The Washington herald., 1907-05-05

ton Terrace that he used to know. a new
pavement in Sheffield street. and new
factory in John street. OldcastIe had
grown. after all. Priddeaux's Iron Works
were bigger aud surely biacker than they
used to be, and the chemical manufac-
tory surely poured out a bigger food Of
yeliowish green water than it used to
dog
one or two houses that he remembered
were shut up. or pulled down, and one
in particular had vanished altogether. He
stood dumb and stupahed before it,
Where it had stood there WAS now a row
Of shops. and the space beyond that
had once been "a meadow and orchard
held brand new villas of bright brick and
slate and art tiles.
He turned slowly On the ether side
Of the road things We're not so changed.
an old house, dull red, with a long
sweep of steps and green shutters, at
tracted his attention That surely had
not altered? II was just the same As IL
had been eight years ago. 1t was there
Jackson, the lawyer, had lived. He had
been d friend Of the Lancasters. d visitor
at the castle. It was he who had given
him the final push out Of Oldcastle eight
years ago!
Geoffrey stood irresolute. Jackson would
be an old man by now and might not
recognize him. Even eight years ago his
sight had been bad He must. somehow
or other, find out what had become OF
Hetty, and old Jackson would be able TO
give him information better than any
one.
He crossed the road hurriedly. and an
instant later had raped sharply on the
finely polished brass knocker. and a little
later stilI found himself in a familiar
room that was one Of the things that had
not changed
He had to wait a little while; then a
young clerk ushered him into another
familiar room
Before an oid-fashioned table sat Jack
son. the lawyer. just as he had sat eight
years ago-just as he would 90 on sit
ting to the day Of his death. He was Old
er. feebler. binder than he had been
when Geoffrey had seen him last, and
biinked at him through thick glasses,
without recognition.
"Mr-er-Waring? he asked. Geof-
frey nodded
Il called to ask" he said Ii you could
tell me anything about the whereabouts
Of 1Ir. Lancaster. who had a church
here. and OF his daughter, He-ty Ian
caster"
The lawyer leaned back in his chair
and planted his elbows on the arms.
Mr.. lancaster" he said. HE died
some years ago-died rather suddenly
very suddenly-aimost mysteriousIy. in
fact"
"Deadr' cried Godfrey. hoarsely, land
his daughter
4ir- Jackson pursed his lips. then slow.
ly shook his head. and looked az GeOf-
frey, with sudden curiosity
His daughter disappeared. % he said
she went two days before old MI Ian
caster was discovered dead in the empty
house Ii was rather strange. There
were mysterious circumstances which
were never cleared up. and. although
there was a verdict of death from natur-
al causes. and IL all seemed straight
enough. stll there were some people who
said-who whispered that his daughter
ought 80 be found. The doctors were sat.
isfed. but lawyers are sometimes sus
piciOus Mr.-cr-Waring"
Godfrey half-started 10 his feet. anC
then sank back in hts chair. lie clench
ed his hands and leaned forward.
"What-what-coUid they suspect" b,
asked. hoarsely-
The lawyer. old and talkative. Joined
the tips OF his fingers together and pro
Ceeded TO revive an interesting scandal
And Geonrey. white Of face, with desper
ate eyes dxed on the old man, saw moth
ing. for "a girls face that rose persistently
continually determiRedly between them.
He leaned forward. and. slowly, stead
ily the old mans words beat al hi.
heart and his brain: and TWO gradually
detached themselves from the others, and
went round and round in his head unit
he seemed 10 r. going mad.
They were "Hetty" and ''murderess."
Godfrey felt cold, stified. The lawyer
face, gray and lifeless like a bit Of hi.
own parchment. seemed unnaturally stiu
Tell me what you mean.' Geonrel
cried.
Perhaps the lawyer did not know. Per