Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-06-10

tenant Of Rannoch always invited US
back in return.
Thus l gained many opportunities OF
talking with Muriel. and Of watching
her closely. | had the reputation OF
being a confirmed bachelor, and on ac-
count Of that it seemed that she was
in no way ayerse to my companions
ship. She could handle a rock rife as
well as any woman. and was really a
very fair shot. We often found u
selves alone tramping across the wide
open moorland, or along those delight
full glens of the Nithsdale, glorious In
the autumn tints of their luxurious
foliage.
Her father, on the other hand,
seemed to view me with considerable
suspicion, and / could easily discern
that l was only asked to Rannoch be-
cause it was impossible to invite my
uncle without including myself.
His pronounced antipathy towards
me caused me to watch him surrepti-
tiously, and more closely than perhaps
l should otherwise have done. He was
a man of gloomy mood, and often he
would leave his guests and take walks
alone, musing and brooding. On sew
eral occasions | followed him in secret,
and found to my surprise that although
he made long detours in various direc-
tons, yet he always arrived at the
same spot at the same hour-five
O'Clock.
The place where he halted was on
the edge of a dark wood on the brow
of a hill about three miles from Ran
noch. Leithcourt never went there d1-
rect, but always so timed his walks
that he arrived just at five, and re-
manned there smoking cigarettes until
half-past, as though awaiting the ar
rival of some person he expected.
In my youth | had sat many a quiet
hour there in the darkening gloom
and knew the wood we'll, and was able
to watch the tenant of Rannoch from
points where he least suspected the
presence of another. Once, when !
was alone with Muriel, l mentioned
her fathers capacity for walking alone,
whereupon she said:
ooh, yes, he vas always fond OF
walking. He used to take me with
him when we first came here, but he
always went SO far that / refused to
go any more"
She never once mentioned Wood
roffe. l allowed her plenty of oppor-
tunity for doing so, chatting her about
her forthcoming marriage in order that
she might again refer to him. But
never did his name pass her lips. ]
understood that he had gone abroad
that was all.
Often when alone / reflected upon
| my curious adventure on that night
when | met Olinto, and of my narrow
escape from the hands of my unknown
enemies. | wondered if that ingenious
and dastardly attempt upon my life
had really any connection with thai
strange incident at Leghorn. AS day
succeeded day, my mind became filled
by increasing suspicion. Mystery sur
! rounded me on every hand. Indeed
by n curious fact alone 1t was in
creased a h~undredfold.
Late one afternoon, when l had beef
out shooting all day with the Rannocl
party. | drove back to the castle /
the Perth cart with three other mer
1 and found the ladies assembled in tn
great hall with tea ready. A WELDON
! log fire was blazing in the huge oil
4 CRATE, for in October it is chilly an
4 damn in Scotland and a fire is pleasan
A at evening.
4 Muriel was seated upon the hig
! padded fender-like those one has a
| clubs-which always formed a coz
spot for the ladies', especially afte
dinner. When l entered, she rose quicl
| ly and handed me my cup, exclaimin
as she looked at me:
4 ooh, Mr.. Gregg! What a state yo
are I'M"
Eyes, l was after snipe, and slippe
into a bog" l laughed. But 1t We
early this morning, and the mud hi
dried"
Come with me, and I'll get you
brush" she urged. And / followed h,
= through the long corridors and u
ns stairs to a small sittiEg-room Whit
was her own little sanctum, where 81
worked and read-a coy little pla
cd with two queer old windows in Il
a colossal wall, and a floor of polish
oak, and great black beams above.
oh my eyes wandered around the roc
~ they suddenly fell upon an obje
which caused me to start with pl
a found wonder-a cabinet photogra
in a frame of crimson leather.
The picture was that of a young 6
ia duplicate Of the portrait b
found torn across and flung aside
I'M board the Lola!
The merry eyes laughed out at
ra- as | stood staring at 1t in sheer
ion wilderment.
che what a pretty grill" l exclain
nm. quickly, %concealing my surprise. "N
is she?"
the MY companion was silent a momt
h her dark eyes meeting mine will
uch strange look Of inquiry.
Ipht EYES," she laughed, everyone
rder mires her. She was a schoolfellow
r as mine-Elma Heath"
nely Heath" l echoed. Where
bile. she at school with your"
and "At Chichester"
a to out here and look at him." Two