The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1923-10-05
Observation-Disclosures
BY Wilkie Collins

the guilty person, ne answered., DIS
easily, miss, as l could name you"
why don't you do it, them" Isa-
bel inquired, not very patiently.
She turned away with a frown on
her pretty face. Old Sharon followed
here. Even his coarse sensibilities
appeared to feel the irresistible as
tendency of beauty and youth.
Il say!" he began, 1--WE must part
friends, you know, or 1 shall break
my heart over it. They have got
milk at the farmhouse. Do you
think they have got pen, ink, and
paper, too?"
Isabel answered, without turning
have"
"And bit of sealing wax?"
81 dare say"
Old Sharon laid his dirty claws
on her shoulder, and forced her to
face him as the best means of shak-
ing them off.
Come along!" he said. II am go
ing to pacify you with some infor-
nation in writing"
why should you writer" Isabel
asked, suspiciously.
Because l mean to make my own
conditions, my dear, before 1 let
you into the secret"
In ten minutes more they were all
three in the farmhouse parlor. Old
Sharon wrote, enclosed what he had
written in an envelope, and sealed
it Tin the absence of anything better
fitted for the purpose) with the
mouthpiece of his pipe.
Nov, MISS he said, "you give
me your word of honor"-he stopped
and looked round at Moody, with a
grin-"and you give me yours, that
you won't either of you break the
seal on this envelope till the expir-
alton of one week from the present
day. There are the conditions, Miss
Isabel, on which I'll give you your
information. If you stop to dispute
me, the candles alight, and I'll
burn the letter."
1t was useless to contend with
him. Isabel and Moody gave him
the promise that he required He
handed the sealed envelope to Isabel
with a low bow. when the weeks
out" he said, you will own I'm a
cleverer fellow than you think me
now. Wish you good evening, miss.
Come along, PIGGY! Farewell to the
horrid, clean country, and back
again to the nice London stink"
He nodded to Moody he leered
Ii
he left the farmhouse.
Crossing the last field Isabel and
Moody entered again on the high
road leading to the row of villas
in which Miss Pink lived The minds
of both were preoccupied. Neither
of them noticed a gentleman ap-
preaching on horseback, at the walk
ing pace of his horse, and he only
observed the two foot-passengers |
when he was close to them.
miss Isabel"
She started, looked up, and dis
covered-Alfred Hardyman.
This is a piece of good fortune
that l hardly hoped for" said Hardy
man, his cool, quiet, dreary way of
speaking quickened, as usual, in Isa-
beps presence 81 only got back
from France this morning, and l
called on Lady Lydiard in the hope
of seeing you. She was not at home,
and you were in the country, and
the servants didn't know the adj
dress. l could get nothing out of
them, except that you were on
visit to a relation" He looked at
Moody while he was speaking. |
Haven't 1 seen you before?" he said,
carelessly. Eyes; at Lady Lydiard's.
You're her steward, are you not?
How dye do?' Moody, with his eyes
on the ground, answered silently by
a bow Hardyman, perfectly indif-
ferent whether Lady Lydiard's stew
ard spoke or not turned on his
saddle, and looked admiringly at
Isabel. 81 begin to think my luck
has turned at last" he went on, with |
smile 81 was jogging along to
my farm, and despairing of ever see
ing Miss Isabel again-and Miss Isa-
bel herself meets me at the road
side! l wonder whether you are as
glad to see me as l am to see you?
You won't tell me, Ell? May | ask
YOU something e1se?-are you staying
in our neighborhood?"
There was no alternative before
Isabel but to answer this last ques-
ton. Hardyman had met her out
walking, and had no doubt drawn
the inevitable inference, although