The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-06-02
THE SUN

them, of course, and often shot with his
party. One day, however, was amazed
to notice in one of the rooms the photo
graph of lady, the exact counterpart OF
that picture which, recollect, l told
you when in Leghorn had found torn
up on board the Lola. You recollect
what I narrated about my strange ad-
venture, don't your"
~ remember every word," was his an
swer. GO on. What did you dor
Nothing. l held my tongue. But
when I discovered that the fellow who
called himself Woodroffe-the man who
had represented himself as the owner of
the Lola, and who, no doubt, had had
hand in breaking open Hutcheson's safe
in the Consulate-was engaged to
Muriel, became full of suspicion"
"Well?"
"Woodroffe, after meeting me, disap-
peared--went to Hamburg, they said, on
business. Then other things occurred.
a man and woman were found murdered
up in the wood about mile and half
from the castle. The man was made up
to represent my man Olinto-I believe
you've seen him in Leghorn"
"What! They've killed Olinto?" he
gasped, starting from his chair.
"NO. The fellow was made up very
much like him. But his wife Armida
was killed"
"They killed the woman, and believed
they had also killed her husband, ehi" he
said bitterly through his teeth, and I
saw that his strong hands grasped the
arms of his chair firmly. "And Martin
Woodroffe is engaged to Muriel Leith-
court. Are you certain of this2"
"Yes; quite certain"
"And is there no suspicion as to who
is the assassin of the woman Santini and
this mysterious man who posed as her
husband?"
"NOne whatever"
For some time Jack Durnford smoked
in silence, and I could just distinguish
his white, hard face in the faint light,
for it was now late, and the big electric
lamps had been turned out and we were
in semi-darkness.
"That fellow shall never marry Mu-
riel," he declared in fierce, hoarse
voice. "What you have just told me re-
veals the truth. Did you meet Chater'"
"He appeared suddenly at Rannoch,
and the Leithcourts fled precipitately
and have not since been heard Of"
"Ah, no wonder!" he remarked with a
dry laugh. mo wonder! But look here,
Gordon, Pm not going to stand by and
let that scoundrel Woodroffe marry
Muriel."
"You love her, perhapsi" l hazarded.
Eyes, do love her." he admitted.
"And, by heaven!" he cried, 81 will tell
the truth and crush the whole of their
Ingenious plot. Have you met Elma
Health" he asked.
"Yes," l said in quick anxiety.
"Then listen" he said in low, earnest
voice. listen, and I'll tell you some
thing"
"There is greater mystery surround
ing that yacht, the Lola, than you have
ever imagined, my dear old chap" de.
clared Jack Durnford, looking me
straight in the face. "When you told
me about it on the quarterback that
day outside Leghorn, I was half mind
to tell you what l knew. Only one fact
prevented me-my disinclination to re-
veal my own secrets. I loved Muriel
Ieithcourt. yet, aAoat as I was, could
never see her-I could not obtain from
her own lips the explanation desired.
Yet l would not PREJUDICE her-no, and
L won't now!" he added with a fierce
resolution.
II love her." he went on, "and she re.
clprocates my love. Ours is a secret
engagement made in Malta two years :
ago. and yet You tell me that she has
pledged herself to that fellow Wood. {
roife-the man known here in London
as Dick Archer. | can't believe tt ,
really can't, old fellow. She could never 1
write to me as she has done, urging pa.
thence and secrecy until my return" ]
"IJnleaa of co,,raa .ko yo..--I a.