The Detroit times., 1910-02-21
CHAPTER ~.
The Lady Next Door.

ne Lazy Next door.
Ailsa stood there with feeline
that the events OF the night were not
I yet over. She had forgotten pretty
Well everything besides the fact that
Ronald Braybrooke vas dead. The
news had been great shock, and II
had left dull aching pain behind
Aiisa's mind had travelled rapidly back
over the bridge OF years 10 the time
hen she had been continually happy
in her country home life before her
father died and left her 10 the care
OF Mr. Colville. Those had been hap
py days indeed. for Mr. LEROY had
been a dreamer and scholar. and ne
had been in the habit OF leaving his
ski een-year-old daughter very much
TO herself Hence the great intimacy
which had grown up between the girl
and Ronald Braybrooke. Ailsa had al
ways looked upon him as her beau
IDEAL OF what man should be- from
a child she had unconsciously loved
him. Perhaps she had not known !;
then. but she did now.
And vet no words of love had ever
passed between them. II was KIND
o, beautiful idyll. rudely shattered by
the sudden death OF Mr. LEROY. Ron
aid was away in London at the tim :,
With some vague idea of making his
fortune. and Ailsa had written 70 him.
Probably he didn't receive the lette-,
for no reply came. And then Mr. Col
vile came upon the scene and took
Ailsa TO town with him at No. - Yer
non-terrace.
What a vast number OF years ago IL
seemed 70 her now. And there had
come no further signs OF Ronald Still
the girl had gone on trusting him. she
rad never doubted him for moment.
And now the end had come, and the
knowledge OF II all In such a strange.
viiC way as this.
Ailsa was inclined 20 believe the
story OF John Stern. Outcast and de-
sDlsed as he appeared 10 be- there
vas something about the man that did
not repel Ailsa That he was no com
NOR thief she felt certain She also
felt that his right name was not John
stern AMI that he had some very pow
erful reason for writing that message
With his left hand Ailsa wondered
hat part her guardian was playing
In the drama She had read much Of
ftFlHllN ENhlfAtdi5 anu INC W. hiAN =
OF their wards. But. then she had no
fortune. and Mr.. Colville did not in
the least resemble a guardian OF melo-
drama
still ne was acting part OF thar
/ Aiisa felt certain. Also. why had ne
cfept back 20 his own house like q
/ thief I'm the night. when he had ex-
pressly telegraphed that he could not
possibly get back from Birmingham
Ailsa put the whole thing out OF her
mind now as she suddenly recollected
toe plight in which she had left Old
! Susan Bu, perhaps her husband
! TAOmal bad returned ON the othes
hand. be might have gone by the mid
night train 10 Birmingham. IL vas just
possible that Mr COlyille desired ~
| get his henchman ont OF the way
anyway. Ailsa felt that she mus,
/ find out, for herself Mr. Colville 4
study was closed as she passed along
and sounds OF subdued voices came
from the room ADSa could not hear
Eanybody talking In fhe basement Sh,
found that old Susan had crossed Owe;
\ TO a deep beehive armchair. where
she bad fallen asleep. Old Thomas
| Was nowhere TO be seen. Beyond
doubt he had proceeded to Birming
ham az arranged Ailsa shook IN,
sleeping figure. and the aged woman
4 muttered ia her dreams.