Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-14

| as he called himself managed to deliver
his Observation-Disclosures standing by, re-
marked, rather taciturn. without removing
his google mask.
1t developed that the party, en- tour. as
| they would have II, had started out Of
| Lincoln for Great Grimsby. and had lost
| their way on what they aptly termed ne
| downs so ver' horeebile." Would we then
| be so good as to set them right as 10 their
whereabouts and their route7
We would willingly. sevrance pointed out
the northern road. giving minute directions
| one question that he answered sticks in
| my mind, because of the signihcance that
later attached unto t.
Dechaud had been giving an exhibition
or Grass stupidity. l remember wondering
| at the obstinacy with which he refused 10
understand Sevrance's directions
But" he repeated several times "where
ar-re we now? What Is zis pIace?''
10 which Sevrance finally made answer
impatlently: "Saltacres. the estate of Lady
heroert ten miles north of Saltsea Regis"
An-h re Lady Herbert--ze gr-reat Fem
eHsn beauty, l believer She reside here.
IN z's country so Objectionable altogether 7''
Sevrance told him no. that her ladyshIp
nVed In London. / fancied that the French.
man seemed disappointed, but from then or,
MS understanding improved noticeabIv and
IN moment or two more he was hack In
the car and, after insisting upon an exchange
OF cards ana compliments, the party struck
briskly out into the north
10 tell the truth, II was with some regret
., .hat l heard the hum of the motor die upon
the night. They had passed on and out
or our lives, II seemed, but their tnterr,,n-
ton had anorded us considerable arn,ise.
ment The slight incident seemed almost
memorable. since It was the only bright
iaushaole spot In time of gloomy anxiety
oeVrance struck little bargain with the
Keeper. whereby Thompson pronised NOT 10
ihentlon having seen us. but, on the other
nand, to find a means of appris.ng us in
stantly Of the arrival of Lady Herbert. or
,ne receipt from her of any word indi-
eating her arrival
Not five minutes after the departure Of
tne automobile we were back in the fiy. en-
couraging that noble animal the plug, "a
take us home to the Rainbow.
we MADE the Inn at about nine and fell
upon smoking-hot supper like a pair OF
famished savages. The meal was servad -,
tue taproom OF the Rainbow, and, as nearly
as we could estimate, all the countrvsids
was there to see They sat around fhe
taDles s In grave little groups smoking and
drinking from enormous pewter pots tvhlIs
watching us with intense gravity
dont suppose that four strangers had
ever patronlzed that inn at one and the
same time before that the incident assumed
IN tne popular mind the Importance OF a
image event; and for that reason [ hardly
blamed them. But the combined stares n,
so many pairs of eyes made me nervous
III particular resented the attitude OF our
Mhilom telow traveller, the ancient who
s"' III iar corner and never once ceased
10 accord our actions his undivided atten
ton Every now and again wo,,,d ,e.,,
up and as IL drawn by magnetic attrac-
tloh' my gaze would wander to his corner To
eiSouhter the anlmal-llke, curious and
STEADY stare OF his small bright eyes.
we promptly retired to our rooms--snnaII
chilly and damp chambers scantIIv f,,.'
nished and provided with window sashe.
that ratified like castanets in the sea lrasz.
situate at the end of corridor on The
first floor. y" e"s
Sevrance came into my room and pra.
empted the one chair, wberein he ~.
Tilted back against the wall glurnIv chs,vIr,o
cigar which he was enjoying so uttIe that
ne mad permitted 1t to go out ana in yVhIcb
ne TOOK not even enough interest TO reIight
IT, ~ was III ms masters chamber unpacl1-
ing the suitcases. flung myself fun length
upon the bed. to stare the ceiling out OF
countenance oe' VI
Neither OF us, by any stretch of the
imagination, could be described MS in :
happy state of mind / do NOT hsIiava
dozen sentences had passed betvssr, ~ 80.
the tlme OF our parting with Thomson tha
Lousekeeper at Saltacres, and of fhar, nnt
one had borne upon the subject which ,vas
obsesslon ~ po'"t OF
remember that was thinking th., 49,.
had best instruct Grady to prepara Tor 90
early departure for London the folIo,,,ns.
morning since there could be no profit In .
continued stay ir Saltsea 1t was oni,s
apparent as viewed tia matter that W.
Holzborn had succeeded in thro,yIns, on On
completely or the scent and felt ,-ia,, !.
ly convinced that by that time the hlsci-
guard mad accomplished his end-had min
OH win Julia and persuaded her into an
marriage.
SeYrance's opening remark which o,.
presently was right in line with This do,,-
reYerie, He spoke abruptly, startling ne
with the appropriateness Of his words ~
my thoughts. "
next?" '' reshouth
Portsmouth?" I turned to look al him
take the first train If I imagined Tor q
minute that there was anything ta -
gained AS 1t is, We can consider outsslves
cuteIy hoodwinked and II is nv oninioy
that We had best drop the rnatter--n,,t 4,
'ut OF our lives, as We must-=Jaiia
iou may do So IL you wish" he sald
shortly. i am not so complacent in defeat
~ tact' III not acknowledge that 1 am
beaten until we have more than circum-
'tantial evidence TO prove it, was going
o suggest that you. If you insisted might
20 TO Portsmouth"
But your"
IN stay Julia did not trouble TO send
,ou that note for no purpose-nor | ven
ure TO suggest, did she telephone her dress.
maker without a motive"
Then you think we had better stavg"
Assuredly." He arose, walked the length
Il the room and sat down wearing an odd
Expression of attentiyeness which I failed to
Understand "She wrote" he Continued
oftly-indeed, almost whispering-'st;or-
on, l need you. She said 'Saltacrss'
ou're sure OF that?"
Positive"
tart back tomorrow
What !" l gasped
But when looked toward him he was nor
a the chair. | saw him, out OF the tail 81
~ eye, making swiftly on tiptoe for ths
oor. In another instant he had Ii omen.
Startled, sat up on the edge OF the bed
heard a whine of protest a shuttle OF feet
and the door slammed loudly, shuttInr
4 sevrance with our aged and inquisltlvs
elbow guest of the Rainbow
II was all eonsummated so swiftly that
was still blinking with amazement when
saw Seyrance release the arm which he
ad been gFasping, and. with the qulcknsss
thought turn the key in the lock The
ncient appeared no less surprised than 4.
e stood auaking with the weakness OF a9e.
heumy eyes glittering beneath the sfeely
hatch Of his brows, pendulous lower lip
agging.