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

among the mysterious craft at sea.
Chatter was missing, while Horribly
was abroad. Perhaps they were both
cruising again, with their yacht re-
painted and bearing fresh name. But
whyi What had been their motiveI
Stirred by the complete mystery which
now seemed to enshroud the unfortunate
girl, set before myself the task of eluci-
dating it. Hitherto had remained pas
sive rather than active, but now real
lied by that curious letter that at least
one woman's life was at stake-that
Elma Heath was in possession of some
secret.
On leaving Leghorn I had given up all
hope of tracing the mysterious yachts
man, and had left the matter in the
hands of the Italian police. But, with
out any effort on my own part, seemed
to have been drawn into a veritable net
work of strange incidents, all of which
combined to form the most complete and
remarkable enigma ever presented in life.
Surely no man was ever confronted by
80 many mysteries at one time as was
at this moment.
Fortunately had been careful not to
show my hand to anyone, and this per-
haps gave me a distinct advantage. On
my journey back to London, as the train
swung through Peterborough and out
across the rich level lands towards Hit
chin, recollected Jack Durnford's
words when / had mentioned the Lola.
What, | wondered, did he know
Next month, in November, he was due
back in London after his three years
service on the Mediterranean station
Then we should meet in a few weeks !
hoped Would he tell me anything when
he became aware of all I knew? He
held some secret knowledge. Was il
possible that his secret was the same as
that held by the unfortunate girl in far.
off, dreary Finland2
called at the house in Cork Street
indicated by Elma, and learned from the
old commissionaire who acted as lift.
man and porter, that Mr.. Woodroffe's
chambers were closed.
"'E's nearly always away, sir-abroad
| think" was all I could get out of the
old soldier, who, like his class, was nc
doubt we'll paid to keep his mouth
closed.
For two days I lounged about West
bourne Grove watching Ferrari's res
taurant. In such busy, busting thor
oughfare, with so many shop windows
as excuses for lettering, the task was
easy. l saw that Olinto came regularly
at ten o'clock in the morning, worked
hard all day, and left at nine o'clock al
night, taking an omnibus home from
Royal Oak. His exterior was calm and
unconcerned, unlike that of man whose
devoted wife had disappeared.
, would have approached him and ex
planned the CHASTITY truth, had it not
been for the fact that the poor woman's
body was missing.
Those September days were full Of
anxiety for me. Alone and unaided
was trying to solve one of the greatest
of problems, plunged as I was in YER
liable sea of mystery. I wanted to SEE
Muriel Leithcourt, and to question hei
further regarding Elma Heath. There
fore again I left Euston, and, travelling
through the night, took my seat at the
breakfast table at Greenlaw next morn
ing.
Sir George, who was sitting alone
it not being my aunt's habit to appear
early-welcomed me, and then in his
bluff manner shifted and exclaimed:
"Nice goings on up at Rannoch! Have
you heard of themp
mo. Whati" I cried breathlessly
staring at him,
swell, my suspicious that those Leith
courts were utter outsiders turns out tc
be about correct"
"Whyp
"Well, it's a very funny story, and
there are dozen different distorted YER
sions of it," he said. "But from what
can gather the true facts are these
About seven o'clock the night before last
as Leithcourt and his house-party were