The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1912-04-26

atmosphere. ftalr-Stlned, ne lett the
place as quickly as possible, returned
to the main hall and assembled to the
upper story.
Here he found three bed-chambers
and bath. He first entered Sypher's,
then the room evidently occupied by
Miss Pynsent, finally what was un-
questionably a guest-chamber. discov-
ering nothing noteworthy until he
reached the latter. And here he re-
ceived a shock. Thrown carelessly
across the foot of the bed was wom-
ans evening wrap, while on the bureau
were gloves, long, white and fresh, but
wrinkled from recent wear, and a silk
en- veil. Plainly these were the prop
erty of the fourth guest, whose place
had been set at the table below, but
of whose identity he had not been ap-
prised. Presumably, he reflected, she
(whoever she was) had been intended
as the fulfillment of Sypher's limited
surprise.
A guess formed vaguely in his brain,
and suddenly curdled into a suspicion.
He took the gloves in his hand, ex-
aiming them for marks of identified
ner of the veil he discovered an en-
broidered initial-the letter B.
"Beatrix?" he guessed huskily. rs
it possible? He promised me
a surprise. 'Twould have been
like her to plan it with him-and it's
quite possible she reached Rangoon
before 1. My wife. :"
Hastily he returned to the evening
wrap, fascinating contrivance of lace
and satin unquestionably the last cry
of the Partisan mode. such wrap as
his wife might well have worn. But
teyond Paquin's label stitched inside
ITS dainty pocket it boosted no dis
tinguishing mark.
He stumbled hurriedly from the
room and down the stairs, returning
70 the study where Sypher's body
lay; tortured by mounting fears, he
stood and looked blankly about him,
at loss where next to turn. if almost
preternaturally alive to every sound
or sight that might afford him a clue.
He fought against a suspicion
that crawled like a viper in his brain.
Had he, after all, been deceived in
Sypher's NIECE. Miss Pynsent? Had
that innocent charm of hers been
thing assumed, cloak for criminal du-
plicity? Had she in reality been Des
Trebes' accomplice? Had those clear
and limpid eyes of youth, all through
that voyage been looking forward to
such scene, to such tragic ending
as this? Could she have afforded the
Frenchman the aid he needed to con-
summate his chosen crime?
For he was now ready to believe Des
Trebes the prime mover in this terri
BILE affair; he no longer entertained
shred Of doubt that his enemy had
travelled with him from Calcutta I'M
der the disguise of DE Hyeres" And
he believed the man had planned this
thing far ahead; else would he have
surely taken some overt step to pre-
vent O'Rourke from delivering the
ruby to Sypher. He OWNED acutely
that, despairing of any further at
tempt to win the jewel from him, Des
Trebes had turned his wits to the task
of stealing it from Sypher; somebody
naturally much less to be feared than
the adventurer.
But on the other hand, If the girl
had not been Des Trebes' assistant
what had become of her? And what
of her guest-the lady one of whose
initials was B?
1t was not inconsistent with Des
Trebes' whole-hearted villainy that he
should employ gang of thugs suffi-
GENTLY large to overpower and make
away with bodily and in body Miss
Pynsent, her guest and the servants.
Great Cod" cried O'Rourke.
If it be in truth my wife,"
Without presage thin but impera-
tive naturalization broke upon the
silence of the house of death. O'Rourke
jumped as if shot. Somewhere in one
of the other rooms a telephone bell
was ringing. 1t ceased, leaving
strident stiffness; but before he could
move to find the instrument and an
swer the call, there rose a second time
that moaning sob which first he had
attributed to an impossible source,
then, in the turmoil of his thoughts,
had forgotten.
He waited. listening intently. The
telephone called again and again sub
sided. Then a third time he heard the
groan, more faint than before, but suf-
ficiently loud to suggest its source.
He moved warily toward the windows
and out upon the veranda-hounded
by the telephone. But that would
have to wait; here was a more ur-
gent matter to his hand. Between the
long, insistent rings the moaning was
again audible; and this time he To-
Gated it accurately. 1t came from the
lawn, near the edge Of the veranda.
He stepped of carefully, but almost
stumbled over the body of man who
| lay there, huddled and moaning.