Middletown transcript., 1905-03-18
The Mystery Of Lady verriker ).
BY VIOLET N. Finn

again in a hurry. Really YOU
are not half bad sort, Kitty, after all y
I heard stifed cry, and then the
smooth voice went on
'Oh, very well-if you ieei like that
I'm sure I'm not pining to kiss you!
Did Isaacs seem to suspect anything? He
stumped up remarkably well, | must
saw" and I heard the faint rustic Of
bank notes.
''IIe looked at me very su-piclonsy
and asked If the diamonds were my own, !"
Lady Verriker answered very wearily !;
"but when | told him what you had said
he seemed to be quite satisfied. lie
hinted that he thought had stolen them ;
and SO had-so had =
"Oh, well, you've only borrowed them
for time But they are yours. You
are the only Lady Verriker at present.
You'll have lots OF opportunities to get
them back before Reggie wants them if
you play your cares well. You must
marry Gordon and get the money from
him, and Oh, confound it ! What
soft-livered thing she is! Anne
Anne, here-Lady Verriker has tainted. +"
/ heard the door open and Anne's
steps: cross the room.
rs 1t only faint r. the man asked,
with The first trace Of anxiety in his soft
selfish voice which had ever noticed.
''She looks awfully bad !! Anne, you're
not doing anything to her?
"Of course not Don't be fool
There she's all right now! I'll take
her upstairs. l expect it is only the
long walk from Market Copley, and ]
dare say that she hasn't rested much
during the day"
CHAPTER VII
cannot express the sense of thankful
ness v Hhich | felt when | met Nigel Bn,
chanan at the lodge gates on the fol
lowing afternoon. The day had passed
very quietly and uneventfully at the
Court. Lady Verriker had been very
silent and had seemed worn and ill
state Of affairs that did not surprise
me. The Signor had apparently been
busy in his own room, for had seen
very little of him.
"I'm sorry that ! can't compliment
you on your improved appearance, 7
Nigel said when the first greetings were
over and | had forced back the tears
which had risen at the thought that
at last had friend near me. "Whai
have you been doing with yourself
And why may not 60 to the house 7"
Because / want your advice, and
dare not let anybody know that YOU
are here. / am terrified now lest anyone
should see us. Let us walk up ano
down this path, Nigel
1t seemed to me as if we were once
more boy and girl together, and the
memory Of the intervening years wher
conventionality had tied our tongues
and checked our actions had utterly
vanished. And SO we paced up and
down, and I told him all that had hap
pened since my arrival at the Court
He heard me in silence, only speaking tc
ask for some explanation here and there
nor when | ceased did lie reply at once
I watched his dark clever face intently
yet his first question surprised me.
"And this man whom you have twice
| met has told you that he is Ollett the
journalist? That, at all events, is un
true, for Ollett is in Africa at this mo
ment, and has been there for some
months writing series OF papers. Be
sides he is a tall thin man with gray
hair, and the man whom you met yor
say is short, black haired and fresh
| colored."
"But, Nigel, he had one Of Olett'i
f., cards. And, besides, what has he tC
do with the case? ?"
"a great deal, | fancy but, at any
rate, he is not Ollett. And. as to the
card, that is very easy thing to procure
| The real Ollett scatters them wholesale
Now let me see if | quite understand
| you. Is not this right? There are two
! men staying at the Court, one openly
one secretly. Lady Verriker is afraiG
| of both, yet completely under their do
minion. She is very wealthy, yet she
never has any money, which, added
to your story Of her trip to town and the
money which Mr.. Hull gave her on his
last visit, seems to prove that these mer
are levying blackmail upon her. You've
never seen the second man, Ethel? Yor
have no idea what he is like ~
Not in the least but, from wha
can remember Of the figure which
I, saw at my window, lie is tall and tllil
and by his voice should say lie wal
much younger than the Signor."
'.And does this Italian-what is hi.
name ?-know Of the others presence ??
Il think not. He has never said any
thing to make me suspect that lie does
His name is Carlo Sergali-at least, Sc
be told me-"
"Carlo Sergali?' Nigel repeated, gazing
at me with the same establishment tha
Mr.. Ollett had shown when he hearc
the name. Carlo Sergali in hidin,
because he is tracked by secret society
The thing is impossible And he strik,
and abuse a woman? He couldn't DC
it He is the gentlest, most tender
hearted man YOU could meet, although
he breaches fire and slaughter" HI
stood for second with bent head ane
knit brows. Describe this man to me
Ethel !" ard lie questioned and cross
questioned ME as one trained to tht
work only could. ''And his voice? =
"Thick and gruff, with curious creak
ing break in it..
"By Jove n Nigel murinured unde
his breath. "And lie only speaks French
and Italian? Let me see Does Ii,
talk like this ?' And lie began to quote
verse Of Beranger's in an extraordi
narily accurate imitation Of the Signor'
voice, and then regarded me eagerly
aItst like that r' I ranliod