The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-03-10

where you left iii"
"Yes. II you wish, will take you to
the spot. ] can drive you and your as
sistant up there"
Certainly. Let us co. he exclaimed,
rising at once and ringing his bell.
Get three good lanterns and some
matches, and put them in this gentle
mans trap outside" he said to the con-
stable who answered his summons. "And
tell Gilbert Campbell that / want him
to 90 with me up to Rannoch Wood"
"Yes, sir" answered the man; and
the door again closed.
"It's a pity--a thousand pities, Mr..
Gregg, that you didn't stop those two
men who buried the body"
"They were already across the stream,
and disappearing into the thicket be-
fore / mounted the rock" I explained.
Besides, at the moment / had no sus-
picion OF what they'd been doing. be-
lieved them TO be stragglers from
their way"
"Ah, most unfortunate!" he said. 81
hope they don't escape US. II they're
foreigners, they are not likely to get
away. But il they're English or Scots,
then I fear there's but little chance Of
us coming up with them. Yesterday at
the inquest the identity Of the murdered
man was strictly preserved, and the in
quiry was adjourned for a fortnight"
"Of course my name was not men.
tionedY" | said.
"Of course not" was the detectives
reply. Then he asked: "When do you
expect to get a telegram from your
friend, the Consul at Leghorni l am
anxious for that, in order that we may
commence inquiries in London"
''The day after tomorrow, hope. he
will certainly reply at once, providing
tho dead mans father can still be found"
And at that moment tall, thin man,
who proved to be Detective Campbell,
entered, and five minutes later we were
all three driving over the uneven cob
bles OF Dumfries and out in the dark.
ness towards Rannoch
It was cloudy and starless, with
chill mist hanging over the valley; but
my uncle's cob was q swift one, and
we soon began to ascend the hin up past
the castle, and then, turning to the left,
drove along steep, rough by'road which
led to the south Of the wood and out
across the moor. When we reached the
latter we all descended, and I led the
horse, for owing to the many treach-
erous Dogs it was unsafe to drive fur
Their. So, with Mackenzie and Campbell
carrying lanterns, we walked on care
fully, skirting the wood for nearly a
mile until we came to the rough wall
over which I had clambered with Mu-
riel.
I recognized the spot, and having tied
up the cob we all three plunged into the
pitch-darkness Of the wood, keeping
straight ON in the direction Of the glen,
and hating every now and then to listen
for the ripping Of the stream.
At last, after some difficulty, we dis
covered It, and searching along the bank
with our three powerful lights, pres
emily detected the huge moss.grown
boulder wherein ! had stood when the
pair of fugitives had disappeared.
"Lookl" I cried. "rhere's the spotl"
And quickly we clambered down the
steep bank, lowering ourselves by the
branches Of the trees until we came
to the water into which ! waded, being
followed closely by my two companions.
On gaining the opposite, side I clam.
bered up to the base of the boulder and
lowered my lantern to reveal to them
the gruesome evidence of the second
crime, but the next instant cried
"Whyl It's gone!"
"Gonel" gasped the two men.
eyes. It was here. Look this is the
hole where they buried It But they
evidently returned, and finding it ex.
humed, they've retaken possession Of il
and carried il away!"
The two detectives gazed down to
where I Indicated, and then looked at
each other without exchanging word.