Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-01-11
KEEPING DARK
& H EEB

pretend to be satisfied. One hears of
the strangest things. Why should
Colonel Durand refuse to receive any
body? Why doesn't he write his own
letters? No one outside his own house
has seen him for three weeks, and you
must admit the affair has mysterious
appearance"
did not dispute the statement for
an instant, although I had no doubt
the colonel had some excellent reason
for his retirement. In my case, did
not see my way to take any further
steps in the matter, and, indeed, both
Lady Waters and myself were OH the
point of leaving London for Christ
mas. 1t was the second week in Feb
ruary before we met again, and then
she sent me an urgent summons to her
house.
Now" she exclaimed, before 1 had
been minute in her drawing room, Il
am determined that something must
be done"
What about" 1 asked, not think
ing of Durand at the time.
about the colonel
Good graciousv' I cried, "you don't
mean to say that he is still keeping
dark?''
"As far as can gather" she re-
turned, mo one has seen him. He has
not been to his club | can't
meet man who has entered his
house"
Are you certain he is there?'
Absolutely. | have been two or
three times this week. The butler adj
mits he is in London, but when l ask
ed to see him I was simply told not
at hOme.'"
"Then," l said, there has been no
news of Durand for longer than two
months.'
IF don't arrive at some explana-
ton before this day week." cried Lady
Waters, in her most determined man
ner Il shall inform the police"
but of what?" l demanded.
Il am tormented by all kinds of sus-
picions,' she answered HE may have
been murdered'-
"Oh, but-''
1T is quite possible" she insisted,
land his servants may be in con-
spiracy to act in this way to throw
persons off the scent"
''Durand might never forgive you if
you called public attention to his af-
fairs" l urged. by the bye, have
you thought of writing to him."
"Of course l have written" she re-
torted. Il have begged him to see me,
limited that his friends are anxious"
well"
Il received an answer in the same
woman's hand" Lady Waters contin-
ued, assuring me that there was not
the slightest cause for anxiety, and
that he would ask his son to come to
see me soon after his arrival next
month
Earlier than you anticipated?'
"Of course" said Lady Waters,
''that may be slip, and Colonel Du-
rand may not have received my let
ter"
Eager for Lady Waters sake as well
as for Durand's to prevent the mistake
Of informing the police Of her sus-
picions, thought the matter over the
same night, with the result that l de-
termined myself to write to the colo
mel. Sitting down at once, 1 made a
clean breast Of things, explaining that
his old friends, tormented by anxiety,
had made up her mind to communicate
with the authorities unless her alarm
should be allayed by the following
Monday. He must have received my
letter in due course the next morning,
for at II o'clock an answer was deliy-
cred at my door by hand.
Breaking the seal with not little
excitement, saw that the short note
was written by a woman-not very
we'll written-to the effect that Colonel
Durand would be happy to see me at
o'clock the same afternoon. l confess
that l had seldom felt more curious or
more impatient for few hours to pass,
for, tax my ingenuity as l might, it
seemed difficult to hit upon a probable
explanation Of Durand's retirement.
"Will you walk this way, sir" said
the butler, and, somewhat to my sur
prise, he led me past the drawing room
door, up a second flight of stairs to a
room at the back Of the house.
IF you will wait one moment, sir