The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-11-16

tAtinH iiOul ln0 oAhDANef -
:. examine the grounds.
!. Snow had fallen early in the day.
covering the great lawns in front OF
the entrance porch with a soft white
blanket, about an inch I'm thickness. IT
was the head-groom who struck the
trail. Apparently Mr.. Ford had
walked out OF the porch. and so over
the drive and across the lawn towards
the wall that bounded the public road
This road, which led from Meudon vii.
lage TO the town OF Camdon, crossed
the front OF Meudon hall al a distance
OF some quarter OF mile.
There was no doubt az to the identi-
~ OF the footprints, for Silas Ford ar
fected broad. squaretoed boot, easily
recognizable from It's unusual impress
sion.
They tracked him by their lanterns
n the park wall, and there all trace
81 him disappeared The wall was OF
rough stone, easily surmountable by
an active man. The snow that covered
the road outside had been churned
into muddy paste by the traffic OF the
day; there were no further footprints
observable
The party returned 10 the house in
great bewilderment The telephone 10
London brought no explanation. and
the following morning Mr.. Hartford
caught the first train TO town TO make
inquiries. For private reasons his
friends did not desire publicity for
the affair, and II was not until the late
afternoon, when all their investiga-
tions had proved fruItless. that they
communicated with Scotland Yard
When the papers went 10 press the
whereabouts OF the great Mr. Ford
still remained a mystery
In keen curiosity | set or up the
stairs TO Inspector Peace's room. Per
haps the little detective had later
news 10 give me.
| found him standing with his back
TO the fire putting AZ HIS cigarette with
a plump solemnity bag, neatly
strapped, lay on the rug at his feet. He
nodded a welcome, watching me over
his glasses
II expected YOU, Mr. Phillips he
said. And how do you explain IT."
A love affair or temporary insan
ity," | suggested vaguely.
Surely we can combine those sou.
lions" he smiled. Anything else2"
NO | came to ask your opinion
my mind Is void OF theories. Mr.
phillips, and ! shall endeayor TO keep
SO Tor the present II you wish TO
amuse yourself by discussing posi-.
bilities would suggest your consid-
GRAFTON OF the reason why, II he want
ed 90 disappear quietly. he should
leave so obvious a track through the
snow Of his own lawn. For myself, as
/ am leaving for Camdon via Water.
loo station in % minutes, shall hope
for more definite data before night"
peace" | asked him eagerly, may
] come with YOU"
III you can be ready In time" lie
said.
II was past two o'clock when we ar.
rived at the old town OF Camdon A
carriage met us az the station. Five
minutes more and We were clear OF
the narrow streets and climbing the
first bare ridge of the downs II was
desolate prospect enough bare ex.
panse OF wind.swept land that rose
and fell with the sweeping regularity
of the Pacific swell. Here and there
clump OF ragged frs showed black
against the snow Under that gentle
carpet the crisp turf OF the crests and
the broad plough lands OF the lower
ground alike lay hidden. | shlvered.
drawing my coat more closely about
me.
IL was half an hour later that we
topped swelling rise and saw tho
gray towers OF the ancient mansion be
meath us. In the shelter OF the valley
by the quiet river. that now lay frozen
into silence. the trees had grown into
splaedld woodlands, circling the hall
on fhe further side. From the broad
front the white lawns crept down TO
the road on which we were driving
Dark masses OF strawberries and the
trucery or scattered trees broke their
silent levels. The park wall that
fenced them from the road stood out
like an ink line ruled upon paper.
1T must have been there that he
disappeared" cried. with specula
tive finger.
$50 | imagine" said Peace. And n
he has spent two nights on the Hamn
shire downs. ne viii be looking for a
Are today You have rather more
than your fair share OF the rug, Mr.
Phillips, n YOU will excuse my men
tioning a."
A man was standing on the steps 81
the entrance porch when we drove NJ
As we unrolled ourselves he steppea
,ward TO help us. lie was a thin
+, ssale.faced fellow. with fair hair and in
determinate eyes
My name Is Hartford" he said
you are Inspector Addington Peace.
believe"
Ills hand shook as he stretched I