The Warwickshire Herald. — 1899-09-14 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

CHAPTER VII. .101111 MRCVS 111PIAlliar11.  I wert back to London firmly believing that Wildover was the man who had been seen ualkim; with the murdered woman on Christmas Eve. The steamer had arrived at Southampton early on that day, and Mr. Wildover had gone ashore with the other passengers, and his luggage. which was much less than the average quantity, wits carried on shore soon after. He had only cabin trunk and a kitbag. The steward knew nothing of his nwnements after he left the ship, but he concluded that, like lIIOBt passengers, he went straight on to Waterloo. I was of the same opinion. Ile had gene on to Waterloo, and had made his appointment with that unhappy voung woman by wire, late in the afternoon. When Mrs. Delamere beard her manning about her room, She was dressing herself to go out and meet the man front Africa. That was between sin and seven o'clock; and it was not till six hours afterwards that they had paced the street engaged in a conversation that was full of trouble, tears, reproaches, reerhninations, distress. I was able through the General Post Office to get copy of the telegram delivered to Mrs. Rayner on Christmas Eve. It was brief, and without name or initials: aas "Meet lee in frost of the British Museurait  eight o'clock. —Your friend from Africa." Next Came the consideration of motive. The story as I read it was clear enough. Here was a young loan Who had made his fortune in the Colonies coining home to enjoy life under the best possible conditions—youth, health, and plenty of money. For his companion on board ship he had a girl whom he liked well enough to give his fellow passengers the idea that he and she were engaged lovers. So far all was sunshine for Mr. Wildover. But round his neck bung the millstone of a cast-off mistress. A woman who had suffered poverty and deprivation, and kept herself honest for his sake; a woman who loved him well enough to be desperate, and who might become his persecutor if he threw her over and married somebody else. My experience of life had sheivit me how heavy these millstones are, and what risks a man will run to get rid of ime. Wildover met Lisa Rayner, therefore, with the idea of a compromise. He told her that he didn't mean to marry ber, and he gave her a stun of money, perhaps with the promise to provide for her during the rest of her life. Now, if this man had intended murder he would hardly have been en besotted as to give his victim a parcel of hank-paper, which was calculated to lead to his identification. Notes on a local bank : notes end' r:ed wit% name and date! The indications in 11 paper-chase could scarcely be plainer. No! When he gave her that money he thought he was buying her silence. He hoped to pacify her by his liberality —but then came their final interview, and this poor wretch was still harping on the same string. _ _ . .  "I believed you would keep your promise." Besides tears and reproaches there may have been threato —threat.: of exposure. A blackmailer would have been bad enough, IMO a W 4 alma WIIOIII money wouldn't appease was worse. A millstone of the most dangerous kind. The ate brute—ti man who had seen the roughest side of life, civilised and uncivilised—who had lived in a miner's hut, and lberded with Afrikanders and Kadin. _  A man of that ekes would be likely to earn- a Derringer in his pocket—having so shortly landed in England. and not yet abandoned his African habits. And this titan lost his temper with the wonrnn who claimed hint —urging a claim that was unreasonable. perhaps. front a titans point of view. There may have been some final words on the -,tep—an entreaty on his part—a refusal on