Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-06-17
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
it was a strange smile, l 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-
fled.
l had suspected Leithcourt because
of his constant trysts at that spot, but
l had at least proved that my sus-
picions were entirely without founda-
ton. He could not have gone home
and dressed in the time, for l had
taken the nearest route to the castle
while the fugitive would be compelled
to make a wide detour.
l only remained a 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 | recollected that
hoarse cry that rang out in the dark
ness, | knew too well 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 l went there suspicion
might fall upon me, now that the real
'culprit had so ingeniously escaped.
Whether or not l acted rightly in re-
naming away from the place, l leave
it to you to judge in the light of the
amazing truth which afterwards tran
spired.
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
filled with horror and surprise. Was
1t possible that L%eithcourt, that calm,
well-groomed, distinguished looking
man, held any knowledge of the ghast
ly truth? No. His name as he
stood in the hall chatting gayly with
me was surely not that of a mar with
a guilty secret. became firmly con
WINGED that although the tragedy af
fected him very closely, and that il
had occurred at the spot which he haC
each day visited for some mysterious
purpose, yet up to the present he wa.
in ignorance of what had t%ranspired.
But who was the woman? Was sh,
young or old?
A thousand times | regretted bitter
ly that had no matches with me 81
that l might examine her features
Was the victim that sweet-faced younl
girl whose photograph had been s.
ruthlessly cast from its frame and dc
stroyed? The theory was a weird one
but was it the truth? l retired to m
room that night full Of fevered apprt
lhension. Had acted rightly in nc
returning to that lonely spot on tn
brow of the hill? Had | done as
man should do in keeping the tragi
secret to myself?
At six l shaved, descended, an
went out with the dogs for a shol
walk; but on returning l heard
nothing unusual, and was compelled
remain inactive until near midday.
l was crossing the stable yard whel
l had gone to order the carriage fl
my aunt, when an English groom, su
denly emerging from the harness ROOF
touched his cap, saying:
Have you card, sir, of the awf
affair up yonder?"
"of what?" l asked quickly.
well sir, there seems to have be,
a murder last night up in Ranno,
wood" said the man quickly. "Holde
the gardener, has Just come back fro
that village and says that Mr.. Lett
.L.