The Washington times., 1912-11-12

1CS, my lOTu. fTtntiCc W ny
and asked II she could go to Newhaven
to see Il cousin she has there. the
cousin Is ill-leastwlse, so she told me,
and she wanted. as n great favor. TO be
allowed to spend the night with her.
and she promised to come back by the
carrier early next morning. II seemed
all right. SO I gave her permission, and
of she goes. Then yesterday this
dreadful thing happened, and Prentice
went clean out of my head-I never
thought OF her again till breakfast this
morning, when Mr.. Douglas says to me:
why. wherever Is Miss Prentice? You
could fave knocked me down with
feather, / was that taken aback! SO
says. whatever can ave happened 30
herr"
when she heard of the murder she
n ay have taken fright. She may be
waiting to return to the castle TIL the
inquest and funeral are over" sug-
gested Cyril.
Then she ought at least to have sent
word. Besides. she should have got
back before she could have heard Of
the murder"
and find out II she Is there. She may
send MESSAGE by"
I'VE, none of us. know whereabouts
this cousin lives, my lord"
"Newhaven is not Il large place: Il
can't be difficult to find her"
But we don't know 'er name, my
| lord"
THAT certainly complexities matters.
How long has this girl been at the
castle?"
six months, my lord
| "Who did you get her FROM
Il advertised for her, my lord. Mrs.
Valdriguez's eyes are not what they
were. and 80 she 'ad to have somebody
' to do the mending. l must say for
eisners sew beautifully, so II was some
time before ! could get anyone whose
work suited Mrs. Valdriguez."
| what references did the girl gIyc7.
1T was this way, my lord. She's yer,
young. and this Is her first place. But
she was excellently recommended b.
! wrote that she Was Il most respectabl,
girl and that he could vUuch for hcI
character. Those are his very words
| my lord"
That certainly sounded satisfactory.
I'm glad you think so, my lord :,
sne came. Such nice young woman
she seemed, so ard working and con
scientious; one who kept erselt t,
erseIf: never word with the men
never, though she is SO pretty"
on! she Is pretty, If she?' a faln
but horrible suspicion flashed through
Cyriis mind.
Yes, my lord. as pretty as a pic
ture."
What does she look llke?"
g She is tall and slight. with Jar!
hair and blue eyes, Mrs Eversley an
swered. She was evidently take!
aback at her masters interest "
| servants "a rt1it
serve crcpt into her voice.
Gould sh,-would II be possible 1
mistake her for LADY," stammerc
Mrs. Eversley started.
should ask that, for Douglas, he al
ways has said, Mark my words, Mig
Prentice isn't what she seems and
must say she is very superior-very."
1T wasn't-it couldn't be possible.
thought Cyril; and yet
Did she see much OF her ladyshipf
Lately Mrs. valdrIguez. seeing a
what she was such a quiet girl. ha
allowed her to put the things she ha
mended back into her ladyship's room,
and | know her ladyship has spoke
couldn't really say. Prentice didn'
Did she seem much interested II
her ladyship?"
u
Z talking about her ladyship. she woul
, always STAY and listen. once whe
one of the houscmaids had said some
thing about her mistrcss-I forget wha
' II was-just something about her bein
, crazy, I think-Prentice got quite eX
cited. and when Mrs. Valdriguez IA
left the room, she said TO me. I don
E believe there y anything the matte
the way she is kept locked upH' Beg
ging your pardon. my lord. those wer
her very words: she made me promis
, not to repeat what she had said-last @
all to Mrs. Valdrigiez, and | never hay
not till this minute"
Did she ever suggest that she woul
like to help her ladyship to escape?"
: Why. my lord!' exclaimed MR.
. constituent. That's tust what she di
e do. Just once-oh! YOU don't think sh
: did it-and yet that's what they're a
e IFS anything missing from her room ?
% II can't say, my lord: her trunk
9 locked. and she took small bag wit
d her. But there are things in the burcal
s and skirt and a pair OF shoes In Il
wardrobe" she answered.
= From the appearance Of the rOor
= therefore. you would Judge that she Il
u tended to return?'
|. "Ye-es. my lord. and yet must say
c was surprised to see so few thlnI
|! about. and the skirt and shoes we
very shabby"
s II suppose that by this time everyol
G knows the girl IL missing" Cyril aske
d The upper servants do. and the d
n tective was after me to tell him
5 about her: but wouldn't say a wo
TIL had asked what your lordshir
wishes are"
II thought Judson had left the castle
Cyril queried.
80 he has. my lord: this is the ms
from Scotland Yard: Griggs Is
name; he was ere before Judson. b
he had left the castle before you a
rived"
IS Impossible even to attempt to Ike
IA her disappearance secret, thong
in Cyril. After all, perhaps she was n
his prOtege; he was always jumping
" erroneous conclusions, and a desCript
" Is so misleading.
l.. On the other hand, the combination
10 black hair and blue eyes was a me
unusual one. Besides. II was alrea
ID sufficiently remarkable that two you
g. and beautiful women had fed frC
lg Newhaven one the same day tbeautv
s. ing alas, such a rarity, but that thr
in should have done so was well-nigh
ne credible But could even the most g
he perior OF upper servants possess tn
air OF breeding which was one OF t
girls most noticeable attributes?
II was. OF course, within the boun
of possibility that this maid was W
. born and simply forced bY poverty II
n a mental position. One thing was Ct
tain; II his DrOtege was Priscilla Pre-