The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1905-07-14 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

CHAPTER IV.—A KNOT IN THE CORD. It was a quiet drive to Broadwater, for Burlinsou was a silent man given to intricate problems, and he seemed to have much on hia DIM at present. Lance 860 carried a load ot care on Ms shoulders that would have astonished the docter had he known. There was something blacker and uglier far than the mere loaa of tlie family prop, ty. "I've come to get a certain book from the library," Burbnson said meaningly, as the trap polled up at length. "You understand what I mean P"  Lance nodded. Burlinson strolled away towards the library with the air of a man who is very much at home. Away across the park Stott, a Dutch doll figure, could be seen, fading away in the direction of the village. Lyn came out of the darkened morning room with a mass of cut flowers and trailing ferns in her hands. She looked a little pale and anxious: her deep dark dress threw up her lace with a certain marble pallor. "Lance," she whispered, "you look as if you had some bad news."  "Come into the billiard-room," Lance said. "There is something I want to tell you. You must try and be brave, darling. It is hard to know what is for the best."  Lyn li.dened to all Lance had to v. There was a look of pain in her clear eyes, and the little hands were tiembling. As Lance saw it, he drew her tenderly to his aide. " I mast confess I newel anticipated anything like this," he said.  "Oh, who could?" Lyn cried. "And I have Milled you, Lance. If I had not bocn so weak and selfish all might have 6.4.11 well. Ilia who would have thought that Sir George—. Still, it is no use going hack to that. I have iuined you, Lance. You have nothing/' " Nothie,. good income ron my pen yon.  "ied *hall I al.,4ye be held woothy of the vuerifiep  "What sacrifice, i.ynP I always meant. to niariy you Had Bii ..ieorge lived I eliould not lia,e edited niorli longer. lie would have  known in llk cow •! 6ne—"  "11wuot b.l v. rgiveu us. Perhaps I cuLlLted ;.ao much oil that."  "Never mind, sweetheart. It will all coma right in the end. Meanwhile we must say nothing--not for a few days at least. As yet I have no.othrial notice of my U11(....'S will."  " Failing you, whom does the property go to?" " I &dare I never troubled to iquule. I ica, so dreadfully upset over the fiist diseavery that the future RUN driven out of my bead. We can do no Intim in keeping the secret for a few days longer. Now I should like to see you cheeifully goug thromji your duties as if nothing out of the CORIUM]) had happened."  Lyn smiled umiteaddy, and there was just the siepicion of a tear in her eye. But the pressure of her lips was warm and thrilling, and Lance was strangely comforted. It the worst came he had her. And he had his pen to fall back upon. Hurlinson appeared to be busy in the libraiy. Nothing was disturbod there, the litter of papeis Will lay on the big table on which Sir George had fallen as if asleep. One or two of the topmot papei a had been moved nearer to the window, a blind of which was slightly raised. There was a faint brown stain on one of the documents, a stain deeper towards the cent' e. " Have you got to the bottom of the mystery?" L ince asked.  " made it still inore puzzling," flurlinson replied. "Long tette me that every one of those papers was placed on the table by Sir George after dinner on the night he was 111111*----he Our poor friend committed suicide by cuttiug his carotid alter). with a razor. At any rate telt a written confession of the fact that he had commi!ted suicide. Now just look at this paper. What do you are on it?'" "A stain that is rather like a big brown blur in the c-ntre, Doctor." "Piteisely. And you don't know what that stain was caused by i" "I haven't the least idea. What is it P"  "Chloroform," Burlinson said, tapping the paper excitedly. "I have made all the tests, and find that a deal of that drug was drouped over the tab!e. See! 'l'll,. stain is here—and here—and here—as if a bottle had been tippled over. There is a regular pattern of stains. After what Long tells me, lam forced to the belief that the chloroform Wa. upeet after those papers were placed on the table— in other words late in the evening of the 111111--tragedy. Now it is not to he imagined for a inoimnt that Sir George drugged himself first and cut his throat after, is it? Nor is it credible that he took chloioform to ease the pain. If that had been so, we should have found the ho tie. I have quite another theory on the subject." In spite of himself and his troubles, Luke was interested. He was deeply puzzled, and indeed was Burlinson. The puzzle knotted at every fresh pull. Are you sure it is chloroform?" Lance asked.  "Sure as lamof my own name. I have made all the tests. Do you know what has happened Sir George was murdered. Ire was chlorofoimed, and, whilst insensible, his throat was cut by the assassin, who upset the bottle of drug in his agitation. Nothing could possibly be plainer to my mind than that." "But you forget all about the letter," Laneo said.  " Hang the letter!" Burlinson cried. "That is port of some infernal conspiracy. Sir George has been foully murdered, and I don't re,,t till I've proved it."