Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-12-14


There was no news of Audrey.
81 wonder what has happened to de-
tain her?" Hilda asked herself the
question to the accompaniment Of
growing anxiety.
Perhaps telegram would arrive in
a few minutes with satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION for the delayed return. Per-
haps Audrey herself would soon ap-
pear in person. 1t was so easy to miss
train, yet how injudicious to do so in
this case. Meanwhile the wisest-in
fact the only--course was to remain in
active and cGnceal all anxiety
But as the day grew old and no news
of the absent girl arrived it was not
easy to act UP to this wise decision.
The carriage was not sent to meet any
of the trains; nothing that could ac-
centuate the mystery of her non-return
did Hilda feel justified in ordering to
be done. Night came; still no news.
Morning dawned, and the silence over
hanging the girls absence remained
unbroken.
81 must act do something" thought
Hilda, with suddenly augmenting fears.
ITO remain inactive any longer would
be criminal on my part. Happily,
George being no worse, can go out
for a short time to send off telegram
asking for news. But to whom ought
it to be addressed, and where sent? To
telegraph to Reggie would appear to be
pointing at. But he is the only per-
son to whom can appeal for informa-
ton, for it was to see him that she
went to London. Risks Of my inquir-
Immediately after breakfast will go
out and send off telegram to him"
No time was wasted over that break
fast and as quickly as possible tel
egram containing the words where
is Audrey?" was flashing up to London
For days Reggie had labored under
a depressing sense of the uninterest-
ingness of his exissence--nothing to
live for, save the necessity to make an
income to support himself But the
receipt of that telegram electrified him
into forgetting himself.
Where is Audrey?" he repeated,
doubling the existence of his own eyes.
'How the deuce should l know? And
what in the name of goodness has
caused Hilda to telegraph to me?
Looks-looks-bu heaven only. knows
what it looks like" he muttered, re-
luctant to diagnose his own thoughts.
1T is such an extraordinary thing to
telegraph to me. And it is not in her
nature to do extraordinary things. /
can't understand it bit. What an
swer shall send? must send one as
quickly as can. Hang 1t all, I'm be-
ginning to feel desperately upset. What
can have become of her? I have been
thinking of the dear little woman at
Carlton Park, happy and we'll looked
after; whereas But, hang it all, ac-
ton is what is required of me now. I'll
telegraph back without a seconds de-
lay to say that I can't understand the
telegram and have not seen Audrey"
Having dispatched the message he
walked back to his chambers and pro-
ceeded to work himself into frantic
state of anxiety respecting Audrey's
safety.
What on earth can have become of
herr" he asked himself time after time.
81 wonder if Hilda will telegraph
again?"
But she did not. She realized the
utter uselessness of it. With look
of blank dismay she reread the tele-
gram several times, then threw it
down and sat thinking. Where could
Audrey be? Where could she have
gone to? Why had she not written to
explain her absence? Fortunately. Sir
George was better; for time must be
given to this important family mystery
Audrey's disappearance. Was it in
any way connected with the mystery of
his illness, or the mystery that had
broken off the engagement between
Reggie and Audrey? 1t was clear that
Inquiries must be set on foot at once
but those inquiries must be cautiously
made nothing that should cast a slur
on Audreys character must be done or
said. To go to London and place the
matter In the hands Of the family law
yer was impossible; distance mega
lived 1t. To ask him to come down to
Carlton Park would mean loss of time
and every moment was precious. All.
ready Hilda was blaming herself for
having wasted too mary OF those pre-
c1ous moments. Now she must act
promptly. ask advice and Immediate
help from some one whose judgment.
powers of secrecy and fidelity to her.
self Were above suspicion. To this
man-for the work to be done was a
mans work she must tell everything
unreservedly. 81
No need to ask herself twice who
that man must be. Guy Erskine's name
stood out in her mind as the one who
would face more for her than any 9th.
er mortal.
81 Quickly she was penning note to
him. quickly it was being dispatched.
He was not long in coming.
8 am very, glad ] was still at home
when your letter came, he said. t.Had
It arrived ten minutes later should
have been on my way to London. en-
-. a.