The Washington times., 1912-11-13
TIMES DAILY
BY ELzABETH KENA WHO? . 1. .. The ss House sss oggs ]

The woman trembled slightly and her
hand again sought the cross.
I'll believed Lord Wilmersley's time
had come, but | knew not how he would
die. did not know that she would be
the instrument only feared It,"
why did you think his lordship's days
were numbered?''
you would say that they were not rea-
sons. You would call them superstitions
what I believe, and you what you have
been taught. God shall Judge. Suffice
H.. sir. that my reasons for believing
that his lordship would die soon are not
such as would appeal to your common
"H-m-weli-I confess that signs and
omens are not much In my life, but
must really insist upon your giving some
explanation as to why you feared that
your mistress would murder Lord Will
mersley."
The woman's lips twitched convulsiveiy
and her eyes glowed with somber fire.
"Because-if you will know 1.-THE loved
her more than was natura.-he loved
her more than his God"
And this is really your only reason
for your extraordinary supposltion?'
wen, well, very curious indeed" said
the cononer, regarding the woman In
tently.
He paused for moment.
"How did you pass the evening Of tho
"in my room. I had a headache and
went early to bed
~ suppose somebody saw you after
you left Lady Wilmersley,s room who
can support your statement"
II do not know. ] do not remember
seeing anyone" answered Valdriguez,
throwing, her head back and looking a
little defantly AZ Mr.. Tinker.
"Ah. really? That is a pity" said the
"Hnweyer fhere Ia reason
to doubt your word-as yet" he added.
Mrs. Eversley was next called. The
coroner questioned her exhaustively as
to the missing Priscilla Prentice. He
whether the girl had owned bicycle.
She had not. Did she know how to ride
one? Yes. Mrs Eversley had seen her
try one belonging to the under house
bicycles7 Yes. Had one N them been
taken? She did not know.
On further inquiry, however, II was
found that all the machines were ac-
counted for.
1t had not occurred to Cyril to spccu-
late as to how. II Prentice had really
aided her mistress to escape. she had
been able to cover the nine miles which
separated the castle from Newhaven.
Eighteen miles in one evening on foot
Not perhaps an impossible feat, but
very nearly so-especially as on her
way back she would have been handi-
capped by Lady Wilmersley. delicate
woman, quite unaccustomed - at all
events, during the last three years-to
any form Of exercise.
1t was evident, however, that this diff
iiculty had not escaped the coroner. for
all the servants, and more especially
the gardeners and undergraduates.
were asked II they had seen In any OF
the less frequented paths traces OF a
carriage or bicycle. But no one had
seen or heard anything suspicious.
The head gardner and his wife. VIII!
lived at The lodge, swore that the tall
iron gates had been locked at $50
O'Clock. and that they had heard no
vehicle pass on the highroad during the
night.
At this point in the proceedings whis-
pering was audible In the back OF the
hail. The coroner paused to see what
, was the matter. a moment later Doug
las stepped up to him and said some
thing in a low voice. The coroner
nodded.
Mrs. Willis" he called.
middle-aged woman. very red in the
/ face, came reluctantly forward.
Well, Mrs. Willis. / hear you have
| something to tell me7'
Indeed, no SIR" exclaimed the WON.
an. picking nervously at her gloves;
1T is nothing at all. Only when
heard you asking about carriages IN
the night. says to Mrs. Jones-well
one passed. ! know that Leastways. II
! didn't exactly pass; II stayed
| THE carriages stayed where?"
| 1T wasn't carriage"
1T wasn't a carriage, and II stayed
! Can't you explain yourself more clear.
ly. Mrs. Willis. This isn't conundrum
is IT."
1T was a car. a motor car" STAN
mered the woman.
"A car! And it stopped where?"
Il couldn't say exactly. but not far
| from our cottage
And where is your cottage?"
"On the 'ighroad near the long lane. y
| II see." The coroner was obviously
| excited. your husband Is one Of the
gardeners here. isn't he?"
| Yes. SIR"
80 there is doubtless a path connect
ing your cottage with the castle
grounds?"
| Yes, sir"
About how far from your cottage
was the carr"
II didn't see 1t. sir-I just heard It.
But 1t wasn't far. that l know" reit-
Grated the woman.
"Did you hear anyone pass through
your garden7"