The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1907-11-08
Alive or Dead?';
The Strange Disappearance of
Gerald Rathbone.
CHAPTER XVII. (C%ontinued.)
BY GUY THoRN8.

With great effort Of control Marjorie
began her story.
1T was very late when we got home
last night after the party" she said.
Il was in a curious state of nerves
n excitement. l must touch upon a
personal matter-this is no time for
r%eticence Or false shame. l had been
with Sir William Gouldesbrough. You
know that W. were at one time en-
gaged-oh, this is horribly difficult for
me to say, Mr.. Megbie."
GO on, Miss Poole. l know, I know.
But what does 1t matter at such a time
as this?
Nothing at ALL" she answered, in a
resolute voice. II was engaged to Sir
William when I found that my affec-
ton was going elsewhere. Gerald,
Mr.. Rathbone-"
You needn't go into the past, Miss
Poole Donald broke in; tell me
about last night"
II was with Sir William at supper
time. There was a remarkable scene.
1t was a sort Of triumph for him, and,
as | was with him, every one included
me in it. 1t was, obviously, general
ly assumed that we had become en-
gagged once more. On the way home
Sir William again asked me to be his
wife. l told him that l could not give
him an answer then. said that I
would tell him tonight. He is coming
to CurZon street tonight.
Il beg you, I implore you, to watt"
Megbie's words were SO grave, he
seemed SO terribly in earnest, that the
girl shrank from them as one would
shrink from blows.
The same thought began to Turk in
the eyes of the woman and the man
the same incredible, and yet frightful
thought. "a"
Marjorie's cheeks were almost gray
in color. To Megbie, as he watched
her. she seemed to have grown older
suddenly. The lustsr seemed to have
gone out of her hair.
9" cached home," she said. Moth
er made me take a cup Of beef tea.
and l went to my room. I was prepar-
ing for bed-indeed, l was brushing
my hair before the mirror-when a
curious sense of disturbance and al
most Of fear came yer me. l felt as
if there was another presence in the
room Now, my looking glass is a
very large one indeed; it commands
the whole of the room. The whole Of
the oom is reflected in it without
any part left out, except, of course,
those parts which I could see where
I sat. When this strange feeling OF
another presence came over me, l
thought it was merely reaction after a
terribly exciting night. l looked into
the glass and saw hat the room was
absolutely empty. Still the sensation
grew. 1t became SO strong at last
that I turned round, and there, Mr..
Negbie-I tell you in the utmost be-
ty-there, though the mirror showed
nothing at all, a figure was standing
the figure of a man. It was not three
feet away"
Megbie broke in upon her narrative.
The figure" he said, In a hushed
voice. was the figure of Mr.. Eustace
Charliewood, who shot himself at
Brighton some little time ago."
She cried out aloud, yes; but how
did you know"
"He came to me also last night. He
came to me out of the other world
which is all round us, but which we
cannot see. He was trying to tell me
something about Gerald Rathbone."
Margorie Pool began to sob quietly.
II knew it." she answered. "Mr.
Charliewood In another state see
more than we see. He knows where
Gerald is. Oh, my love, my love!"
Megbie went up to her. He had
some sal volatile in his dressing case,
and he made her take it.
BE brave" he said. "You have
more to tell me yet, as I have more
to tell you. Gerald Is alive. We are
certain OF that. But he is in some
ones power. The spirit Of this man
Eustace Charliewood knows where he
is. He is trying to tell us. He is try.
ing to make amends for something.
He must have had something to do
with Gerald's disappearance"
"Mr. Charliewood," Marjorie said, In
q whisper, was Sir William Gouldes-
brough's intimate friend. He was al
ways about the house,"
when Gerald Rathbone disappear
ed Eustace C~harliewood killed him.
SELF"
"Sir William was at Brighton at the
time. He was trying to help me and
my mother to find Gerald"
go on with your story II you can.
Megbie said. "One more ehort!"
II knew that the figure was trying
to tell me about Gerald. Something
told me that with absolute certainty.
But it couldn't tell me. It began to
weep and wiring its hands. Oh, 1t was
pitiful! Then suddenly It seemed to
realize that it was no use. It stood
upright and rigid, and fixed its eyes
upon me. MI. Megbie, such mournful
eyes-eyes so full Of sorrow and terri.
h1o rom0rSo-wero uovnr In a human