The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-03-24

went off into Mysteries, while her hus-
band, in q breathless hurry, slipped OIL
his evening clothes again and got into
an old blue serge suit, tossed a few
things into bag, and then went along
to Muriel's room to urge her to prepare
for secret flight"
"Flight!" I gasped. "What, have they
gonew
"Listen, and I'll tell you. The SER
wants have described the whole affair
down in the village, so there's no doubt
about it. Leithcourt showed Muriel the
telegram and urged her to fly. At first
she refused, but for her fathers sake
was induced to prepare to accompany
him. Of course, the guests were in ig-
norance of all this. The brougham was
ordered to be ready in the stable yard
and not to 90 round, while Mrs. Leith-
courts maid tried to bring the lady back
to her senses. Leithcourt himself, it
seemed, rushed hither end thither, seiz-
ing the jewel cases of his wife and daugh-
ter and whatever valuables he could
place his hand upon, while the mother
and daughter were putting on their
things. AS he rushed down the main
staircase to the library, where his check
book and some ready cash were locked
in the safe, he met a stranger who had
just been admitted and shown into the
room. Leithcourt closed the door and
faced him. What afterwards transpired,
however, is a mystery, for two hours
later, after he and the two women had
escaped, leaving the house-party to their
own diversions, the stranger was found
locked in large cupboard and insen-
sible. The sensation was tremendous
one. Cowan, the doctor, was called, and
declared that the stranger had been drug
ged and was suffering from some mar
cotic. The servant who admitted him
declared that the man had said he had
an appointment with his master, and
that no card was necessary. He, how
ever, gave the name of Chatter"
"Chater!" I cried, starting up. care
you certain of that name?"
81 only know what Cowan told me-"
was my uncle's reply. "But do you know
him?"
"Not at all. Only I've heard that
name BEFORE" I said. 81 knew a man
out in Italy of that same name. But
where is the visitor nowH"
"1n the hospital at Dumfries. They
took him there in preference to leaving
him alone at Rannoch"
"Alone?"
"Of course. Everyone has left, now
the host and hostess have slipped off
without saying goodbye. Scandalous
affair, isn't it But, my boy, you'll re.
member that l always said didn't like
those people. There's something mys-
ferrous about them, l feel certain. That
telegram gave them warning of the visit
OF the man Chatter, depend upon it, and
for some reason they're afraid of him.
1t would be interesting to know what
transpired between the two men in the
library. And these are people who've
been taken up by everybody-mere ad.
venturers, l should call them!" And
old Sir George shifted again at thought
OF such scandal happening in the neigh.
borhood. "If Gilrae must let Rannoch,
then why in the name of Fortune doesn't
ne let it to respectable folk and not to
the first fellow who answers his adyer.
tisement in the Fields It's simply dis
GRACEFUL"
Certainly, it is most extraordinary
story" l declared. "Leithcourt eyi.
IDENTIFY wished to escape from his visitor.
and that's why he drugged him."
why he poisoned him, Won man
Cowan says the fellow is poisoned, but
that he'll probably recover. He is al.
ready conscious, l hear"
l resolved to call on the doctor, who
happened to be we'll known to me, and
obtain further particulars. Therefore
at eleven o'clock l drove into Dumfries
and entered his consulting room.
lie was a spare, short, fair man, a
tritie bald, and when l was shown in he
welcomed me warmly, speaking with his
pronounced Galloway accent.