The Washington herald., 1915-01-10

| ChSdBtu ~ lSONtu Ed-H OlneT ever
| since they was in pinafores, but e was
too poor to marry 'er, and when he was
on his voyages Miss Mary used to visit
up at the Towers and copy some OF the
old pictures.
lust one more question:" said Cleek
as they neared the great house standing
back in its screen OF trees. Was Miss
Mary-Or Mrs. Shadbolt, l should say
quite happy when she came back to
RiverSley?''
'WcH sir. she was hit pale like, but
then. YOU sec, the old rector had only
hcCn dead six months. We card as 'ow
II Was deathbed marriage Still. she
seemed happy enOw, and tOwld squire
fair worShped 'cr. Things were peace
ful enough till Mr.. Maurice came back
last week ''
''Ah! and l suppose Mr. Maurice didn I
lik" finding his sweetheart married, eh -
That he didn't, si-. Carried on some
thing awful Went up to the Towers and
fair frightened Miss Mary into fainting-
swOre ed never card OF 'er marriage
nor ad 'er Ictterj."
Its as clear as daylight, You idiot -
broke IN Mr. NarkOm in disgust Call
it a difficult case? Why didn't Won 90
to tackle Maurice Ward right away"
The sergeant Coughed behind his hand
the suspicion of a twinkle cleaning in
one eye.
Cos. Mr.. Narkom-e's missing. too"
Missing, Whew! That's a facer, Well.
get on the search for him. Here's the
house. l suppose
The great house was brilliantly light.
'd ana seemed to be in a fine state of
"ommotion. Servants were hurrvinr 10
and fro. and without further ceremony
the thr"" men pushed open the glass en-
trance door
Thank goodness" calculated the butler
with relief. when Potter explained their
presence. Then he turned to Mr.. Narkon
WI" stood a little in front of Cleek,
N"'N" found Mr.. Maurice Ward in the
'"nN"rNatory-found him at last. but dead
Slr' dead! Shot through the cart "a is
II 5 plain to see 'ow the land lies now
He murdered the missus, and then yTent
and did for himself proper and commit
ted SOOiCide,'
Nafkom gave vent to low whistle and
turned to Cleek. But Cleek had stepped
forward. his eyes aIight with something
more than interest, something other tha n
aSIuhlShment- For, even as the superin-
rhd"nt followed the trend OF his gaze.
ms own eye lighted upon a slim, girlish
hSur" that was stepping down the broad
marble staircase. saw the flash of some
thing warmer. deeper. come into the fair
sweet lace, and Cleeks eager voice came
10 him as his hands met Ailsa's
Ihank God for a man" The exclama-
t"n broke from her almost unconsciousIy
as sh" advanced across the hall with both
hands outstrctChod in greeting, the rose
color rising in her face
'AilSa 80 Cleck exclaimed. so carriad o,,,
Of himself that he hardly knew what he
said.
Il might have known YOU would come
Just when YOU were most wanted" she
said with "A shy little laugh You were
the one man l wished for. the one man
] prayed would he able to come and han
die this dreadful case
! would have come sooner, had YOU
only said where YOU Were" he answered
SIMPLY, releasing her hand and looking
long into the flower OF her upturned face
Yes. ought TO have written. But
oh, | could not. I have been trying first
to comfort my friend Mary Shadbolt, for
the loss of dear father, and now her
husband for that very friends loss Oh
poor Mr. Shadbolt, he is nearly distracted
if YOU only knew what this tragedy
means She lifted an impIoring face to
his, her eyes were suffused with tears.
Help us-bring back to him our dear
girl, and restore him to his old self. dear
that is what l ask"
Il Will do my hest, Aisa-T will do my
best SuppoSin@ YOU give me the exact
details Of the case. just what did take
place. or shall see Mr.. Shadbolt first?''
She shook her head.
He is too hesrt-brOken to do more than
pace up and down her room. He believes
she will com" back yet" said she sadly
II will tell YOU what little there is to
tell. Come"
With 4 gesture IN include Mr. Narkom
She led the way To a small room on the
ground floor Of the octagonal tower II
was "vldCntlv a small drawing room. all
gold, with fIuted columns from
floor I" ceiling, and the furniture was in
exquisite taste.
"I'n try and give YOU the details rs
briefly ~ possible began AiIsa. First
NJ all. this house. th,. Towers. is a very
old ono. dating back. think, to the time
of Cromwell but it has been SO repaired
and rebuilt that II appears quite a modern
except this tower. which Is
solid brick. and the OctaEonaI Room
MaIy's buudoir. is covered with oak
pan"linC. There isn't a single slit or secret
door in it from ceiling to floor
And YOU ar" sure your friend did not
rom" ont of the room?''
absolutely certain" AilSa's tone was
firm. emphatic. "WoII. We dincd all three
together. quit" happily. Mary had got
Iuit" over the scene with Maurice Ward
-sh" paused moment. raising her eye
Dr"ws inquirinEly.
Yes. I heard something Of that scene"
h" said in answer to her silent query.
'Was hc-violcnt. them"
'N"s-very. You see. they had been en-
Gagged. Of course il was only a boy-and-
-rrl affair and Mary always thought he
had forgotten her. That was on Friday
and nothing happened at all. There was
no further sign Of Maurice Ward"
"Wasn't there any letter.
NO: nothing"
Il see. see said Clepk quietly. And
now. what about Mrs. Shadbolt's health?
Was She in her usual spirits all day."
Quite said Ailsa. until after dinner.
when she complained of headache. and
after Mr.. Shadbolt had driven off to a
meeting some twenty miles away. she said
she would go and rest in the Octagonal
Room. was busy finishing a pen-an.
NIX drawing. and did not offer to accom-
1any her. Oh. if only / had,
1t was just half-past ten when I fin
shed was quite startled when I
glanced down at my wrist watch to see
low late it was So put away my things
quickly and went upstairs | looked in
at the OctogonaI Room. but Mary was
wing asleep in her chair near the fire
.oed out. shutting the door softly"
She was alive, then, l suppose" said
~Ieck.
Ailsa looked al him-startlcd. afraid.
What makes YOU say such a thing as
that Yes. I'm sure she was all right
hOugh didn't see her dear face. That
VAS turned to the wall. Well, ten min
Ites later, Jane Kent"
Another factor in the case. ch?''
Yes. her maid" said Ailsa. a good |
sirl, but very awkward one. Jane tap |
bed "a tbs, door and tried il hut Il WAS