The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-02-17

u
footbridge near Penpont, and then up
wild winding glen towards the Cairns
more of Dough. For a couple of miles or
more | was close behind, until, at turn
in the dark wooded glen where it
branched in two directions, / lost all
trace of the person who tiew from me.
Whoever it was they had very cleverly
gone into hiding in the underground of
one or other of the two glens--which
l could not decide.
/ stood out of breath, the perspira-
ton pouring from me, undecided how
to act.
Was it Leithcourt himself whom I had
surprised?
That idea somehow became impressed
upon me, and l suddenly resolved to
go boldly across to Rannoch and ascer-
tain for myself. Therefore, with the
excuse that / was belated on my walk
home, turned back down the glen, and
half an hour afterward entered the great
well-lighted hall of the castle where the
guests, ready dressed, were assembling
prior to dinner.
was welcomed warmly, as / was
always by the men of the party, who
seeing my muddy plight at once offered
me glass of the sportsman's drink in
Scotland, and while was adding soda
to it Leithcourt himself Joined his guests
ready dressed in his dinner jacket, hay
ing just descended from his room.
"Hullao, Gregg!" he exclaimed heart
lily, holding out his hand. Had long
day of it, evidently. Good sport with
Carmichael-eh?"
"Very fair" l said. 81 remained
longer with him than / ought to have
done, and have got belated on my way
home, 80 looked in for a refresher."
"Quite right" he laughed merrily
you're always welcome, you know. I'd
have been annoyed If I knew you had
passed without coming in"
And Muriel, pretty figure in low
cut gown of turquoise chiffon, standing
behind her father, smiled secretly al
me. l smiled at her in return, but 1,
was a strange smile, fear, for with thu
knowledge of that additional mystery
within me-the mystery of the woman
lying unconscious or perhaps dead, III
in the wood-held me stupefed.
had suspected Leithcourt because o
his constant trysts at that spot, but
had at least proved that my suspicion
were entirely without foundation. H
could not have got home and dressed i
the time, for had taken the neares
route to the castle while the fugitiv
would be compelled to make wide d.
tour.
And yet when recollected that hoars
Av.AA
knew too well that she had been struc
fatally. 1t was this latter convictio
that prevented me from turning back |
the wood. You will perhaps blame m
but the fact Is feared that if wei
there suspicion might fan upon IN
now that the real culprit had so il
geniously escaped.
II the victim were dead, what aid cou
renderi A knife had, believed, be-
used, for my foot caught against
when l had started of after the fup
tive. The only doubt in my own mil
was whether the unfortunate woman WI
actually dead, for If she were not, tn,
my disinclination to return to the see
of the tragedy was culpable.
Whether or not acted rightly in !
naming away from the place, lea
it to you to Judge in the light of Il
amazing truth which afterwards tran
pired.
l decided to walk straight back to II
uncle's, and dinner was over before
had had my tub and dressed. | thei
fore ate my meal alone, Davis, the gra
old butler, serving me with that stat
illness which always amused me.
usually chatted with him when oJnC
were not present, but that night l !
manned silent, my mind full of tn
strange and startling affair of which
alone held secret knowledge.
Next day the body would surely