The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-09-14
CHAPTER XII.
An Accident

4
afternoon, and Grooton was busy
in the room behind, preparing my
tea.
THE prince did not care to shoot
today" Lady Angela explained,
land have been showing him the
neighborhood. Incidentally, / am
dying for some tea, and the prince
has smoked all his cigarets."
The prince raised his hand in po-
lite expostulation, but accepted a
cigaret with a little sigh of rlief.
you have found very lonely
spot for your dwelling house, Mr..
Ducaine," he said. You English
are SO fond of solitude"
ut suits me very we'll" ! an
swered, "for just now l have a
great deal of work to do. I am
safely away from all distractions
here"
Lady Angela smiled at me.
mot quite so sole, perhaps, Mr..
Ducaine, as you fondly imagined"
she remarked. Il am afraid that we
disturbed you. You look awfully
busy"
She glanced towards my writing
table. 1t was covered with papers,
and map of the southern counties
leaned up against the wall. The
prince also was glancing curiously
in the same direction.
II have finished my work for the
day." l said, rising. IF you will
permit me, l will put it away"
Grooton brought in tea. The
prince was politely curious as to
the subject matter of those closely
written sheets of paper.
"You are perhaps interested In
literature, Mr.. Ducaine." he re-
marked
Immensely" I answered, wav-
ing my hand toward the book
shelves.
But you yourself--you no doubt
writer"
"Oh, one tries" answered, pour
ing out the tea.
1T may be permitted then to
wish you success he remarked,
dryly.
You are very good" answered.
They rose almost Immediately
afterward.
"You are coming up to the house
this evening. Mr.. Ducaine?' Lady
Angela asked.
Il am due there now" l answer
ed. "If you will allow me, l will
walk back with YOU"
The prince touched my arm as
Lady Angela passed out before us.
Il am anxious. Mr.. Ducaine," he
said, for q few minutes private
conversation with you. l shall per-
haps be fortunate enough to find
you at home tomorrow"
He did not wait for my answer,
for Lady Angela looked back, and
he fastened to her side. He SEEM
ed in no hurry, however, to leave
the place. The evening was cloudy
and unusually dark. A north wind
was tearing through the grove of
stunted frs and the roar of the In
coming sea filled the air with muf-
| fled thunder. The prince looked
about him with a little grimace.
1T Is indeed lonely spot" he
remarked. "One can imagine any
| thing happening here. Did I not
hear of a tragedy only the other
day-a man found dead?"
IF you have taste for horrors,
prince" / remarked, you can see
the spot from the edge of the cliff
here"
81 disclaim all such weakness"
| he said, "but the little account
which ! read--or did someone tell
me of it?--ah. | forget; but 1t In
terested me-"
l pointed downwards to where
the creek-riven marshes merged
into the sands.
| 1T was there--a little to the left
of the white palings,' l said. 1.-THE
man was supposed to have been
cast up from the sea-"
| He measured the distance with
his eye. anticipated his remark.
THE tide Is only halfway up
now" said, land on that particu.
lar night there was terrible gale
Nevertheless" he murmured,
half to himself, ut IL a long way.
Was the man what you call identi.
fled, Mr.. Ducaine?"
| mol"
There were not letters or papers
found upon him."
None"
The prince looked at me sharply.
That" he said, softly, was
strange. Does 1t not suggest to you
that he may have been robbed7"
u had not thought of it," l an
swered. THE verdict, believe, was
simply found drowned"
Found drowned" the prince re-
peated. by the bye, he added
suddenly, "who did find him?"
Il did" l said ooolly.
"You?" The prince peered at me
closely through the dim light.
That" he said reflectively, lis In
teresting."
you find 1t SO interesting" re.
marked, that perhaps you could
help to solve the question of the
mans identity"
He seemed startled.
'I?" he exclaimed. But, no. Why
should you think that?"
turned to join Lady Angela. He
did not Immediately follow.
why did you bring him." l
asked her softly. you had some
reason" "a
HE was making inquiries about
| YOU" she answered, secretly and