The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-07-23

"Df1Ve On.' crleu MISS Racnel, lOuO-
err than ever and taking no more no.
tice of Mr.. Franklin than she had tax
en- of Sergeant Cuff.
Mr.. Franklin stepped back, thunder
struck, as we'll he might be-. The
coachman, not knowing what to do,
looked toward my lady, still standing
immovable on the top step. My lady,
with anger and sorrow and shame all
struggling together in her face, made
him a sign to start the horses n b
turned back hastily into the house.
Mr.. Franklin, recovering the use OF
his speech, called after her as the car
riage drove off: "Aunt, you were quite
right. Accept my thanks for all your
kindness, and let me 60"
My lady turned as though to speak to
him; then, as if d%istrusting herself.
waved her hand kindly. LET me see
you before you leave us, Franklin
she said in a broken voice and went on
to her own room.
do me a last favor, Betteredge,'
says Mr.. Franklin, turning to me. with
the tears in his eyes. Get me away
to the train as Dol as you can"
He. too. went his way into the house.
For the moment Miss Rachel had COM
pletely unnamed him. Judge from that
how fond he must have been of her!
Sergeant Cuff and l We're left face
to face at the bottom Of the steps.
The sergeant stood with his face set
toward a gap in the trees, command
ing a view of one Of the windings of
the drive which led from the house.
He had his hands in his pockets, II
lie was softly whistling 1.-The Last
Rose of Summer" to himself.
"There's a time for everything" l
said savagcly enough. "This isn't a
time for whistling."
At that moment the carriage ap-
peared in the distance through the gap
on it's way to the lodge gate. There
was another man besides Samuel plain
ly visible in the rumble behind.
"All right" said the sergeant to him
self. He turned round to me. Its no
time for whistling, Mr.. Betteredge, as
YOU say. It's time to take this bust
ness in hand now without sparing any
body. Well begin with Rosanna Spear
man. Where is Joyce"
We both called for Joyce and re-
ceived no answer. l sent II OF the
stable boys to look for him.
You heard what l said to Miss We
rinder:" remarked the sergeant while
we We're waiting. "And YOU saw how
she received it? I tell her plainly that
her leaving us will be an obstacle in
the way of my recovering her dia-
mond, and she leaves in the face of
that statement. Your young lady has
got a travelling companion in her moth
er's carriage, Mr.. Betteredge, and the
name Of it is the moonstone."
1 said nothing. l only held on like
death to my belief in Miss Rachel.
The stable boy came back, followed
very unwillingly, as it appeared to me,
by Joyce.
"Where is Rosanna Spearman:' ask
ed Sergeant Cuff.
II can't account for it, SIR" Joyce
began, land I am very sorry. But
somehow or other
Before l went to Friz1nghall," said
the sergeant, cutting him short, Il told
you to keep your eye On Rosanna
Spearman without allowing her to dis
cover that she was being watched. Do
you mean to tell ME that you have let
her give you the slip?"
II am afraid, sir" says Joyce, begin
ming to tremble, that l was perhaps a
little too careful not to let her discover
me. There are such a many passages
in the lower parts of this house.
"How long is it since you missed
herr"
Nigh on an hour since, sir"
"You can go back to your regular
business at Frizinghall,' said the SER
geant, speaking just as composedly as
ever, in his usual quiet and dreary
way. II don't think your talents are
at all in our line, Mr.. Joyce. Your pres
ent form Of employment is a tritie be-
yond YOU. Good morning"
mo, Mr.. Betteredge," said the SER
geant, as if he had discovered the up
permost thought in me and was pick
ing it out to be answered before all the
rest, your young friend Rosanna won't
slip through my fingers SO easily as
you think. AS long as I know where
Miss Nerinder is l have the means at
my disposal of tracing Miss Verinder's
accomplish. l prevented them from
communicating last night. Very good.
They will get together at FriZinghall
instead OF getting together here. The
present inquiry must be simply shifted,
rather sooner than l had anticipated,
from this house at which Miss Nerin-
der is visiting. In the meantime I'm
afraid l must trouble you to call the
servants together again"
l Went round with him to the serv-
ants hall. On instituting this inquiry
it turned out that the last person who
, had set eyes on Hosanna was Nancy,
!, the Kitchen maid.