The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-09-26
The Black
House
A Mystery Solved
BY ALICE GRAY

worth Of beautiful gifts were display
ed in the library and adjoining study.
and my duties had confined me to these
rooms. where pageant Of brilliantly
gowned women and somber clad men
passed in and out.
1t was marriage Of youth. beauty
and great wealth with talent and more
wealth. for DR.. Ramercliff had a ma
tional reputation as specialist In dis
eases of the brain, and 1t had been
matter for universal surprise when the
grave and studious physician had step
ped from the seclusion Of professional
life to court the brilliant young debu-
tante and win her.
Now the bride had retired to don her
travelling gown. They were to leave
on the western express. and their des
tination was a secret.
Presently they came, and shall new
er forget DR.. Ramercliff's look as he
passed out Of the door with his beau
tiful bride His handsome face ex-
pressed maniacal triumph.
feeling of uneasiness possessed
me for days afterward. and l was not
surprised when Benjamin Halsey, the
father Of the bride. paid me a visit in
my private office.
He was looking haggard and wor-
ried. quite unlike the happy, genial
gentleman who had presided at the
wedding Of his motherless daughter.
'Blair. need your help" he said
when we were alone.
what is 1t, sir?" inquired.
You were at my daughters wed
ding reception three weeks ago. You
saw my daughter leave the house with
her husband?"
YES"
They have disappeared-completely
disappeared"
''Well?" was still wondering at
his anxiety.
Read that" he said thrusting a tat
tered bit of paper into my hands,
1t was a piece of brown wrapping
paper, and ON 1t were a few scrawled
words: "Oh. father. come! This terri
BILE black house! am going mad! He
is coming now! must hide this!
Bessie"
you believe that your daughter
wrote that?"
II do. 1t is her handwriting 1t
was received in my mail this morning,
the envelope bearing blurred post
mark. and In addition to my name and
address were the penciled words,
Whoever finds this please mail at
once"
He produced the envelope. and
studied the postmark through my
strongest glasses.
Looks like Woodruff That's a lit
tie village down on Long Island" l
said finally. I'll go down there at
once. You believe that both Of them
have met with foul play|
He shook his head doubtfully.
''Read that note over again. Blair.
It's some of Ramercliff's work, fear.
! should never have allowed Bess to
marry him. He Is almost mad himself
over his profession. but he fascinated
her. You will so at once. Blair?"
within the hour" decided. replac-
ing the time table in my pocket.
1t was o'clock when l reached
Woodruff little north shore village.
surrounded on three sides by oak for
ests and on the fourth by a shallow
harbor.
made casual inquiry among the
loungers about the postoffice and hotel
where put up. but none Of them had
seen any strangers Whereabouts. The
postmaster did give me clew.
1.-THE old Vale place was taken by
strangers several months ago. but I
don't believe any one Is there yet"
''Who Is the caretaker?"
SEARCH mev said the postmaster,
returning to his neglected duties.
"SOme queer foreigner who lives in
the barn and buys his supplies over to
Oakville"
chose to take my first view Of the
Vale place by moonlight. had trav-
ersed perhaps half mile along the
gloomy wood road. where moonlight
fell In silver patches on the carpet Of
thick leaves. when a man passed me,
going swiftly toward the village.
He paused and peered at me for an
instant
"Where you goT he asked thickly,
and I smelt whisky on his breath.
"Oakville,' said sharply.
"Oh," he said, with his foreign ac-
cent. "You on wrong road. Go back
quarter mile. turn to left"
"Thanks." l murmured ironically,
for I recognized the caretaker Of the
Vale place and his evident desire to
lure me away from the house. which
he was leaving unguarded.
To allay his suspicious I walked
back with him and allowed him to
place me on the right path. When he
was out Of sight I retraced my steps
and. after walking for perhaps a mile.
always following the more untraveled
road. I finally came upon high brick
wall that wound around among the
trees encircling the dark bulk OF a
large house.
II was q lonely spot enough. the
woods closing around the house within
the wall. The moonlight fell In patch
es on the ground, overgrown with
coarse grass and briers. The shutters
of the house appeared closed. but