The Washington herald., 1908-04-08
CHAPTER Xiv.
Tells of a Dissemination.

wash and dress.
few moments later Green came IN,
saying;
Mr.. Barclay left town five days ago, |
sir He's up at Kilmaronock
His master made no reply for some
moments Then at last he said:
Pack my suitcase, and phone TO
Euston to reserve me seat to Perth on
the ten-nve tomorrow morning"
Yes sir
And to everybody except my sister. if
she calls. you don't know where I've gone
you understand"
Perfectly. sir"
And the man set about packing up hts
masters traps.
You may as well put in a dinner-coat
Max may have friends" Rolfe said.
''Very we'll. sir"
His master dressed quickly and went
alone TO the club for late iinner. Most
OF his friends were away .hooting, there
fore he idled alone for an hour over the
paper, then returned TO his chambers.
Next morning he scrt3bled a hasty note
to Mr.. Statham. max 1g an excuse for
his sudden absence, ana directly after ten
was seated in the Scotch express travelling
out Of London
At eight that evening he stepped out
upon the big, dark station at Perth, sent
a telegram 10 the Crown Inn at Kilmar-
onOck village foc a machine, as a fly IS
called, and then took the slow branch
line that runs BY CTieff and skirts Loeb
Earn TO the head OF Glen Ogle, where lay
the old castle and fine shooting Of which
Max Barclay was pOssessor,
drive of three miles on the road be-
side Loeb Voi brought him to the lodge
gates, and then another mile up through
the park he came to the great portico of
the castle
1t was nearly midnight Lights were
still In the blliard-room of the fine old
castellated mansion. which Maxs father
had modernizsd and rendered so comfort
able, and when Charlie rang Burton, the
butler, could not suppress an exclamation
OF surprise.
In a few moments, however, Charlie
burst into the room where Max and FIVE
other men were playing smoker be-
fore retiring.
The hosts surprise was great, but the
visitor received a hearty welcome, and
an hour later, when the guests had gone
70 their rooms, the two friends stood
alone together in the long old-fashioned
draWing-room which, without a wOman's
artistic hand TO keep things in order, was
rapidly going TO decay.
A big wood fire blaZed cheerfully in the
wide old-fashioned CRATE, for October
evenings in the Highlands are damp and
chill, and as the two men stood before It
they looked at one another both hesitat-
ing 10 speak.
Across Charles mind flashed those sus-
picions which had oppressed him in Bel
grade Was the man before him his
enemy or his friend?
Well" he blurted forth, I've come
straight up TO see you, Max only ar
rived home last night. / want 20 see
you concerning Marion"
His companions lips hardened
Marion" he exclaimed Il have done
all I can I've left no effort untried
have sought the aid OF the best confden-
tial inquiry agency in London, and all
10 no avail she's disappeared-as COM
pletely as Maud has done.'
Yes, I know" replied her brother,
thrusting his hands deep into the trou-
seTs pockets Of his blue serge travelling
suit, I've seen Statham.'
And so have l. He wrote 70 Cum
ningtons, but the latter has not replied.
saw Cunnington myself
And what did he say?'
THE fellow refuse1 20 say anything,
he replied in a hard tone.
Silence again fell between the pair.
The long old-fashioned room, with its
blue china its chintz coverings, it's grand
piano. and its bowls OF autumn roses
though full Of quaint charm, was weird
and unsuited to the home of a bachelor
Indeed, KimaTonOck was a white eie-
phant to Max. He received a fair rental
from the farms on the estate. but he
never went near the place except for
sport for six weeks or SO each autumn
The old place possessed some bitter mem
ories for him, for his mother had died
there quite suddenly of heart disease or
the night of a large dinner party. He
was only eighteen then, but he remem-
bered it too we'll 1t was that tragic
memory which had caused him tc
abandon the place except when he in
vited a few of his friends TO shoot over
the estate.
Let's go into my own room TO talk.
he suggested. It's more coy there" AS
man hates all drawing rooms, so
did Max Barclay detest his. II was for
him full Of recolleetons of his dear dead
mother.
And so they passed along the corridor
20 Max's own little den in the east wing
Of the house, a pleasant little room over
looking the deep shady glen from whence
rose the constant music of the ever-rip-
pling burn.
As Charlie sank into the big armchair
near the fire Max pushed the cigar box
toward him. Then he seated himself
saying:
Now, old fellow, what are we to dol
Marion must be found
she must. But you've failed, you
say?"
Utterly he sighed. "she was dis
charged from Cunnington s-disgraced!"
"Why?"
Max shrugged his shoulders. Both meH
knew we'll that the reason of the girls
disappearance was the shame OF her
dismissal Both men knew also that by
lifting his finger Sam Statham could have
reinstated her-oF could at least have had
inquiry made as 70 the truth OF what
had really occurred.
But he had refused. Therefore both
were indignant and angry. During the
next half hour they discussed the matter
fully and seriously. and were agreed upor
one main point, that Statham had acted
against them both ia refusing his aid tc
clear the unfortunate girl
Whatever fault she has committed.
declared Max. the truth should be told
I went to him acknowledging my love
for her and beseeching his aid. And yet
he has refused"
Then let Us combine. Max, in trying
10 discover the truth" her brother sug-
gested. Marion shall not be cast aside
into oblivion % these drapery capitalists
who gain fat profits upon the labor and
lives of women"
"You may imperil your position with
Statham If you act without discretion. -
remarked Max warningly.
I shall do nothing without fun con-
sideraton, depend upon it. Statham re-