The Green Forest tribune., 1915-08-20
CHAPTER V-Continued.

And Muriel, pretty figure in a low cut gown of turquoise chiffon, stand ing behind her father, smiled secretly at me. I smiled at her in return, but II was strange smile, 1 fear, for with the knowledge of that additional mys tery within me-the mystery of the woman lying unconscious or perhaps dead, up in the wood-held me stupe. fed
 had suspected Leithcourt because or his constant trysts at that spot, but had at least proved that my sus- picions were entirely without founda- tlon. He could not have gone home and dressed in the time, for I had taken the nearest route to the castle while the fugitive would be compelled to make a wide detour.
 only remained few minutes. then went forth into the darkness again, utterly undecided how to act. My first impulse was to return to the woman's aid, for she might not be dead after all
 And yet when I recollected that hoarse cry that rang out in the dark ness, l knew too we'll that she had been struck fatally It was this latter conviction that prevented me from turning back to the wood You will perhaps blame me. but the fact is feared that if I went there suspicion might fall upon me, now that the real culprit had so ingeniousIy escaped. Whether or not acted rightly in re. malning away from the place, I leave 1t to you to judge in the light of the amazing truth which afterwards tran spired
 l decided to walk straight back to my uncle's and dinner was over before ] had had my tub and dressed. Next day the body would surely be found; then the whole countryside would be hiied with horror and surprise. Was 1t possible that Leithcourt, that calm. Well-groomed, distinguished looking man, held any knowledge of the ghast- ly truth? No. His manner as he stood in the hall chatting gayly with me was surely not that of a man with a guilty secret. I became firmly con- Vinced that although the tragedy af- fected him very closely, and that it had occurred at the spot which he had each day visited for some mysterious purpose, yet up to the present he was 1n ignorance of what had transpired.
 But who was the woman? Was she young or old?
 A thousand times regretted bitter Ny that l had no matches with me so that l might examine her features. Was the victim that sweet-faced young girl whose photograph had been so ruthlessly cast from it's frame and de- stroyed? The theory was a weird one, but was it the truth? I retired to my room that night full of fevered appre- hension. Had I acted rightly in not returning to that lonely spot on the brow of the hill? Had I done as a man should do in keeping the tragic secret to myself?
 At six I shaved, descended. and went out with the dogs for a short W"ih; puC Ou lcIuIuluS 1 heard Oi nothing unusual, and was compelled tc remain inactive until near midday.
 was crossing the stable yard wher, had gone to order the carriage fo, my aunt, when an English groom, sud denly emerging from the harness room touched his cap, saying:
 Have you 'eard, sir, of the awfu affair up yonder?"
 "Of what?" I asked quickly.
 Well sir, there seems to have bee a murder last night up in Rannoc wood" said the man quickly. Holder the gardener, has just come back fror that village and says that MT. Leitl courts under gamekeeper as he wa going home at five this morning cam upon dead body"
 Call Holden. I'd like to know a he's heard" I said. And present. when the gardener emerged from tt grapehouse, I sought of him all tt particulars he had gathered.
 'I don't know very much, sir" WE the mans reply. q went into the in for a glass of beer at eleven, as 1 g ways do, and heard them talking abol it. A young man was murdered la night up in Rannoch wood"
 "The body was that of manT