The Washington times., 1906-02-11

"A was. gardeners boy
ana he stood on tn,
platform of Richmond
station regarding us with a solemn. If
cherubic, cOuntenance. The little in
spect0r nodded his head as he felt in
his pockets for the tickets.
Il have a cab waiting for you, sir
''Are YOU from the Elms?'
Yes. sir. Miss Sherrick sent me to
meet you, having heard as you were
coming"
We walked up the steps to the road
way, climbed into the cab. and, with
the boy on the box, dragged our way
up the steep OF the narrow street. past
the Star and Garter (the hostelry of
ancient gloTies}, and SO for a mile until.
at a word from our youthful conductor,
the cab drew up at wicket gate in a
fence Of split oak. AS we stepped out
a girl swung open the gate and stood
confronting us.
She was a tall and graceful creature
with the delicacy of the blonde color
ing a beautiful face. There was fear
in her blue eyes, a fear that widened
and fixed them; and a tremor of the
full red lips that told of a great calam-
ity.
Inspector Addington Grey
Yes, Miss Sherrick.''
There was that about the little fnspec-
tor which ever invited the trust of the
innocent, and also. to be frank, no in
considerable proportion of the guilty, to
their special disadvantage. have
noticed n similar confidence inspired by
certain of the more famous doctors. So
was not surprised when Miss Sherrick
Al. IL -
his arm, with a confident appeal in her
eyes
''Do you know they have arrested
him?" she said
y had not heard. What is his
nance"
Mr. Boyne."
''fhe man who found the body?''
Yes. The man I intend to marry"
liked that sentence. 1t was stronger
than any protestations of his innocence
that she could have made Grey marked
H. too. for he smiled. watching her with
his head 10 one side in his solemn
fashion
You cannot think he is guilty" she
said, quietly. You are too clever for
5hat. Inspector Grey"
MY dear young lady. at O'clock I
Elms. Richmond. had been stabbed to
death in a road near his house. That
was the single fact telegraphed to Scot
land Yard Taking my friend here,
caught the 2:35 from Waterloo station
II is now $50. As you will observe. my
work has not yet commenced"
II sent the boy to meet you 1 wished
YOU to hear my story before you saw
the police up at the house. I should Ike
10 tell YOU all know"
THAT will doubtless. he very valu-
able said the little Inspector. Can
YOU find US a place where we shall not
be disturbed"
For answer she led the way through
the wicket gate. y couple of turns
and the winding walk brought us 10
an open space in the laureis and
rhododendrons. On the further side
was a garden bench, and there we
seated ourselves. waiting. with great
anxiety on ny part at least. for fur
ther details OF the tragedy.
MY father was Il widoWer." said
Miss SherTick. and when he died he
left as nv guardians and trustees my
mothers two brothers. Colonel Bull
strobe and Anstruther Bulstrode
Colonel Bulstrode, who had been in
the Indian staff corps. had retired the
year before my fathers death. and
taken this house. Il was with him
that / went to live, Richmond sEited
him. for he could spend the Gay at his
London club and yet be home in plenty
Of time for dinner.
MY Uncle AnstTuther was also an
He had been for MANY
years a planter in Cevlon. IT was on
The coloneTs advice that he took
house near us when he came home
this spring
II first met Mr.. Boyne last Christ
mas when we were skating on some
flooded meadows BY the Thames. He
IS lawyer. and. though he is doing
well. Is by no means rich man. Tn
fortunately. / am an heiress. Inspector
Grew
Il understand. Miss Sherrick''
Colonel Bulstrode expected me to
make what he called a first-rate mar
riage. Mr.. Boyne and ] had been en-
gagged for TWO weeks. and at last we
decided 20 tell the colonel. We xnew
there would be trouble. but there was
nothing to be gained by continued
postponement. MIR. Boyne made an,
appointment with him for l o'clock
today.
The morning seemed as if it zwere
never to end. As the hour approached
could wait IN my room no longer.
slipped out of a side door into -,
ipper garden. which lies at the further
'ide OF the house. | wandered about
er some time in great misery. When
heard the stable clock chime the
lalf-hour | started back to the house.
[ must have been decided between
hem one way or the other.
I had reached the drive and waz
salSis'- trp TO the front door when I
aw Cullen. the butler rome running
'ut Of tie MIlderneSs-as We call the