Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-11-24
CHAPTER 4

ERIC COLINDALE occupied an
ambiguous position In the house.
hold. n o0e sense he was a paid
servant Mke James. being just an
agent. It In another sense he was
anything but a servant, if the ru-
mors th9e were exploited in the
servant% NA1 had any foundation
of truth.
OF Sir Henry he saw little,
merely receiving general orders
with regard to the estate from the
baronet, who spent most Of his
zine In his study and seldom went
out
But of Lady Severinge he saw a
great deal, and this was reported
to be the cause of trouble with her
husband.
Between Colindale and James
there was no love lost, for the
butler was quite firm in claiming
that all that appertained to the
interior of the house fell within
his province, and would brook no
interference.
The two men searched the whole
place from attic to cellar. but
there was no trace of the missing
man. nor any signs Of burglars,
although James gave it as his
opinion that someone might have
entered the house in the night. and
that Sir Henry. hearing a noise.
had gone to ascertain the cause.
and met with disaster. The chapel
door was locked. but Colindale re-
marked with a sneer that Sir
Henry would have hardly gone
there for a lonely vigil. Or to con-
fess his sins.
They were returning along the
corridor. The ancient paving
stone of the cloisters had been left
when the open sides mad been
Nricked up to form a more con-
venient passageway round the CEN
trail court. Colindale stopped
abruptly and looked at the floor.
"Hello!" he exclaimed, and
pointed to large spot OF candle
grease that had splashed on the
stone flag.
He bent down to examine the
mark. but. glancing along the cor
rider. saw another on which the
sun through the lancet window
was shining as though on glass.
Candle grease-someone has
been along here with a candle.
didn't know there was such a
thing in the house, He laughed
uneasily.
James spoke gravely. "Sir
Henry has a pair of silver candle
sticks in his study. but only uses
them for sealing documents"
'What on earth was he doing
with a candle. when there is cleo
trio light all over the house ?"
Colindale asked. gazing in a per-
picked manner at the stain.
lone of the candlesticks is miss
ing" James observed quietly. II
saw that when we searched the
study"
"Oh-you didn't say anything
about it."
mo. thought it likely that Sir
Henry had taken it with him."
They found three spots alto
gether. each exactly opposite one
of the narrow windows into the
court.
II must tell Lady Severinge.'
Colindale announced shortly.
Don't you think that we had
better call the police?" James re-
torted.
@"That will be for her ladyshir
to say-we can't give orders"
James bowed rather ironically
and turned away to his own quar-.
tiers at the back OF the house
Cnlindale found Lady Severinge II
her sitt..-g room. where he had lief,
her. A meal had been brought uE
TN tray. but remained untouched
. She looked up eagerly at his entry
mo trace VIII a r-we'vt
searched the whole place."
Eric, do you think that he coult
have crossed the lake ?" 4ss
"Tou mean gone into IT," the
man said brutality. THAT is i'm
possible, unless of course he wal
helped by someone inside tn.
House. Every window was tightly
fastened. and YOU know that al