The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-08-27
CHAPTER V--Continued.

And Muriel, a pretty figure in a low
cut gown of turquoise chiffon. stand
ing behind her father, smiled secretly
at me. | smiled at her in return, but
1t was a strange smile, fear, for with
the knowledge of that additional mys-
terry within me-the mystery of the
woman lying unconscious or perhaps
dead, up in the wood-held me stupe-
fed.
had suspected Leithcourt because
Of his constant trysts at that spot, but
had at least proved that my sus-
picfons were entirely without founda-
ton. He could not have gone home
and dressed In the time, for | had
taken the nearest route to the castle
while the fugitive would be compelled
to make wide detour.
only remained a few minutes, then
went forth into the darkness again,
utterly undecided how to act. Ny first
impulse was to return to the woman's
aid, for she might not be dead after
all.
And yet when l recollected that
hoarse cry that rang out in the dark
ness, knew too we'll that she had
been struck fatally. 1t 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 went there suspicion
might fall upon me, now that the real
7culprit had SO ingeniously escaped.
Whether or not acted rightly in re-
naming away from the place, l 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
filed with horror and surprise. Was
it possible that Leithcourt, that calm,
wellgroomed, 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
q guilty secret. I became firmly con.
vinced that although the tragedy at
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
in ignorance of what had transpired.
But who was the woman? Was she
young or old?
A thousand times regretted bitter
ly that ! had no matches with me so
that | might examine her features.
Was the victim that sweet-faced young
girl whose photograph had been so
ruthlessly cast from its frame and de-
stroyed? The theory was a weird one,
but was 1t the truth? retired to my
room that night full of fevered appre.
hension. Had l acted rightly in not
returning to that lonely spot on the
brow of the hill? Had l done as
man should do in keeping the tragic
secret to myself?
At six shaved, descended, and
went out with the dogs for a short
walk; but on returning heard of
nothing unusual, and was compelled to
remain inactive until near midday.
Twas crossing the stable yard where
! had gone to order the carriage for
my aunt, when an English groom, sud
denly emerging from the harness room.
touched his cap, saying:
Have you card, sir, Of the awful
affair up yonder?"
"Of WHAT" | asked quickly.
well sir, there seems to have been
O murder last night up in Rannoch
wood" said the man quickly. Holden,
the gardener, has just come back from
that village and says that Mr.. Leith-
courts under gamekeeper as he was
going home at five this morning came
upon dead body"
Call Holden. Id like to know all
he's heard" | said, And presently,
when the gardener emerged from the
grapehouse, | sought of him all the
particulars he had gathered.
.T don't know very much, sir" was
the mans reply. 81 went into the inn
for q glass of beer at eleven, as al
ways do and heard them talking about
a. A young man was murdered last
,aight up in Rannoch wood"
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