Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-11-19
CHAPTER xxIy.-fContInued.,

"a, and they had both been very anxious
to see all they could of the ball from
which they been debarred. For a long
time they had watched the lights through
the trees from the drawing room window.
but it had been very unsatisfactory, and
In the end Delda, the more daring, had
persuaded Vera to go into the garden ana
watch az closer quarters. Moyra caught
her breath as she listened. She guessed
that they must have followed Miss frlor
round the house. although each had oeen
ignorant of the others proximity.
1T was just about supper-lme we
went .cross." Delda went on breathlessly, |
"for there was nobody dancing nor any
musjc sounding, and the hall was quite
deserted We walked right in-didn't |
we, Vera a-and nobody saw Us, so 1t isn't
wonder thieves did the same 1t was
while we were in the hall we heard some
body crossing the upstairs corridor, so we
ran away into the portico, but 1t was no
one, only just Bertram, who went OF to
the supper-room, L think"
mo, he didn't, Delda, because
"Oh, yes, of course l remember now,
because we went round to the side OF the
house and peeped through the conserva-
tory glass to see what was going on there
They'd started dancing again, and we
could hear the music beautifully. Oh, IT
was tantalizingl And wasn't 1t then,
Vera, that She looked at her fell
low-culprit, who took up the tale Instant
ly.
Yes, / was staring In right against
the glass ia the door that leads into the
garden, and all of sudden somebody's
eyes looked right into mine from the
other side. oh, was frightenedv y
''She shrieked and jumped back, and l
saw that it was Bertram who was look
ing ont. OF course we thought he had
seen US, and we just flew. But just as we
got inside the shrubbery Vera must eeds
get stitch, so we had to stop until she
was all right, and while we were waiting"
dropping her voice mysteriously-"w
saw somebody come out of the darkness
just by the orchid-house and cut away
across the side lawn TO the avenue and
then about three minutes later we saw
we really did, Moyra-we saw Angus.
Nonsense !" Moyra said, her lips grow
ing stiff and cold.
But the girls protested in the truth of
their statement.
"He came out of the shrubbery, as If
he had been hiding there, and walked
after the man who had gone to the ave-
nue.. We saw him distinctly. He was in
evening dress and had that fur-lined coat
on. We both knew him at once"
Moyra sat silent. This terrible cor
roboration Of Miss Priors assertion near
ly overwhelmed her. OF only one thing
she was conscious. She must let no one
else suspect what she already knew. She
counselled the girls to be silent, and to
say nothing more unless they were abso-
lutely obliged, and she read them an un-
usually severe lecture on their naughti-
ness.
You sec. If you had done what you
were told, and gone to bed, you would
not have got mixed up in what did not
concern you. hope 1t will be a lesson
TO you both"--a reproof which Delds
took in good part.
But Moyra's little efforts to stem the
tide of vague suspicion that seemed tend
ing in one direction were unavailing. Even
as she sat with the girls the sound of
voices announced the Rector's return, and
a few minutes later Hammond appeared
with a message that Miss Beresford was
wanted in the study.
Moyra obeyed the summons with a lit
tie shudder; there was a fatality con-
nected with tina. room. Once before had
she gone there to learn the shadow that
had fallen on her path. Was she again to
hear of deceived love, of faith and honour
betrayed?
But il is not true, no matter how
strong appearances are against him. |
cannot but believe he is honorable and
honest" she told herself with the bitter
ness of despair.
In the study she found the two Fen
tons, Terry. keen-eyed, alert-looking
man, whom she guessed to be a detective,
and her father. They all looked very
grave, but Terry and Billy looked also
indignant. Moyra fancied. 1t was her
fathrr who spoke first.
"Moyra, we have sent for you to settle
a point of dispute. Do You know whose
writing this is? Have you ever seen it
before?"
He laid an envelope before her. The
rising color in her cheeks showed that
Moyra at once recognized the handwrit-
ing.
81 believe it is Mr.. Robertson's writ
Ing" she answered very quietly.
And thisI"
The Rector laid folded sheet of paper
before her. Moyra looked at it, and
then raised her eyes to her fathers.
Il should say ii was the same"
Terry uttered an impatient exclama-
ton, and B1ly leaned forward eagerly.
THAT letter might easily have been
g.
a window or something like that" he be-
gan.
The detective turned on him quickly.
''rhe post-mark on it shows that it ar
rived in London on Monday, sir" he said
decisively "No-there can be no doubt
that Mr.. Angus Robertson was lurking
about the house last night. and IL is
greatly to be feared that he is impli-
Gated in the jewel robbery. The proved
facts are as fellows. He was seen on the
ten O'Clock boat coming from Caterham
By several people, who also allege that
he seemed anxious TO avoid observation.
He was recognized by two or more per
sons as he walked from the ferry in this
direction. and a Miss Prior'-rsferrinS
to his notes-'has given information that
she saw him crossing the lawn between
the two houses shortly before eleven. Evil
deuce of his presence is proved By this
letter addressed TO him, and apparently
written by his father. which has been
found In the shruhberies'
"But supposing he was here" Billy
said argumentatively. lit doesn't prove
hat he came 10 nab my fathers jewels. At
that rate you could say / was implicated
because, while l was upstairs. apparently
changing my collar. / might presumably
have been forcing the pater's stronghold"
The whole thing is absurd"
The strongest evidence lies in this
letter" the detective continued. as II Billy
had not spoken at runs as follows:
MY dear son-What a slow coach
you are, Had 1 been on the spot the
whole business would have been over and
done with months ago. Why don't you