Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-11-26
4 SMILING VILLAIN.
CHAPTER XVI.

WHICH llIb SIbTl1IiS llFeQ. anu 1er gaze
was attracted to it by the presence Of q
cab, one of the antiquated GROWERS"
common to Caterham West, before the
door. As she watched she saw that some
luggage was being placed on the roof of
the cab, and struck by sudden thought,
she hurried down the road and made her
way to the ferry.
She had hardly reached the tollgate
when the cab drove up behind her, and
she stepped hastily behind shelter. from
which she saw Bertram cautiously emerge
from the cab. He was evidently going
away for some time. He was well wrap
ped up, and had drawn a muf1er round his
throat He looked wretchedly i'll. All
his vivid coloring was gone, and, as ne
handed the driver his fare, Moyra could
see that bis hand shook.
Moyra watched him ge down TO the
boat with a sinking heart. If only she
could follow him If only she could
make him speak But she was powerless
to act alone, so after eliciting from the
ferryman that most certainly Miss Bride
had not crossed by any of the morning
boats she turned homewards sadly, her
thoughts dwelling with curious persisten-
cy on Bertram's fight, for that, some in
stinct told her, 1t truly was. What had
Bride to do with il?
She was so deep in thought that she
ran into a telegraph boy as she drew
near the Rectory. Instantly all thoughts
save those Of Bride were banished. She
ran across the grass to the school room
window, through which she could see the
family gathered in an excited group. A
resounding whoop from Terry greeted
her as she unfastened the window and
helped her across the sill.
What is il? What is itY she gaPed,
looking from one face to another, and al
most snatching the telegram from Aliens
hand. 1t was from Prof Lewiston and
had been sent from birmingham.
Miss B. will arrive in Caterham at
4 80. Shall travel with her.-Lewisson."
What does it meant" Moyra asked,
and Aileen began to laugh in manner
that vereed on the hysterical
ut means that Bride is the most sensi-
BILE of the lot of u.s." she gasped. II am
beginning to see daylight"
1t seemed very long and tedious to the
impatient Beresfords-waiting until the
daylight hours should bring Brides re-
turn, but relieved from the great uncer-
tainty Of her whereabouts, their spirits
rose rapidly. and it needed the sight of
Mr.. Fenton and Billy driving up the ave
rue to remind them that the jewel rob-
berry still covered them with its shadow.
but when Bride returns l feel sure
she will tell everything she knows.
am certain the professor will counsel her
to do So" Aileen said to her father.
Moyra was not quite so sanguine as
the others with regard to Brides return
and the solution of the mystery. Only
Angus presence could satisfy her, and she
remembered the letter she had written in
the early morning and which still remain
ed in her pocket. AS soon as she had
an opportunity she would post it. But it
was not until after luncheon that she
had the opportunity. The Fentons called,
father and son, and to them the whole
story of Brides fight and her impending
return had to be told. The Fentons had
little or nothing to add in the way Of
news connected with the jewel robbery.
The police declared that they had
found an important clue; man who was
unknown to any one in Caterham West
hou plth stay ing bOulc udyS III Lne
village, and had been seen lurking round
the two houses on the night of the dance,
and had not been seen since
From the description. the police de-
tectives think he is well-known charac-
ter to them, and has been concerned In
great many similar robberies-that he Is
one of big gang of such scoundrels that
has its headquarters IN America" the
elder Fenton said, happily without motto
ing Moyra's uncomfortable confusion.
She was very thankful when they took
their leave, and she was able to slip away
feeling that she hal not betrayed herself.
The bright morning had changed to dull,
foggy afternoon. and no one noticed her
as she sped down the avenue to the
postofice. She had the letter in her hand
In another second Ii would have left her
keeping, when out of the gloom and gray
ness doomed two figures preternaturally
large and broad in the deceptive light. As
they drew near one Of them laughed, and
at the sound Moyra's heart seemed to
stand still.
Angus" she exclaimed, and the big.
ger figure stopped abruptly and with an
exclamation caught her outstretched
hands in his. His close, warm grip, the
sight Of his honest face, the look and
tone In his eyes and voice were too much
for OverUrousht Moyra- and she broke
into passion of tears Her fingers clos
L