es mics without being aware of it.
The evasion was a clever one. A
30 other Illustration Of her tactful ingenui
~ BY dnt of careful cross exa minatior
o. endeavored to worm from her the sec
RS of my chiefs. antagonism. but she "
dumb to every inquiry fencing with
in in manner that would have done ere
;. to q police court Solicitor. Though sWe
- innocent and intensely charming, yet tn
&c was a reverse side in it's chara cter. strol
II, firm minded. almost stern in its auSteri
~ ] must here say that our love once
&c. passionate and displayed by. fond kis
and hand pressing. in the usual mann
of lovers. had gradually s}ackened. A X
on arrival. and another on departure Y
a all the demonstration Of affection that II
a ssed between us. I doubted her, &
4 though, | strove hard to conceal my t.
\ feelings. / fear that my GOODNESS was
parent not only to her but to the II
1 mixers also. She had complained of
I when she called al my rooms. and c
4 tainly she had full reason for doing so
!" am not one of those who can feign lC
Some men can; cannot.
= Thus it will be seen that although
certain GOODNESS had arisen between
: in a manner that seemed almost NUT,
~ 41,<,E has rf fr~in,