The Spectator. (Ozark, Ark.) 1911-1916, 1915-09-03

bullion broker OF Hatton Garden, met
his death--a most dastardly crime,
with which none of his friends were
associated, and of which we alone
held knowledge. He therefore wrote
to us as though from Leithcourt,
calling us up to Rannoch, in order
to strike the blows in the darkness,
he added in his peculiar Italian man.
ner. Besides, he feared we would
tell the signore the truth"
You have not told the police?"
II dare not, signore. Surely the less
the police know about this matter the
better, otherwise the Signorina Leith-
court must suffer for her fathers
avarice and eviidoing."
Yes" cried Jack anxiously. That's
right, Olinto. The police must know
nothing. The reprisals we must
make ourselves. But who was 1t who
shot me in Suffolk street,"
THE same man, Martin Woodroffe."
Then the assassin is back from
Russia?"
He followed closely behind the
Signor Commentators. Markoff, a
clever secret agent of Baron Obergs,
came with him."
Then for the first time recoliected
that the man | had recognized In the
Strand was fellow I had seen loung-
ing in the anteroom of the palace OF
the encouragement of Finland. The
| pair. fearing that should reveal what
l knew, were undoubtedly in London
to take my life in secret. Now that
Leithcourt was dead. Woodroffe had
united forces with Oberg, and intend
ed to silence me because they feared
that Elma, besides escaping them, had
also revealed her secret.
Il trust that the Signorina Leith-
| court has explained the story of the
yacht and it's crew." Olinto remarked.
And has also shown you how / was
implicated. You will therefore discern
the reason why ! have hitherto feared
to give you any explanation"
Yes" l said. Miss Leithcourt has
told me a great deal, but not every
thing. | cannot yet gather for what
reason she and her father fled from
Rannoch."
Then will tell you said Muriel
quickly. "My father suspected Wood
roffe of being the assassin in Ran
noch wood, for he knew that he had
broken away from the original COM
pact, and had now allied himself with
Oberg. Yet it was also my father g
object to appear in fear of them, be-
cause he was only awaiting an oppor-
tunity to lay plans for poor Elma' $
rescue from Finland. Therefore one
evening Woodroffe called, and my ia
| Their encountered him in the avenue,
and admitted him with his own latch
| key by one of the side doors of the
| castle. afterwards taking him up to
the study. He knew that he had come
| to try and make terms for Oberg,
| therefore he saw that he must fly at
once to Newcastle, where the Iris
was lying, get on board, and sail
! away.
with some excuse he left him in
the study. and then warned my mother
and myself to prepare to leave But
while we were packing, it appeared
that Chatter, who had followed, was
| shown into the study by the butler,
| or rather he entered there himself, be-
ing we'll acquainted with the house
| Thus the two men. now bitter enc
mics met. A fierce quarrel must have
ensued, and Chatter was poisoned and
concealed. Woodroffe, of course, be-
lieving he had killed him. My father
! entered the study again. and seem z
only Woodroffe there, did not know
what had occurred. Some words prob
ably arose. when my father again
turned and left. Then we fled to
| Carlisle and on to Newcastle, and
! next morning were on board the yacht
out in the North sea. afterwards land
| ing at Rotterdam. Those" she added,
ARE briefly the facts. as my poor IA
Their related them to me-"
And what of poor Elma-and OF
her secret? When. wonder, shall l
see herr" | cried in despair
You will see her now, signore." an
swered Olinto. "A servant OF the
Princess Zurloff brought her to Lon.
| don this afternoon. and | have just
| conveyed her from the station. She
is in the next room, in ignorance. how
ever. that you are here"
And without another word ! fed for
ward ioyfully, and threw open the
folding doors which separated me
from my silent love.
Silent yes, But she couid uayer.
theless, tell her story-surely the
strangest that any woman has ever
lived to tell
CHAPTER XVII