Penistone, Stocksbridge and Hoyland Express, etc. — 1913-08-09 (Penistone, South Yorkshire, England)

CHAPTER VII. WAS IT lIVILDIR ?  "Was it murder ?" So ran the heading of • short but patnltt' uaragraph that appeared in a Scottish daily two days after Elsie Teary Wu requested to meet 11 Ivry Ciamalord in the Queen s Park.  Following the heading the paragraph went on to say: "Last Thursday evening as Folios. constable Oliver was on duty near the Newhaven Pier he was attracted by seeing what appeared to hill. to be at first sight a woman lying on the ground. Upon closer inspection, however, it turned out to be a woman's jacket and bat, laid in such a manner that, the finder might easily be deceived in thinking that they covered • human form.  _ "instantly a search was instituted, and in epite of the pouring rain, strong wind and boisterous waves that frequently washed over the jetty they carefully looked into every corner and crevice, hoping to obtain some clue that might lead to the solution of the mystery. The police are now very busy making a clod* and strict inquiry, and though no further light has been given as to how the things came there we have the painful news to impart to our readers that on the same evening Miss Elsie Treffry, tianghtair of the late Captain Treffry, who lost his life some months ago at sea, disappeared tenni Corean, where she resided with her mother.  "News was received at the Police-station about eleven o'clock that night to the effect of Miss Eleie's mysterious disappearance and prolonged absence, and when Police-amenable Oliver brought in the jacket and hat he had fonnd they were immediately identified us belonging to ihat yoting lady. " rhe case is much more intricate than at first appeared on account of Miss Treffry hating left home tstout half-past seven, saying she was only guirg into Prince's-street on business, and therefore would be back soon.  "The nowt painful sequel. so far, to this mystery is the feet that directly Mrs. Treffry heard 4.4 her daughter's jacket and hat haying been found at Newhaven, and that it was feared she had suffered foul play, that lady gave herself up to uncontrollable grief, and within a few hours expired .Mr. Charles Treffry, the son and brother, is sway at sea, and theref.re knows nothing of this sad and sudden doable troulde.  "Every inquiry is being made, but the body has not been washed op. and the police are rather inclined to give credence to the idea that the clothes were placed near the sea to lead to a wp.ng impression. but what in.. ir theory is they do not say, and the query • We,' it sgaird,er I ' is left unsolved." Among thousands of readers there were three persons who cave special attention to this notice. One was Gerald Eldon, another Margaret Gibson, who, with a somewhat morbid fascination, dwelt with pleasure over the details, the other was Harry tiainsford. A. the latter read each word his face grew deathly pale, and with every nerve quivering in hie body, be gasped: "It was her own fault. If she had not threatened use site might have Wien alive now."  'rhea a is aottiod that you leave to-morrow night? 1 will .ire to my mend and tell him of my heck in haring secured you, Good-bye." With a brief hfuniMake end a burned noel Dr. Greyeen depertni. leaving Eldon to wonder at the such-1,r.... . . ...... 1.0 went wlorb tail Caine to him STIMOIN flee welcmg, anti wrricil, if he had only known it, was to be dm beginning of strange dnelopments. Lung after bra friend bad left Eldon had food for thought. 11. waa called to Edinbargh and he would go. Who was to my hot that this strange and unexpected opening was not arranged by One the windings of Whose will we cannot always see?  Four days later Eldon was beginning to feel quite settled in his new surroundings. The practice, aa Greyson had said, was a Isrga oat and spread over a wide area, including a great many of the poorer classes, in 080 of the more densely-populated districts of Edinburg*. At Snit Gerald naturally encountered mazy difficulties which a recently qualified taaw Inuit expect when he lays aside his books amid puts the knowledge he has been storing tsp for years to a practical test. But he did not try to shirk the responsibilities which now had come to hint.