The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-08-30

tion: he would reach it by zig gag
rou.e. by which it woIld be almost
impossible to track him. unless the
police were laid on the scent. And
Dexter Reece could not use the po-
lice-must work absolutely unaided.
As he walked back to the Hall he
was consumed by the dread that some
other person might hit upon the con
nection between Lemul Raven and
the murder OF Sir Mortimer. and
Identify the girl of the mill as Dir
Mortimers daughter, the stolen heir
ess; indeed. it would have seemed
wonderful to him that such suspicion
had not already arisen if he had not
known that crimes which have re
mained long undiscovered are either
forgotten or are consigned to the linn
bo of mysteries which can never be
solved He himself would not have
hit upon the clue, but for his discoy-
cry of the miniature.
When he reached the Hall he went
straight to the cabinet, and, from the
long-forgotten drawer in which the
portrait had reposed for SO many
years, took it out, looked at it stead
lily with fevered eyes, then slipped 1t
in his pocket. From that moment no
one should see it until the hour ar
rived when it would suit his purpose
to produce it.
At dinner that night he remarked to
Evelyn. with just sufficient regret:
Il am afraid your protegee of the
mill has quite disappeared | happen
ed to stroll up to the moor, and !
looked in at the mill 1t was quite de-
serted and it seemed to me evident
that they did not intend to return.
"Oh, do you think so?' said Evelyn
with sigh. Il hope YOU are wrong
| should miss Cara very much; | have
crown so fond of her, though we have
/ known each other so short a time
Eu, something tells me you are right
that she will not come back. heard
at Port Dale that her father was a
/ strange man. that he had never been
friendly with any of the people, and
that they all had an impression that
ne might one day go off in exactly
he fashion he has done. | wish |
knew where Cara had gone, | would
write to her get her to write to me, 4,
for | feel anxious about her.
IF am afraid it would be useless to
try to track them,' he said, with a
shake of his head. There was a
pause: then, in the most casual way,
he remarked, "Whot a quaint affair
that mill is, And its tands in such a
beautiful situation. I'm afraid you'll
laugh at me, Miss Desborough; but ]
have a fancy for owning, or at any
rate. renting. the mill There are
times when | crave for the rest which
only absolute solitude can give; ond
I should love to have the mill for a
place in which | could take refuge
when the world presses too hardly
Evelyn regarded him with faint
smile of surprise; then she nodded as
if she understood; and, with laugh,
she reused her father from his usual
reverie.
Father. if Lemuel Raven doesn't
come back-he has gone, you know
Mr.. Reece would like to hove the
mill"
Sir Reginald raised his eyes and
stared across the table with frown
The mill? What in heavens name
/ for?" he demanded, with suppressed
impatience.
"A mere fancy, sir" replied Dexter
Reece.
Sir Reginald shrugged his shoulders
/ wi ha kind of contemptuous consent,
! and Dex,er Reece, with little laugh,
turned to Evelyn.
Thank you very much he said
by the woy, the man may come back
If he should, will you be so very
/ kind as to wire to me-"
Evelyn promised that she would dc
so: and Dexter Reece slid away from
the topic.
He left Thorden the following morn
ing. Of course Evelyn missed him. al
/ The more so because his departure
followed 50 closely on her loss OF
Cara She dropped back into her ole
quiet life. that daily round of com
mon tasks and simple pleasures whicf
suffice for girl OF Eyelyn's gentle
restful nature. She had written
through the agnt, to Ronald, and,
after some time, had received shor
letter from him. in which he had saiC
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