The Spectator., 1915-06-18
CHAPTER V-Continued.

Sul SOWu OI turQuOlSe CnlHOn, stand ing behind her father, smiled secretly at me. l smiled at her in return, but It was strange smile, 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 wQod--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- pfcions were entirely without founda- tion. 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 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. 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 I feared that if I went there suspicion might fall upon me: now that the real culprit had so ingeniously escaped.
 Whether or not acted rightly in re- vlo 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 l 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 it 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 man with 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 0urpose. yet up to the present he was m ignorance of what had transpired.
 But who was the woman? Was she young or old?
 A thousand times l regretted bitter ly 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 its frame and de- stroyed? The theory was a weird one, but was 1t the truth? l retired to my room that night full O. fevered appre. hension. Had l 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 l shaved. descended, and went out with the dogs for short walk; but on returning l heard of nothing unusual, and was compelled to remain Inactive until near midday.
 won SAoSSihS tiS stdUie ydTu where l 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?" l asked quickly.
 Well sir. there seems to have been . murder last night up in Rannoch wood." said the man quickly. Holden, the gardener. has just come back from that village and says that Mir. Leith- courts under gamekeeper as he was going home at five this morning came upon . dead body"
 Call Holden. I'd like to know all he's heard" l 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. T went into the inn for glass of beer at eleven. as I al ways do. and heard them talking about 1t. A young man was murdered last night up in Rsnnoch wood"