The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-06-17
CHAPTER XVI

CHAPTER XVI.
Ronald Ringwood has held rather aloof
from the little cottage at Kew, for one
thing, he really had nothing to communi-
cate. All trace of the missing Finnigan
seemed lost. and both the detective en-
ployed by Ringwood and Pegram's ennis
sary had given up all hope of tracing the
missing man from Guildiord, and return
ed TO town with view TO a fresh de-
parture. And, in the second place, Ring
wood was fam to confess that ne had not
got on quite so we'll with Mary Chiches-
ter of late. That young lady resented
being kept in the dark as regards what
she termed the great mystery. She ar
gued. as we know, and with considerable
reason. that it would be very much to her
aun.'s benefit if there was confidence be-
tween them on this point, and Miss Cater
ham consequently enabled TO discuss the
thing freely with her, Mary Chichester.
But poor Miss Caterham had worked her
self up into such a state of nervous APP
prehension of foul play on the part OF
her competitors for the great stake, as to
be really not quite rational on that point
She could have put her fears in no very
definite shape had she even tried TO tell
them to any one. She would have Ger
tainly expressed strong opinion that the
Pegrams, in seeking Terence Finnigan,
were seeking him with murderous purpose.
She had hazy idea that even her own
life might be aimed at !; obliyious OF the
fact that she had disposed by will of
her chance in the Great Tontine," as
we'll as all her property, in favor of her
niece, and that consequently her death
would merely put Mary Chichester into
her place as a shareholder in the Ton
tine" the decease of a nominee being the
only thing that virtually extinguished the
share. She would further have told you.
although she had no knowledge on the
subject, that she thought il quite possible
Lord Lexington also had his emissaries
working on his behalf.
Ringwood was sitting in his chambers
the morning after Jack Phillimore's de-
parture for Rydland bordering over the
Great Tontine." His reflections were
cut short by a sharp knock at his door.
In reply to his "Come in" the door open
ed. and his clerk appeared: MIR. Car
buckle has just sent over, sir. His COM
pliments, and will you come across to
his chambers at once"
"All right" replied Ringwood; and TAX.
ing up his hat he proceeded at once tc
comply with Mr.. Carbuckle's request.
This is very sad business, Ring
wood" exclaimed Carbuekle. "Of course.
poor old lady, at her dime of life it is
not a thing to be surprised at; but / can
not help blaming myself for not having
been out to see her since / got back. Mary
Chichester says in her letter that the
Great Tontine' has killed her."
You are speaking, of course, of Miss
Caterham; you do not surely mean tc
say that she is dead, poor thing?"
Yes, / am sorry to say such is the
case. / have just received a note from
Mary Chichester informing me of the fact.
want you to run down to Kew to tell
Mary the whole state of the case say
that I shall come out to see her as soon
as / return and that l shall, of course,
be present at the funeral. Any little thing
that she wants assistance and advice
about, in the meanwhile, | am sure you
will undertake for her. Do this for me,
like good fellow, or else | shall have
to telegraph to my sister that can't come
until tomorrow, which will be a great
disappointment to her"
"Of course / will" replied Ringwood
Il will drive out there almost at once
After the terms 1 have been on with
poor Miss Caterham, and knowing them
as do. through you. there will be moth.
ing much in my taking your place in your
unavoidable absence. BY the way, OF
course, IL Miss Chichester asks me what
was this secret which 50 troubled her
aunt, there is now, / suppose, no objec-
ton to my telling herr"
"Ahem No; better not, perhaps" re-
piled the more cautious senior. "You
can tell her that Miss Caterham's will
must explain everything"
Ringwood made his way down to Kew
a little later He made his way up the
gravel walk, and knocked at the door.
"Yes, Miss Chichester would see him, y
replied the maid, after disappearing for
few moments. and he was duly ushered
into the drawing room.
A little time. and Mary Chichester en-
tered. and Ringwood could not help think
ing that she had never looked better than
she did now, as she swept towards him
in her black draperies, and greeted him
with extended hand. He had composed
rather a neat little speech on his way
down, with which to introduce himself
but it all vanished as he looked at Mary'l
| pale, sad face, and all he said was:
II am very, very sorry for you"
II knew you would be sorry to hear o.
the death of my poor aunt" she replied
You have. of course. heard of it from
Mr.. Carbuckle. 1 rather hope to see him
in the course Of the day."
II am here. Miss Chichester, as MI
Carbuckle's deputy; sincerely as l sym
pathize with you in your loss, | should
hardly have ventured to intrude upon you
until few days later if it had not been
! for that. He has only just returned to
town, and is compelled to leave it again
| for couple Of days, and begged me 10
| run down here on his behalf He begged
me say that he should come to you the
| minute he returned. and should. of course,
attend the funeral
Which L hope, Mr.. Ringwood, you
will do also. You were a great favorite
with my poor aunt; but on one point
BILE secret which you allowed her to bear
by herself really did hasten her death"
II sincerely trust, Miss Chichester, that
on that point you are mistaken; as l told
you before, was powerless; my lips were
sealed, as they are now. A few days
more. and you will know everything"
Know everything!' she cried passion
ately. and rising abruptly from her chair.
What do 1 care about your mystery
now? / wanted to know it before, that
| might share the trouble with her who
has been as a mother to me, that L might
soothe and comfort her in her wretched