The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-03-07

there. 1 will ask Bentley to make
inquiries, if you like"
Evelyn knew what this meant: that
the steward would be sent up to the
mill with a fve-pound note.
mo, no!'' she said quickly. Il
would rather you didn't do that, faith
er. I mean-No; would rather Mr..
Bentley did not go up to see them
Sir Reginald shrugged his should
ers, and moved his hands in indiffer-
ent assent, and the subject was chang
ed
In the afternoon Mr.. Dexter Reece
was engaged in the work which had
brought him down to Thorden; but he
found it unusually difficult to con-
centrate his mind on it; for the mys-
terry of the fatal ruby, the clandes-
tine meeting of Evelyn Desborough
with her brother, and his disappear
ance, persistently intruded on the bus
mess in hand; and once he stopped
short, in the midst Of some calcula-
tons, and, taking from his pocket
book the cutting from the Western
Morning News, he pondered over it,
but without seeing at present any way
of benefiting himself by the knowl-
edge he had gained in so despicable
a manner.
The next morning Evelyn ordered
the little Jingle and Exmoor pony
which belonged exclusively to her;she
chose some books, selecting them with
care. from the bookshelves in her
own room, and with her own hands
picked a big bunch Of the choicest
flowers in the conservatory, regard
less of the head gardener, who was
as highly cultivated as any of the
flowers, and who certainly would not
have permitted any other than Miss
Evelyn to ravish his precious blooms
With this cargo she started for the
mill. The pony, Polly by name, had
all the heetness, the endurance, and
the frolicsome humour of her won
derful race; and Evelyn had quite rs
hard work, if not harder, in managing
her, as she had had in controlling the
cobs; for the Exmooor pony, like the
Arab from which he has sprung,
likes to go when he is going, objects
to stand for a single moment when
one has entered the vehicle, SHES at
the most ordinary objects, and bolts
on the slightest excuse.
However, Polly and her mistress
| understood and were fond of each
other; and Evelyn arrived at the
| mill without the accident which the
uninitiated, witnessing their start,
would have certainly prognostigated
The sails of the mill were motionless
for there was little or no wind; and
Evelyn, with her books under one
arm and her big bunch of flowers IL
her hand, alighted and went to the
door. It was closed, and no res
ponse came to her knocking; and
very much disappointed, she was go
| ing away, when she saw Cara comine
across the moor.
| She wore dress different to the
| grotesque workaday one which had
excited Dexter Recess amusement
and contempt; it was free from flour
and her hair, unspeckled by white
was brushed and wound into a knot
though some of it had been blown
free by the wind, and made an ex.
quisite frame to the clear oval of hel
face. She had bundle of wood un.
der her arm, and her pace did mo-
4 quicken, nor did she colour or smile
when she saw Evelyn, who went t.
meet her, and said pleasantly:
ST am so glad you have come!
was afraid I should not see you.
have come to thank you again-ant
and to bring you some books Ane
here are some flowers which Il
thought you might like, as you've nc
garden here"
Cara threw down the wood agains
the wall of the mill and looked a.
her, with no surprise, but gravely and
thoughtfully.
'May I come imp asked Evelyr
rather timidly. GIVE never seen the
inside of a mill