The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1913-11-29

1t Is true. She Is alive all the time.
l have had a letter from her.
"A letter. Surely. DYKE
Where is it," cried White. Us 1t
genuine?'
81 could swear TO her writing amid
a thousand letters. Here II is. have
brought some old correspondence Of
hers for the purpose of comparison. as
! could hardly believe my eyes when
| first received It,"
Bruce was ~dumfounded by this te-
markable development that he could
hut mutely taxi the document pro-
duced by the baronet and read 1t.
He himself recognized Lady Dykes
handwriting. which he had often seen
IA clear. bold. well defined script, more
like the caligraphy of a banker than
of a fashionable lady.
The letter was dated Feb. l. bore no
other superscription and read as fol
lows:
My Dear Charles-I have just seen in
the newspapers the announcement of my
death and the theories set on foot 10 ac-
count for my disappearance on Nov. 6
@"+I EN&'AHR - ~ tAE nv
fact that you have not received the ex-
PLANTATION ! sent you OF my reasons for
leaving London SO suddenly. Otherwise
you must have kept your wi counsel
very closely. However. / do not now de-
sire 70 reopen the question of motive. Let
II suffice TO say that no one save myself
Was responsible for my disappearance and
that neither you nor any one acquainted
with me will ever see me again. Do not
search for me. II will be time wasted. II
YOU have legal proof OF my death and
wish 20 marry again be satisfied. Tear UP
this letter and forget IT. ] am dead 10
YOU and to the world. You can neither re-
fuse to accept the genuineness of the let
ter nor trace me by reason OF II. as | have
taken such precautions that the latter
course will be impossible. Let me repeat
forget me. ALICE.
The barrister carefully refolded the
sheet after ~scrutinizing the watermark
against the light and noting that the
paper was British made. He then ex-
amined the envelope. The obliterating
postmark was London. Feb. 1. o p. m.
West Strand" The office of delivery
was "Wensley. Feb. G."
Posted at the West Strand postoffice
on Saturday" he said. Detained In
London all Sunday and delivered to
you this morning in the North"
Exactly
ut was written three days earlier. If
the date be accurate. So the writer
is somewhere In Europe"
That's how INtake it." said Sir
Charles.
Unless the whole thing is a fraud"
How can II be a fraud:' | am sure
as 10 the handwriting. Why. even
yourself, Bruce, must have a good rec
objection of my wife's style
Undoubtedly. No man born could
swear that this was not Lady Dykes
production
We'll, what are we to do?"
And what did Mrs. Hillmer mean
by kicking UP that fuss when we spoke
to herr i%nterpolated White. I'll take
my oath that some one was killed in
her house, else how comes II that a
woman found in the Thames at Put
ney Is carrying about in her head some
of Mrs. Hillmer's ironwork? wish
she hadn't tainted just now. Why. she
said herself that she was the cause Of
Lady Dykes death, and here is Lady
Dyke writing to say she is alive. This
business is beyond me, but Mrs. Hill
mer has got to explain a good deal yet
before | am lone with her"
The detectives wrath at this check
In the hunt after n criminal did not
appeal TO the baronet.
You can please yourself. Mr.. White.
of course" he said coldly: but so far
as | am concerned l will respect my
wife's wishes, and let the matter rest
where il is"
MY dear fellow" said the barrister.
'such a ours is impossible. Assum-
ing that her ladyship is really alive,
why did she leave you2"
How can l tell? She herself re-
fuses to give a reason. She apparently
stated one In a letter which never
reached me. as you know. She has
selfishly caused me a world of suffer
ing and misery for three long months.
l refuse to be plagued In the matter
further"
Sir Charles was excited and angry.
He was in bitter revolt against circum-
stances.
do you intend to show this letter to
Lady Dykes relatives?" asked Bruce.
at a loss for the time to discuss the
situation coherently.
Il do not know. What would you
l trust fully to your judg-
ment. But is 1t not better to obey her
wishes-to forget. as she puts it,"
I'VE must decide nothing hastily. l
perplexed beyond endurance by
this business. VIII you give me a copy
of the letter."
Certainly. Keep it yourself. We
all seen it."
Thank you.a Bruce placed the en-
velope and its contents in his pocket
book. Then, turning to the detective,
said:
A. tx-I,f.. a., m an f,x1, H. !