The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-09-11

London and discharged all the late
tenants servants. keeping on only his
own. Ann Cameron, a housemaid. was
one of these, and it was she whom
met when entering by the servants
hall.
On questioning her. found her most
willing TO describe how she was in
the corridor outside the young mis-
tress' room when Mr.. Leithcourt
dashed along in breathless haste with
the telegram in his hand. She heard
him cry. Look at this, Read it, Muriel
We must go. Put on your things at
once, my dear. Never mind about lug
gage. Every minute lost is of conse
quence. What" he cried a moment
later. you won't go? You'll stay
here-stay here and face them? Good
heavens! girl, are you mad? Don't
you know what this means? 1t means
that the secret is out-the secret is
out. you hear! We must fly"
The woman told me that she dis
tinctly heard Miss Muriel sobbing.
while her father walked up and down
the room speaking rapidly in a low
tone. Then he came out again and
returned to his dressing room. while
Hiss Muriel presumably changed from
her evening gown into a dark travel
ing dress.
Did she say anything to your" 1
inquired.
Only that they were called away
suddenly, sir But" the domestic add.
ed, the young lady was very pale and
agitated, and We all knew that some
thing terrible had happened. Mrs.
Lelthcourt gave orders that nothing
was to be told to the guests, who dined
alone, believing that their host and
hostess had gone down to the village
to see an old man who was dying.
That was the story we told them,
sir"
And in the meantime the Leith-
courts were in the express going to
Carlisle?"
Yes, sir. They say in Dumfries
that the police telegraphed after them.
but they had reached Carlisle and evil
IDENTIFY changed there. and so got
away"
By the administration of a judicious
tip l was allowed to go up to Miss
Muriel's room, an elegantly furnished
little chamber in the front of the fine
old place, with a deep old-fashioned
window commanding a magnificent
view across the broad Nithsdale
The room had been tidied by the
maids, but allowed to remain just as
she had left it. l advanced to the
window, in which was set the large
dressing table with it's big swing mir
ror and silver-topped bottles, and on
gazing out saw, to my surprise, it was
the only window which gave a view of
that corner of Rannoch wood where
the double tragedy had taken place.
Indeed, any person standing at the
spot would have clear view of that
one distant window while out of sight
of all the rest. A light might be placed
there at night as a signal, for instance;
or by day towel might be hung from
the window as though to dry and yet
could be plainly seen at that distance
Another object in the room also at
tracted my attention-a pair of long
field glasses. Had she used these to |
keep watch upon that spot?
l took them up and focused them |
upon the boundary of the wood. find
ing that could distinguish everything
quite plainly.
That's where they found the man |
who was murdered" explained the
servant, who still stood in the door
way.
Il know" replied. 81 was Just try.
ing the glasses" Then l put them
down, and on turning saw upon the
mantel shelf a small, bright red can
die shade, which l took in my hand.
1t was made, found, to fit upon the
electric table lamp.
Miss Muriel was very fond of a red
light" explained the young woman;
and as l held it | wondered IL that
light had ever been placed upon the
oilet table and the blind drawn up
whether it had ever been used as a
warming of danger?
AS | expressed a desire to see the
voung ladys boudoir, the maid Cam.
IRON took me down to the luxurious
title room where, the first moment I
entered, one fact struck me as pecu.
lar. The picture of Elma Heath was
10 longer there. The photograph had
'een taken from its frame and in it's
lace was the portrait of a broad
'rowed, full-bearded man in a foreign
military uniform-a picture that, be-
ng soiled and faded, had evidently
'een placed there to fill the empty
rame.
HAS the gentleman who called on
he evening of Mr.. Leithcourt's disap-
been back here again since
e left the hospital?" inquired as a
udden idea occurred to me.
(TO BE CONTINUED)