The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-24


for which you were prepared. Mr.. vii
Tiers arrived at my Office on the very
day you departed from Chicago. I re-
peat, we regret that our cable"
1t was now the detectives turn to
interrupt.
wait a moment! Are you sure 1t
was Gerard?"
"oh, yes; positively. He has not
changed so much. Even his sister,
Miss Isabel, who was only four at the
time Of his departure, recognized him
instantly"
During another pause Felix Hazard
did some of the quickest thinking of
his career.
WELL" he finally offered, 81 suppose
our connection with the matter ends
right here-but, no, 1t doesn't either.
There Is one more question you may
answer, II you will. Was there ever
an old servant or retainer of the vii
Tiers named William Hughes?"
Mr.. Morton leaned back in his chair
and thoughtfully regarded the cell
ing.
Hughes? Hughes?" he repeated.
"Ah, yes-I believe there was. Hughes
was the name Of the faithful old fell
low who followed Gerard to the states;
felt that he was under an obligation
to look after the heir, you understand.
The surveillance was wholly without
Gerards knowledge, though; he never
knew that Hughes followed him."
Felix Hazards eyes cleaned. He
bounded from his chair with the unex-
pectedness of a Jack-in-the-box.
Thank you, Mr.. Morton" he said
with ELUSIVE haste. II must be off.
But first, as we say in my country, l
want to put you wise to something
something that you, as the Villiers
lawyer, should know. have the best
of reasons for believing that the Viii
liers properties are in grave danger;
If, within the next week, say, prom
Use to have definite and complete infor-
nation for you on the subject, will
you undertake to have both Mr.. Viii
liers and Miss Isabel here at time l
shall designate by telegraph"
Mr.. Morton looked startled.
"Danger!" he gasped. What do you
mean?"
Just what say. / can't afford to
expose my hand now. 1 may be wholly
wrong; If am, nobody will be injured
by keeping the matter to myself. But"
he concluded grimly, II believe I'm
right"
The lawyer demurred and protested
and tried to surprise an explanation
from the detective, but fruitlessly. In
the end he yielded a grudging assent
to the proposed arrangement.
During the next fortnight Felix Haz-
ards activities were amazing. In the
guise of an American tourist, he ex-
plored every nook and Granny of the
beautiful Surrey country; he made
friends with the Villiers servants, and
even found two ancients who had
served the last FELTON,, an always OBJ
scure family, and now utterly extinct
in the county.
Then came the day when Hazard
sent off a number of kilograms, one of
them to Mr.. Morton. The next morn
ing he returned to London.
When Felix Hazard, in company with
two quiet, soberly dressed men who
might have been linen-drapers, en-
tered the Lincoln's Inn Fields cham
bers Of Bruxton G Morton, solicitors,
he found curious audience awaiting
his arrival. The detectives shrewd
glance focused Immediately upon Ger
ard Villiers, whom he found to be a
well-preserved man, who betrayed no
signs of failing health, and strikingly
like the boyish photograph.
Isabel was a pale, slender girl, very
blonde, not at all pretty, wearing her
modish clothes with the supreme I'M
consciousness of habit.
Hazard, with his usual directness,
plunged into the heart of his errand.
''In 1890" he began, when Gerard
Cecil Villiers left home, the only per-
son who seriously objected to his 60
ing was his half-sister, Isabel, then
child Of four. The father consented
because he knew the boys purpose
was set and not without warrant. The
son believed that his mothers place
had been usurped by the second Mrs.
Villiers, and"
A sharp interruption came from vii
liers.
why are these intimate family mat
tiers being paraded here. pray tell?"
he demanded.
Felix Hazard bent upon him a curl
GUS look, then replied in a tone that
vibrated with feeling:
Because they are an essential part
of the story have to tell-a presenta-
ton of facts that will clear the mys-
terry surrounding two cruel murders,
as well as facts that seriously affect
the disposition of the immense Villiers
estates"
Villiers paled and half started from
his chair; but he dropped back again,
and, white and trembling, stared at
the detective like man hypnotized.
The lawyer. however, addressed
Hazard sternly.
81 warn you, sir, that you must
either justify your words or suffer seri-
GUS consequences. These are grave as
sertions you are making"
81 assume full responsibility for
everything l say here" was Hazards
calm reply. Nov please let me con-
tinue uninterrupted"
And he was not interrupted again;
not until the dramatic climax burst
upon them with crushing force.
Gerard had boyhood friend, by
ard declared his intention of going to
America, FELTON, expressed a deter
mination to accompany him. This
Nh 81 t1,II