The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-04
CHAPTER xv.--contlnued.

iVor. Dundas has got into a mess
mere" Uncle Eric answered, looking
very much worrted-so much worried
that l thought he must care even more
about Iyor than had fancied
"Of course. it's the most awful rot"
said Lord Bob, but he's accused Of
murder"
t's in the evening papers; not
Word@had got into the morning ones.'
JINGLE Eric went on. We've only lust
| seen the news. since we came here 10
! walt for you; otherwise. should have
tried to do something for him. AS t
| is, OF course. ] must, as Il friend OF his.
| stop in Paris and do whatI can to help
| him through. But that needn't keep
the rest of you from going on to-day
as you planned"
What an awful thing!" exclaimed
Aunt LII. Il will stay. too. IL the girls
don't mind. Poor fellow! It NAV he
some comfort to him to feel that he
has friends on the spot, standing by
him. I've got thousands of engage
ments--we all haye-but shall tele-
]sgraph to everybody. What about you.
4 lord Bob?"
"lll stand by, with you, Lady Mount
! stuart said he his nice, though nor
4 very clever face, more anxious looking
than l had ever seen it. his blue Ma !
4 apart eyes watching me rather wlst-
i fully. ''Dundas and have never been
intimate. but he's a fine chap, and i've
always admired him. He's sure to come
i out Of this all right"
i Poor Lord Robert! / hadn't much
thought to give him; but dmly felt
i that his anxiety was concerned with
u me even more than with Ivor, of whom
no spoke SO kindly, though he had Of
ten showns signs OF jealousy in past
days.
j felt stunned, and almost dazed II
l.. Il. A
! lshould have been dumb, unable to an
swer: but nobody did speak, or seem
/ to think 1t strange that / had nothing
to say.
1T suppose you won't try to do
anything until after lunch, will you.
Mountstuart?" Lord Robert went on
, to ask.
"No, we must eat and talk things
| over" said Uncle Eric
We went into the restaurant, mov-
ing as II I were In dream. Ivor
: accused Of murder What had he done!
What could have happened?
But 1 was soon to know. AS soon
! as we We're seated at table. where
!. the lovely. fresh flowers seemed {
! mockery, Aunt Lii began asking ques
Q tions.
|, For some reasons, Uncle Eric appar.
! entity did not like answering, 1t was
almost as If he had had some kind Of
! previous knowledge Of the agar, OF
! which he didn't wish to speak. But
: suppose. it could not have been that
!, It was Lord Robert who told US
i nearly everything; and always / was
n conscious that he was watching me
8 wondering If this We're q cruel blow
I for me. asking himself IL he wer,
= speaking in tactful way OF one WHIT
!, had been his rival.
!. There was that engagement o
> Dundas's last night which he was JUS
: going to keep when we saw him..
said Lord Bob. carefully, but clumsily
TIN afraid there must have been some
. thing fishy about that-I mean. SOM
trap must have been laid to catch him
And it SENS. he wasn't supposed Y
he in Paris-though don't see wha
what that can have to do with the plot
(if there is one. He was stopping In TIL
hotel under another name. No doubt h
had some good reason, though. There
nothing sly about Dundas. II ever Their
= was plucky chap. he's one Anyhow
/ apparently, he wanted to get hold OF
man In Paris he couldn't find, for h
called last evening on detecttv
\ named Girard, rather well-known fel
low In his line, I believe. 1t almos
looks as If Dundas had made an enem
! OF him, for he's been giving evidenc
time about 1t, anyhow. Girard say
n he was following up the scent, track
\ ing down the person he'd been hire
by Dundas to hunt for, and had at las
f come to the house where he was lodg
u ing, when there he found Dundas5 him
Y self, ransacking the ROOM covered wit
" blood. and the chap Who was wanted
4 Lying dead on the floor. his body hard
~ oold,"A
n What time was all that?' inquire
4 Lisa sharply, It was the first ques
q ton she had asked.
between midnight and o'clock.
q think the papers said" answered Lor
N Bob, g3lgss NJ Y y. 5sNs i,a9
= wen. OF course. Ma all nonsense