Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-06-29
CHAPTER XIV.
a New Victim.

Good morning, Mr.. Ware!" ex-
claimed Miss Carney. as I made a
somewhat tardy appearance at the
breakfast table not long after my ar
raival at Carney-Croft IN acceptance
OF Mrs Randolphs invitation. What
report has the bold Nimrod to-day?
Are we to have game for dinner to-
morrow. sir?'
Not SO much as the report OF
gun" I replied. as ] dropped into my
seat Il only flushed one bird and no
few straight into foliage so dense that
I couldn't get a ghost OF a sight CT
him" -~-..-.
we don't mind, so long as we don't
get a sight Of a ghost some dark
night. do we. Nam" 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" 49,
You might save nay reputation. too.
II you would only remark casually. as
the game is served. that have been
out shooting every morning since /
came" suggested with a smile. Il
believe you are to have guests to
morrow"
Yes" she returned with provoking
gravity, but it's TO be the rector and
his wife l would do a great deal for
you. as you know. but in such highly
moral company you are asking too
much"
Speaking Of ghosts, MT. Ware"
said Miss Weston. whose assumption
Of interest and good spirits was scarce
ly In keeping with her wanly glistening
eyes AID the pale. emacisted. hectic ex.
preston Of her face. you seem 90 have
these Csrney-Croft wraiths most de-
cidedly under your control You have
laid them, in a word, haven't your"
There certainly have been no I'M
canny dolrrs since we've been here"
cried Miss Carney in bantering tone
Il don't really believe that Mr.. Ware
ever laid a ghost ia his life. my dear.
He has just been trying to tease US al
the umei"
II think DR.. MacArdei had more 20
do with IL than J." replied gravely.
"He engineered tho whole campaign
against them and Is entitled 10 all the
credit Of putting an end 20 their por-
tormances."
Did you say that a woman was the
leading spirit In all this mysterious az
fairy" asked Miss Weston, with inter
est.
Yes" I returned and a most mild
hammered woman, too. You never
would imagine that she could be cap.
able Of originating such a startling
plot Il really was quite exciting while
It lasted"
Il wonder II saw her the other
day" continued Miss Weston. WAS IL
the gentle-faced. motherly old soul
who lives in the new house over by
the orchardg"
The very one" I 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.
I assure you"
Why. what did she do that was so
tragic?" they exclaimed Ga a breath
and Miss Carney continued. reproving
ly: You couldn't have told us the
whole story. I'm sure. Please give us
the tragic part Of IL at once. Mr.
Ware"
Well" I said. thoughtfuny. Or
MacArdel put her through a course OF
spouts that made a strong. hearty man
faint away twice, and yet she never
said a word nor moved muscle"
How delightfully."- Interestingly" said
Miss Weston. Il should never have
dreamed from her appearance that
she had SO much fortitude What could
DR.. MacArdel have done that was so
thrilling?"
"Oh, he didn't do much" returned
''He just asked some questions about
the things that had been going on. but
he did II In a way that was very ef-
fective. We wanted to learn who wrote
the mysterious note that had receiv-
ed on the night Of my arrival We
found out that she did IL, but it was
only by chance and not through any
thing that she told us. II she had
been little more clever In delivering
the other ! am afraid we would be
~ SA@ Ntei n obNhN II yet
And so this Mrs Bruce really wrote
! them both, did she?" asked Miss IVES
ton, with continued interest. What a
horrible creature she must be-"
II don't believe she is exactly horri-
BILE" ] said. cautiously. but she GER
tainly wrote the second note. and who.
| ever wrote that one must have written
the first az we'll
Wouldn't 1t be interesting IL some
more would comet" cried Miss Yves
ton, enthusiastically. Il think Il
would be the greatest fun in the
wcrld!"
''You might change your mind II II
| really happened" l said with a smile
| These things are well enough after
they are explained, but before that
time. they strike one rather seriously,
as / know from experience"
We'll. I'd be willing to try It just
for once" said Miss Weston, conf,
IDENTIFY. I'm simply crazy to see what
a real good mystery is Ike at FIRST
4 hand"