Barton County democrat., 1907-07-12
CHAPTER XIV.
A New Victim,

A New Victim.
Good morning, Mr.. Ware!" ex.
claimed Miss Carney, as l made q
somewhat tardy appearance at the
breakfast table not long after my ar
raival at Carney Croft in acceptance
Of Mrs Randolph's invitation. What
report has the bold Nimrod to-day?
Are we to have game for dinner to
morrow, sirE
mot 80 much as the report Of
gun" replied, as dropped into ny
seat. q only flushed one bird and hs
Aew straight into foliage 50 dense that
! couldn't get ghost Of a sight ON
him"
I'VE don't mind, so long as we don't
get a sight of ghost some dark
night, do we, Nan?" laughed Miss
Carney. Besides I've ordered some
partridges from town and we won't be
disappointed in our dinner, either!
., You should be very grateful to me for
saving the day for you, sir"
"You might save my reputation, too,
II you would only remark casually, as
the game is served, that | have been
out shooting every morning since
came" | suggested with smile. 'T
believe you are to have guests to-
morrow"
"Yes," she returned with provoking
gravity, but it's to be the rector and
his wife. | would do great deal for
you, as you know, but in such highly
moral company you are asking too
much"
Speaking of ghosts, Mr.. Ware"
a said Miss Weston, whose assumption
Of interest and good spirits was scarce
] ly in keeping with her wanly glistening
eyes and the pale, emaciated, hectic eX.
preston of her face, you seem to have
these Carney-Croft wraiths most de-
oldedly under your control. You have
laid them, in a word, haven't you?"
There certainly have been no un-
canny doings since we've been here"
cried Miss Carney in bantering tone.
II don't really believe that Mr.. Ware
ever laid a ghost in his life, my dear.
He has just been trying to tease us all
the time!"
81 think DR.. MacArdel had more to
do with it than l." l replied gravely.
HE engineered the whole campaign
against them and is entitled to all the
credit of putting an end to their per.
formances."
Did you say that woman was the
leading spirit in all this mysterious af-
fair?" asked Miss Weston, with inter.
est.
Yes" | returned "and most mild
hammered woman, too. You never
would imagine that she could be cap.
able of originating such a startling
plot 1t really was quite exciting while
1t lasted"
Il wonder If l saw her the other
day" continued Miss Weston. WAS it
the gentle-faced, motherly old soul
who lives in the new house over by
the orchard%
The very one" | replied, laughing
And this same motherly old soul, as
you call her, can be as self-contained
and tragic as you please when occasion
requires She ought to be on the stage,
! assure you"
why, what did she do that was so
tragic? they exclaimed in a breath,
and Miss Carney continued, reproving.
1y: You couldn't have told us the
whole story, I'm sure. Please give us
the tragic part Of it at once, Mr..
Ware"
We'll" l said, thoughtfully. Or
MacArdel put her through course Of
spouts that made strong, hearty man
faint away twice, and yet she never
said a word nor moved a muscle"
How delightfully."- interesting!" said
Miss Weston. 81 should never have
dreamed from her appearance that
she had so much fortitude. What could
. DR.. MacArdel have done that was so
thrilling?"
Q oh, he didn't do much" returned.
He just asked some questions about
the things that had been going on, but
he did it in way that was very ef.
fective. We wanted to learn who wrote
the mysterious note that l had receiv.
ed on the night of my arrival. We
found out that she did it, but it was
only by chance and not through any
thing that she told u.s. If she had
been little more clever in delivering
the other l am afraid we would be
sen the dark about it yet"
And so this Mrs. Bruce really wrote
them both, did she?" asked Miss Yves.
ton, with continued interest. What a
horrible creature she must be-"
. 81 don't believe she is exactly horri.
s pie said, cautiously, "but she Ger.
tainy wrote the second note, and who.
eyerswrote that one must have written
The, first as well"
Q Wouldn't it be interesting if some
more would GOMEZ" cried Miss Yves.
ton, enthusiastically. Il think It
would be the greatest fun in the
world"
"Yon might change your mind If it
really happened" l said with smile.
These things are well enough after
fhnV ara oYnloinod hut hofo.o A..