Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-01

Strange as Fruin's story was, it was told in
way that made it impossible to dismiss it with a
sneer. Sir Hugh seemed to feel this seemed
too, to be angry with himself for feeling it.
"Your story" he said, "does not explain in
the least how the picture comes to be missing"
Turning to the other servants, he continued:
The picture has been removed by some one
within the Abbey, and not by any outsider; of
that am certain. If any of you has taken it,
ne had better confess at once, and 1 will over
look the offense, or rather 1 will inaict no other
punishment than that of dismissal from my SER
vice. 1 will give the guilty party, whoever he
may be, an hour to consider the matter. If at
the end OF that time confession be forthcom-
ing, will make thorough search of the Abbey
from end to end and from roof to basement for
am certain the picture must be concealed some
where within it. And I promise you whoever
shall be found to have taken it shall not be lem
iently dealt with. What's the matter with thai
girl?'
his last question was occasioned by the sinpu-
lar conduct of the little housemaid before men
toned who had SO evoked Angeles wrath. She
was staring at the artist, and had been staring
at him ever since his outburst, as though there
were some strange attraction in his face Several
times she had seemed the point if speaking
but had hestated if from fear. AT the Baro-
nets question, however, her emotion at last bub
pointed to the artist with her forefinger, and
cried:
That's him! that's him!'
Her arm dropped from horizontal to YER
teal position on receiving smart tap from the
housekeeper's hand.
"How dare you point in that rude fashion !?
Have you no manners? What do you mean?"
''Ihat's the face!" cried the grl-"the face in
the pictured"
"Oh, that's what you mean, is it?" said the
Baronet. "Yes, yes; we know that" And turn
ing to the artist, he explained the housemaidPs
words by saying: "She recognizes you to be the
Pompey of the picture"
"And there's the other face" cried the girl,
pointing at me.
This observation startled me. Surely the art
list had not adopted my features as the model for
the face of his Caesar.
Don't be stupid gir!' said Sir Hugh impa-
tiently. THE other face is no more like Mr..
Wizards than-yes, it is, though, now I come to
look deeply at you," he continued, regarding me
moment "There is faint resembance-not
much. The girl has quick eye. How she stares
at you, Angelo Upon my word" he said with
a grim smile II believe she thinks you have step
red out of the canvas. Don't stare so at Mr..
Nasar, girl. You must be out of your mind!"
"Ihen what's he laughing for, and staring at
me with his wicked eyes-frightening me sop
Jane" said the housekeeper, administering as
mild shaking the dignity of her position and
dare you make an exhibition of yourself in this
manner? I'll send you home to your mother this
very day! How dare you? You shall not stay
here another hour!'
cts mis- fault" cried the girl, rendered des
perate by fright. "He keeps staring at me and
smiling wickedly I won't be looked at like
that"
Her manner almost led one to believe that An
gelo mad been casting the "evil eye" upon her
and that the operation hurt. All looks were
turned towards him; but whatever popularity
his eyes may have displayed had quite vanished
now; they manifested only their usual quiet
dreamy expression.
"Ihe girl is mad" he said with scornfnl
air, "as your curiosity of butler who takes
the caterwauling of a tom-cat for the cry of
banshee"
Sir Hugh said nothing, but rubbed his hands
with the air of man who has arrived at sat
isfactory solution of some problem that has been
puzzling him.
Well, the picture gone, nor could it be
seen in any part of the gallery. The ladies ex-
pressed wish to retire, and, headed by the whis-
pering servants, we all withdrew.
| was the last to leave, lingering awhile to ex-
pore the recesses of the hall in the vain hope of
lighting the missing picture. On gaining The
drawing-room found Daphne alone.
"Oh, Frank, feel frightened" she said, re-
ferring to The incident of the missing picture, and
laying both her hands on my arm.
And l am not very easy in my mind" re-
turned l. "Silverdale seems mysterious
than Rivoli."
She was trembling like leaf She looked so
pretty and interesting in her grief that could
not resist the temptation of placing my arm
sympathizingly around her waist. She did not
resent the action. On the contrary, the new
light that sprang up in her eyes could only be
caused by one feeling.
Nov / had not intended to make love 70
Daphne for some weeks to come but the present
occasion was too tempting to be thrown away
Daphne" said I, II am going to let you into
a secret"
"a secret?" she repeated.
p 'Yes; you have always taken me into your con-
idences"-ths was scarcely true, but it served to
pave 5he way for what was to folow-"so 1 am
going to take you into nine"
paused to admire the look of mystiication in
her bright eyes.
what will you think" continued, speaking
very slowly and deliberately, ''when I say that
/ have fallen in love with one of the ladies here
at the Abbey?'
care you in earnest?" she asked, trembling all
over, and gently endeavoring to free herself from
my embrace.
$50 much so,' I replied gravely, chat I am
going TO propose to her this very day."
Daphne's tongue seemed frozen.
''Well," I said, "aren't you going to wish me
success?"
'"Tel me her name. Who is she?" she gasped
ST have her portrait here somewhere-ln
locket--that I'm going to give her as Christmas
gift" / replied with apparent unconcern, fumb
ling in my pockets for it; and while / was do
ing so Daphne contrived to withdraw from my
embrace.
drew forth the locket and handed it to her
II contained instead of portrait, tiny mirror
GCYou have made n mistake" she replied coldy