Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-11-10
SIR GEOFFREY'S GHOST
BY Author of THAT Mysterious Major 3y Mutual co,+
"The Generals Daughter Etc


poor groom, who (rumor said) had been
drowned at sea in his efforts to ESCAPE
the injustice of the law; and naturally
you would regard me with some doubtH
yes, l know you would" added Wharf
quietly, as Phyllis attempted faint re-
lhonstrance. And now, only now, it
strikes me how much I have done to
neighten that doubt by the way in which
have avoided this house; my determine
ton to keep the north wing under lock
ana y-everything has tended in that
direction. For the past ten years have
really behaved like guilty man. Mrs.
Matthews has had plenty of reason, and
evidence enough, to arrive at all manner
OF conclusions. No wonder she has taken
advantage of it all!
But you are still wanting an explana.
tlon-you are about as puzzled as | was.
l suppose, when found you lying sense
less in the corridor last night, and at the
same time beheld that CHASTITY procession
moving stealthily along the terrace"
At the mere allusion of that dreadful
scene Phyllis shuddered.
But you-you knew about it," she
faltered, growing whittier than before.
i knew" Sir Ughtred paused and
gazed at her in amazement. Great
heavens, Miss Yelverton, what can you
be thinking of? Do you mean to say
you imagine for one moment that knew
anything of this-wretched business? |
was as ignorant of it as you were; until
saw that coffin being carried away l,
too, had thought that Joe Sykes had been
lying peacefully at the bottom of the
ocean for the last ten years.
ut is a strange story" Wharf went
on calmly as Phyllis sat up and looked at
him as though spellbound by his words.
Zone always hears that murder will out.
and certainly it seems as if there had
been some miraculous intervention with
regard to this affair of last night Had
it not been for you, the real murderer of
my cousin might never have been discov-
ered-the whole thing would have re-
manned mystery to the end of our days.
You lock incredulous, but the facts of
the case are plain enough.
sykes never made any attempt to quit
his native shores. He has remained
quietly in hiding. under this very roof,
from the hour of Geoffrey's death until
last night, when his body was carried
away by his sorrowing relatives. For ten
years my orders have been that the
north wing was to remain closed and
for ten years Mrs Mathews has kept a
strict guard over that particular part of
the house, for the simple reason that
Sykes has had possession of it! No
wonder there have been all kinds of ru-
mors ahoat concerning the ghost which
haunted that wing; and that certain
lights have been seen through the win
dows by several of the villagers who were
brave enough to venture within sight of
the house. Sykes has evidently been ac-
customed to ramble about the grounds
after dark, attired in certain cloak and
hat which my cousin had been in the
habit of wearing No suspicion therefore
ever rested upon Sykes, and yet-fool
that l have been, never to have suspected
anythingl / have been mad-yes, mad
ever since the day of the murder, when
the thought occurred to me that Godfrey
had committed suicide"
Sir Ughtred passed his hand YEARLY
across his eyes.
''The same idea was also suggested at
the inquest, it being quite possible that
the wound had been elf-infcted; and,
knowing as l did that some remarks
which / had made to Godfrey only a
quarter of an hour before might have
been the cause of this desire to take his
own life, have never really felt that my
conscience was clear, until last night, or
rather this morning, when / learned that
Sykes had made full confession"
"And this man has been living here
in this housed" exclaimed Phyllis, glanc-
ing round with an expression of the ut
most horror "Why should Mrs. Mathews
and the other servants have cared to aid
and abet him in such a terrible thing?"
"Ah, should have explained Sykes
had been secretly married to Mrs.
Mathews daughter only two days before
the crime was committed, and for this
reason, of course, they have used all their
best endeavors to prevent anything from
being brought to light. Now, fortunate
w for their peace of mind, and his, too,
| should think, he has died"
Sir Ughtred had finished speaking, but
PHYLLIS seemed unable to utter a word !;
she sat perfectly still, gazing straight be-
fore her.
How wildly everythif4gss~eR back to
her! How distinctly she could recollect
all the events of the past few weeks
the air of mystery that pervaded the en-
tire house-the peculiar sounds which at
times had issued from the west wing
and the strange gliding figure in the
cloak and hat which she had seen passing
the grounds!
Involuntarily she raised her eyes to
the handsome, patrician face before her.
How could anybody have doubted him for
one moment?
"Phvllis" was a sudden change
in Vibart's manner yesterday | felt
that 1 was living under such a cloud that
| had no right even TO think of asking
YOU if there would ever be Il chance Of
your learning to care for me. But now
that this has happened, that the world
will find out l am not the BLACKBOARD
that my enemies have considered me, my
courage is returning Phyllis, ! must
know" he added, drawing nearer to her,
and sitting down on the couch by her
side. "Can you give me any hope"
1t was just at this moment. an unpro-
pitious one, certainly, that slight rustic
was heard outside, and Miss Dare's spare
figure appeared a the door.
Capt Grant has sent to say that he
will he leaving almost Immediately. and