The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-08-30
THE FATAL
[H|[U|[ BLY, |
BY CHARLES GARViCE.
Copyright, 1909, by George II. Dorar
Company.)
CHAPTER XIX.
al Have Lost Her.
CHAPTER Xxx.
Trespassers Beware

lTcSpdSSciS bc"dCs
Leaving Ronald and Vane in the
hour OF their bHter disappointment,
We return to Thorden Hall.
To describe Dexter Reece as baf-
tied bloodhound would SAVIOR of eX-
aggeration. When he heard from Eve
had disappeared, he felt almost over.
come by hysterical nausea; for il
seemed to him, after his recognition
of the resemblance between the min
ia ure and Cara, that he had not only
chanced upon clue, but had struck
upon a scent which would lead him TO
the discovery of Sir Mortimer's daugh-
;er and the giant ruby-the giant
ruby, He needed all his powers as
an actor-and they were great-to
conceal his agitation from Evelyn;
and he got away by himself as quickly
as possible.
Be sure it was not long before he
made his way to the mill. The door
was locked, but he forced ii with the
aid of a stone. and searched the place
thoroughly. To his own mind it seelr-
ed wildly improbable that the murder
er OF Sir Mortimer, the man who
had stolen the ruby, should have re-
turned to a spot so near to the scene
OF his crime; but here were two solid
facts which seemed to prove that h.
had done so-the girls resemblance
to miniature, Lemuel Raven $
flight Immediately after the solitude of
his life was broken into by the outer
world. No doubt the mad had taken
fright at Evelyn's visits to t'e mill.
and the friendship that had sprung
up between her and Cara; no doubt,
also that his, Recess, visit to the
mill had confirmed Ravens apprehen-
sions.
Dexter Reece wen. all over theJ
place. even searched the tiny room
in which Cara had slept; but he found
nothing OF any significance until he
came upon the dark, triangular cub
board on the floor OF the mill. He had
brought candle with him. and he
went over the nook with minute care,
and his sharp eyes detected the dis
.urbance of the dry soil at the bottom
of the cupboard. 1t was place in
and Dexter Reece felt as convinced
hat it had lain there and been re-
moved as if he had seen Raven take
it up.
From the mill he Went down to Port
Dole. and. in the most casual and
Indifferent way, lit a cigarette, saun-
tered up and down the quay, and, af-
ter awhile, sank on a seat near one
on which Sandy was sitting. 1t was
not difficult to get into conversation
with the good-natured young giant;
and Dexter Reece delicately led the
way to the shipping news of the port,
but, to his keen disappointment and
disgust, Sandy could give no infor-
nation which would enable him to
pick up the clue.
"Iss: ! think as | remember seein
Lemuel Raven and his gel--she's
rare beauty, that her be!--on the
quay the other night; but ! didn't
take no particular notice of EN-, or
whether they blded here or went
aboard one of the vessels. Lemuel Ra.
ven. he ave been on the quay once
or twice lately, on business, most
like Where do the vessels make for?
Well mostly for Wales, for coal; or
ireland, maybe"
DO they never sail for foreign
ports?" asked Dexter Reece.
why, sartiny,' replied Sandy;
"Shey take clay from Shelford to
France or Italy: 'tis a peculiar kind o
clay. which the furreigners can't get
in their own countries; and they use
il in their manufactures. Two or
three ketches have left the port Of
lare. but II is unknown to me eN-
actly where .theym bound for
Dexter Reece's heart sank. 1t would
/ be impossible for him to trace two
or three vessels to discover on which
one of them Lemuel Raven and the
/ girl had been passengers. They had
/ fled by sea. The man would be too
cunning 10 20 direct to his destina'