The Ekalaka eagle., 1915-07-16


part of 1t in which the Indians were
concerned and was ready with his an
swer. A certain great traveller who
understood the Indians and their Ian
guage had figured in Mr.. Seegrave's
report, hadn't he? Very we'll. Did 1
know the gentleman's name and ad-
dress? Very we'll again. Would
write them on the back Of my lady's
message? Much obliged to me. Ser
geant Cuff would look that gentleman
up when he went to Frizinghall in the
morning.
In the passage I met Penelope hang
ing about and asked what she was
waiting for.
She was waiting for her young lady's
bell when her young lady chose to call
her back to go on with the packing for
the next days journey. Further in
quiry revealed to me that Miss Rachel
had given 1t as a reason for wanting
to go to her aunt at Frizinghall that
the house was uncomfortable to her and
that she could bear the odious presence
of policeman under the same roof
with herself no longer. Miss Rachel's
bell rang while we were talking. Pc
nelope ran up the back stairs to go on
with the packing.
Just as I approached the swing door
leading into the hall from the servants
Offices 1t was violently opened from the
other side and Rosanna Spearman ran
by me, with a miserable look Of pain
in her face and one Of her hands press
ed hard over her heart, as if the pang
was in that quarter. whats the mat
ter, my girl?" l asked, stopping her.
care you ill?' "For Gods sake, don't
speak to me-" she answered and twist
ed herself out Of my hands and ran on
toward the servants staircase. call
ed to the cook, who was within hear
ing, to look after the poor girl. Two
other persons proved TO be within hear
ing as we'll as the cook. Sergeant Cuff
darted softly out of my room and asked
what was the matter. I answered.
Nothing" Mr.. Franklin, on the 9TH
er side. pulled open the swing door and,
beckoning me into the hall. inquired
if l had seen anything Of Rosanna
Spearman.
"She has just passed me, sir, with a
very disturbed face and in very odd
manner
81 am afraid I am innocently the
cause Of that disturbance, Betteredge." {"
"You, sir!!'
II can't explain It," says Mr.. Frank
lin, "but if the girl is concerned in the
loss of the diamond do really believe
she was on the point Of confessing ev-
erything-to me, Of all the people in
the world-not two minutes since"
I begged him to describe what had
happened between Rosanna and him.
self.
"Were you passing through the hall,
sir?" l asked "Dld you meet her ac-
cidentally when she spoke to you?'
Mr.. Franklin pointed to the billiard
table
II was knocking the balls about" he
said. "and trying to get this miserable
business Of the diamond out Of my
mind I happened to look up, and there
stood Rosanna Spearman at the side OF
me, like ghost. Seeing very anx-
ious expression in her face, asked her
If she wished to speak to me. She
answered, Yes, if I dare Knowing
what suspicion attached to her. could
only put one construction to such Ian.
guage as that. had no wish to in
vite the girls confidence. At the same
time in the difficulties that now beset
us, could hardly feel justified in re-
fusing to listen to her, if she was real
ly bent on speaking to me. said to
her: I don't quite understand you. Is
there anything You want me to do?
The cue was still in my hand. and
went on knocking the balls about. tc
take off the awkwardness Of the thing
AS it turned out, only made matters
worse still. She suddenly turned away
He looks at the billiard balls,' heard
her say. Anything rather than look al
me- Before l could stop her she had
left the hall. Would you mind telling
Rosanna that meant no unkindness
I have been little hard on her, per
haps, in my own thoughts. have al
most hoped that the loss of the da
mond might be traced to her. No>
from any Ill Will to the poor girl, but
He stopped there and. going back tc
the billiard table, began to knock the
balls about once more.
After what had passed between the
sergeant and me, I knew what it was
that he had left unspoken as we'll as hi
knew it himself.
Nothing but the tracing of the moon
stone to our second housemaid could
now raise Miss Rachel above the in
famous suspicion that rested on her IL
the mind of Sergeant Cuff.
Inquiry at the servants Offices in
' formed me that Rosanna had retired
to her own room. She had declined al
offers Of assistance with thanks. ant
had only asked to be left to rest IL
quiet. Here. therefore, was an end O
any confession on her part, supposin.
she really had confession to make