Middletown transcript., 1905-03-25
J. The Mystery Of Lady Verriker
IooNrINuEp FROM LAST WEEK
BY VIOLET M. Finn

/ went DOWN 10 DTcahiaSo ioo'ne
but to my relief the table
was laid only for one, and Susan, the
general help, appeared to wait on me
instead Of Anne. She volunteered the
information that her ladyship ana the
Sipnor were breakfasting in their own
rooms. !,
sMaybe the storm frittened them,
she said. "It wor powerful pad. |
heard all sorts OF queer noises and doors
banging, 20 just put my head under the
clothes and went to Sleep"
After breakfast went into the gardens
-ostensibly for a walk, really to find
Roberts.
"Did you post my letter." inquired
eagerly when I came across him.
He drew himself upright and straight
ened his back slowly.
eyes, miss. That is, missed the cart.
I went down to meet it, and it was
powerful long time coming and then
that gentleman friend of yours come past
ON his bicycle, and lie said the mail had
gone, SO lie took the letter and said he'd
post it in Muddleham."
NY heart stood still with sudden dread.
Roberts, whom do you mean?' =
"That gentleman you took through the
park about ten days ago. You said ne
wrote newspapers, miss" He was struck
by my expression and looked at me
deprecatingIy. II hope it was all right,
miss, my giving the letter to him, but
thought friend Of yours"
tIt is too late to say anything now,"
answered, turning away. "We can only
hope that it is all right.
I felt oppressed by nervous over
whelming fear that seemed to increase
every hour. / could not 60 out, and !
hardly dared to move about the house, 50
established myself in the window Of the
small oak-panelled aoom, whence ! had
good view of the principal avenue. |
determined to possess my soul in patience
until the afternoon, when | would go
down to the far lodge in the hope that
Nigel would be there.
No one invaded my solitude all the
morning, and was wondering if should
have solitary luncheon, when I saw an
open carriage appear at the foot OF the
avenue. 1t contained three or four gen.
tlemen. For moment thought they
were my father, Sir Adam, and Nigel,
but as it drew rapidly nearer | recognized
them as Mr.. Hull, his clerk, and two
strangers one Of the latter was fresh
good-looking man, much bronzed, and
the other, who was good deal older,
presented the appearance Of an official.
The carriage drove round to the great
door, and 7 heard the bell ring vigor-
ously. Almost Immediately after Lady
Verriker rushed breathlessly into the
room, and for an instant thought that
she had lost her senses. Her look was
wild and distraught, and she caught my
hand in hers.
ooh, Ethel, they have come to take
me to prison r she gasped. "Oh, come
with me! dare not face them alone !"
But before I could reply the door was
opened again and Anne's grim form re-
vealed itself.
"Mr. Hull to see your ladyship." she
said sourly, and as Lady Verriker tried
to recover herself the woman added in a
fierce undertone. "And be careful what
you say. Til kill you if you let anything
out !" And she looked murderous enough
to keep her word. She frowned angrily
at me as I moved by the side Of the
shrinking woman. "Mr Hull has come
on business, Miss Fothergill," she began,
but went past her as if | had neither
seen nor heard.
The gentlemen were standing in group
in the middle Of the great drawing room.
''Most disgraceful neglect y / heard
the youngest stranger say warmly, and
Mr.. Hull, fussier and more important
than ever, assented with yigor.
"Good morning, Lady Verriker r he
said as we entered. Morning, Miss
FothergillT' Er-may l introduce Sir
Reginald Verriker?''
The young man bowed stiffiy, but with
an access of color in his tanned face.
"Er-we shall be talking of painful
private matters, Lady Verriker," the
lawyer began, and glanced at me, but the
poor lady pressed my hand.
''I wish Miss Fothergill to stay" she
said family.
There was an awkward pause. Sir
Reginald fdgeted from one foot to the
other and the lawyer and his clerk
shuffied papers only the second stranger
seemed to be composed. He kept in the
background, but his eyes were fixed on
Lady Verriker. At length the lawyer
spoke.
"Lady Yerriker, it is my painful duty
to inform you that very grave suspicion
has fallen upon you. can only trust
that you will be able to remove it at once.
/ received information yesterday morn
ing that lady lad sold some diamonds
which the jeweler who bought them had
reason to believe were not her own. He
came to me to see if could identify
them, and to my establishment ! discov-
cred that they were the Verriker dia-
monds, which are heirlooms in the
family, and which now belong to Sir
Reginald. My last knowledge Of the
jewels was that, at your particular re-
quest, had left them here on my pre-
yious visit. May ask whether you have
discoveredthe cases to have been opened?'
There was pause. Lady Verriker's
lips opened, but closed again. | could
see by Mr.. Hull's face that he thought
she was framing some plausible story.
II took the diamonds and sold them in
London" she answered at length.
''Good heavens r. exclaimed the law
yer "What on earth made you do that?"
sT-I wanted the money!" she said
feebly, and felt her lean more heavily