Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1903-06-27 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

APPLETON. Author of "Rash Conclusions," "Francois the Valet," etc.  direction of Kew Gardena. He discussed Helen, and I Marcella, for a time; then, reveTting to the parlous theme always now in mu. minds, I said—  _ "Well, Mortimer, sum up the situation. How do we stand at present? We have scored to-day, but—" "Just so," said he. " There is always a 'but..' Let me think it out," and he smoked awhile in silence. "It's just this," he resumed, "I don't want to .say anything that would 9-_!efm to detract from your little triumph this afternoon. Taken by itself it was admirable; but don't run away with the belief that we have routed the enemy— we have not. To-day's was but a preliminary skirmish. There was so much that was crude and clumsy in the methods c.f this von Eissen—l don't think we nced refer to him as the 'Baron '—that I suspect him to be a new member of the gang, put forward on account of his good looks and native assurance to do the bluffing business. They had to begin somewhere, and if you had been a weak-kneed individual and Marcella less beautiful and her name still unknown to you. the trick might, possibly, have sum)eded. At present your position is an unassailable one; and you took exactly the right course in inviting inveaigation by the Scotland Yard authorities. What the next move in the game will be it is impossible to predict, but one thing is now very oertain. You must not lose sight of Marcella for a single instant. Richmond will be full of spies, and the house will be watched day and night. Under no oireumstances must she be permitted to leave it. I am not (guile that it wouldn't be better to put yourself in communication with Scot land Yard at once, and tell them the whole story. In any ease, there is the murder of the page-boy. They won't let the matter rest where it is. Ten to one if they don't come to you about that." "I had better wait then until they do," said I; "for something might also happen in the meantime."  "Just as you like," he answered. "Only you would put yourself in a better position by going to tli?na first, that is all; and now I think we have exhausted the subject for the present." We had reached a point about midway between Richmond and Kew Green, and walked along far a moment or two in silence. Then, suddenly, we were overtaken by a cab drivon at a furious par, and as, by a °amnion impulse, we turned our heads to look we both caught a glimpse of Maroella in her sables at the window a.s the oab flashed by. We stood rooted to the spot, staring at each other in consternation and dismay. Mortimer was the first to speak. "You saw who that witg," " "What dues it moan?" '1 "God knows. Was she alone?" I asked. "No. I saw a man's face at the back of  the cab." Was I maly taking leave of my sens?s? "Surely we must be mistaken," I ge..sped. "I how so with all my heart," said he. "But there is the evidk,nce of our very own eyes." A tramcar was p.r.wig in the direction of Richmond. "You 'will go back with me, of course," I mid.  _ "Need you ask the que.->tion? Just as foist as the train will take us." We leaiped it.to the car as it 03111‘` up. and fifteen minutes later we rushed brolthless into the house. The draw:rig and dini g rooms were both empty, and like one traught I shouted for lle'en. She answered hack from the kitchen, and at mew put in an appearance.