Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-23

CHAPTER XII.
A Raw of Light.
fCepyrisAt. 1907. r. J. McBride 4 so.1

CHAPTER XII.
A Ray of Light.
| 1t was no difficult matter to find Mrs
Delahay. who when the late startling de.
velopments were laid before her. made
no demur in giving her sisters address
Maria Delahay was looking just as pale
and haggard as usual. 1t seemed impos-
sible to rouse her from the state of apa-
thy into which she had fallen. When the
two friends were standing on the steps OF
the hotel they ran against Inspector
Dallas
| ANY fresh news?" Walter asked.
| We'll. no." Dallas admitted. Il am
| simply waiting on events at present. II
you could only get Mrs. Delahay to be
more candid with me 1t might save her q
deal OF unpleasantness in the long rum"
DO you mean that she is in danger"
| Venables asked
| Il think you can see that for yourself,
SIR Dallas replied. Naturally. 1 am
| hesitating as long as possible
Then hesitate a little longer" Walter
said quite by accident Lord Raven
spur has stumbled upon clue which I
think will astonish you when you come
to know his story. We are going OFF now
| to a place called Cannon Green. We
shall probably be back by the last train
| tonight. and l want you to meet us at
| Waterloo station. I think you will be
we'll rewarded for your trouble
Dallas promised. and. like the wise man
! he was, asked no questions The two
| companions proceeded in cab to Isle
worth road. where they asked to see the
mistress Of the house. The maid who an
swered the door was somewhat reticent.
but she admitted that her mistress was
at home, whereupon Walter and his COM
panfOn entered without further ceremony.
Perhaps their manner impressed the maid
for she came back a moment later saying
that her mistress would see the visitors
The countess entered the drawing room
and glanced with cold displeasure at the
intruders
What can you possibly want with me?"
she demanded.
Perhaps 1 had better explain Walter
began. My name Is Lance and I am
nephew of Lord Ravenspur. Lord Raven
spur has a ward who is called Miss Vera
Rayne. In other words. l understand
that Miss Rayhe is really your daughter"
The countess cold face flushed slightly
Il am not prepared to contradict YOU"
she said.
My dear madam Walter said. this
Is no time for diplomacy. Rightly or
wrongly my uncle came to Italy eighteen
years ago and kidnapped your daughter
You see, 1 am quite candid. and | hope
you will be good enough TO be as candid
in your replies My uncle will himself
explain why he took this bold step. but
understand that your late husband did not
consider you desirable parent for
child. and he made my uncle promise to
remove the child from your influence.
Into the morality of that question / am
not disposed to go. For nearly eighteen
years nothing happened. and my uncle be-
gan to regard Vera quite as his own child.
Then the truth came out. and some ennis
Sary of yours came to England prepared
to go to any length to regain possession
of your daughter. l need not say l am
abiding to the man called Silva, also
known to many people as Waldo, the fly
ing man. This servant OF yours made no
fewer than three attacks my uncle's
life. none of which. fortunately. was sue
cessful. And then. I understand. you
came on the scene. L believe you were
instrumental in Turing your daughter
from Lady Ringmars the night before
last. and getting her imprisoned at
place called Cannon Green. One moment,
please. l would not deny it, If l were
you"
II am not going to deny it, the countess
said in hard, dry voice. There is no
occasion to-
'Ah. well. that being so, we shall get
on all the better Directly We discovered
what had happened we set off in pursuit
fortunately aided by a bloodhound of my
uHcic 81 VINO IdQ IOllOWeO us TO Lady
Ringmars from Park lane. To make
long story short, we broke into the house
and Miss Rayne is once more under the
protection of Lord Ravenspur. But your
man, Silva, does not lack resource, and
he managed to drug me and drag me out
into the garden. Unfortunately for him.
the dog was proving about and. know
ing me and recognizing my peril. he
made furious attack upon Silva, with
the result that your friend lies in a criti-
cal condition and is not expected to live
After what l have told you, | think you
will see the necessity of coming down to
Cannon Green with us without delay"
During this recital the countess made
no sign. She listened with a calmness
and unconcern which moved Walter to
anger. After all, whatever Silva's faults
might have been. his devotion to his mis-
tress left nothing to be desired. The
countess sat thoughtfully for few mo-
| ments before she replied.
Il think | see what you mean" she said
presently. You want as far as possible
to avoid a scandal?''
We'll. naturally Walter said warmly
In your daughters interests it is your
duty to assist us. If you fall in line with
this idea the general public will be none
the wiser And when you come to know
what manner of man 1t Is that your
servant has been attempting TO murder in
absolutely cold blood
oh, l know what manner of man he
is" the countess cried. He is the same
| manner Of man as my husband. And a
more cold-bloOded scoundrel never drew
the breath of life. But make no mistake
about one thing-I was party to no vio-
lence. All l wanted was to have my child
back again. and l hoped that when once
this was done | should be able to induce
Silva to forego the vengeance which to
him was a part of his religion. You will
understand presently why l have ap-
peared to act so strangely. Not but what
Lord Ravenspur deserved whatever fate
he got at the hands of Silva Still. we
are wasting time In talking like this
am ready to come with you to Cannon
Green at once. more especially because
you are right In saying that it is my duty
| to try and avoid anything in the shape of
scandal. If you will give me five min
utes and call cab l am absolutely at
| your service"
| 1t was a little before five when this
| strangely assorted group reached Cannon
Green. The doctor was just coming away
and Walter asked eagerly after the pa
tent.
"Oh, practically he is no better" the
| medical man explained Il mean he isn't
going to get we'll Just for the present
| he is buoyed up with a strong stimulant
and is in full possession of his faculties.
| He seems to want something, but I can't
| make out what it is. We gave him a
sheet of paper and a pencil just now, and
| he scrubbed word or two which he{pO