Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-05-21
q Woman' S F F Gee
FLORENCE WARDEN
I wish to sneak to VOL"

Frank took up the reins, and obeyed.
Even if he had objected to do so, there
was no disobedience possible to the
old lord this morning.
ct is true, l believe, that Dr.. Peele
put the greatest confidence in your"
Eyes, think l may say that he did"
He told you all particulars Of the
cases under his care?"
Yes, that I might take them up IN
place of him"
HE was a great friend of my-of
the late Mr.. Dighton; he was the
family physician, and knew all the
secrets of the family, as such men
must do"
Il dare say he did, your lordship.'
'You know he did, snapped Lord
Kildonan in a grating voice, turning to
look at him with cold, penetrating
eyes.
Eyes, l know that he did"
"And such secrets also passed to
your"
mo, Lord Kildonan." Armath-
waite looked at him back with perfect
| ly candid eyes. "They were to have
passed to me, but they never reached
me-"
| How was that?"
"He left his writing-table to me,
and stated in his will that all the pa
pers it contained were to come to me
also. But when it came into my
hands, there were no documents in it
of the least importance. Either DR..
Peele changed his mind at the last
and destroyed them, or-they had
been distracted before the table
my hands"
"By whom?"
well, presumably by some person
who believed in a prior right to the
doctors effects
Lord Kildonan's lips frightened still
more. women are the breed of h.
he muttered. Then, in a louder voice,
he said: ''Drive to the doctors house;
we must have those papers"
Frank could only obey. When they
reached the garden-gate Of the little
house they both got out of the phae,
ton. and leaving the old horse, who
was as quiet as lamb, they went up
the garden-path, and Lord kildonan
rang the bell and asked for Mrs.
Peele.
Yes, she was at home, the maid
said So the gentlemen walked into the
chilly little drawing-room, and after
an audible rustling about the next
room and a sepulchral whispering in a
deep voice, the widow entered the
room, and extended her hand to Lord
Kildonan, all dignity and graciousness.
But he was no longer the man whom
she was prepared to welcome. He
! touched her majestic hand with the
tips of his fingers and said
Good morning, madam. I have
come on business"
Mrs. Peele looked astonished, but in
Dictated a chair with a stately wave OF
her hand Lord Kildonan, with a cold
hard dignity which shrivelled up into
barrenness her ponderous majesty
declined.
81 would rather stand, madam,
thank you. l have only a few min
utes to spare"
The widow. under all her airs, began
to look rather uneasy. Frank re
NAMED in the background, a silent
sectator Of the encounter. Lord Kill
donan turned towards him.
"This gentleman, understand, had
all your husbands documents and pa
pers bequeathed to him"
Mrs. Peele started and changed
color as if a cannon ball had fallen at
! her feet.
Really, your lordship, that is no af
fair of mine,' she said as soon as she
had recovered herself a little.
81 am sorry to be forced to disagree
with you, madam. Certain importan,
papers were distracted from among
the rest between the time Of your hus
bands death and his funeral. You see
l am in full possession Of the circum
stances; as no person interested in
the matter had access to the room at
that time except yourself. it is matter
not for surmise but certainty that it
was you who took them. | have come
to request-to inslst-that you give
them up Immediately to the person to
whom they were left by your hus-
band"
The widow, with an angry glance at
Armathwaite, murmured something
about their having been destroyed.
mo. madam, that is an act you did
not dare commit" said Lord Kildonan
solemnly. Il beg you not to force me
to take extreme measures, but to de
liver up the documents at once
But Mrs. Peele flushed and then
grew pallid, while in her eyes there
; shone an abject, furtive fear.
J 81 dare not" she whispered, and her
deep voice was hoarse and thick. Not
before you, my lord-not before you
There was a moments dead silence
Then the voice Of Lord Kildonan, hard
but with a culver in it, spoke again
in tones of command such as there
was no disobeying.
4 command you, fetch them, and
give them, not to me, but to the per-
son to whom they belong"
Mrs. Peele drew a gasping breath
gave one furtive, teror-stricken look at
her guests stern face, and slowly
turned towards the door. Before she
could reach it, Lord Kildonan was
there, holding it open for her TO pass