BERR EK Pa RICK
~ *
Author ef “A Woman's Crimz, Witness,”
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op trast N turned awilcre, neither Nad Tncedg pe oor beth ‘had nen preoccupied qo observe er hear. iow long he hea been yuaener he alone could tell; but there Cal Mr. Jerry Belknap, private detec- uve, one hand resting on the handle of che closed doer, the other holding an gen note book. Doctor Heath vouchsafed him one dark glance, then bending xbove the uplifted of Constance Wardour, he looked aright down into her eyes, and said in s low, tense ‘voice, “Miss Wardour, your words have been an accusation, but an insult; as such, [can only accept them—in, silence; good
ccm
orning. : m Then he turned, waved the private de-
tective haughtily from before the door, and strode out, his heels ringing firm upon the hall marble as he went. “J fear I intruded,”’ said Mr. Belk- nap, innocently. ““I have just finished making some netes in the library, and am ready to proceed to the upper fioor.’’ “Breakfast."’ It was Nelly who appear- ed with this announcement, which was welcome, at least to Mr. Belknap, and pale, silent, subdued, Constance motioned him to precede her to the dining room. “‘J’m sure to be in a situation,’’ mused
the gi-l with a rueful grimace. “‘If it’s only a tete-a-tete breakfast with a detec-
tive.”’
CHAPTER VIII.
“8unt Honor,’ said Misss Wardour, sweeping unceremoniously into her aunt’s dressing room, *‘you really must come to my relief.”’
Mrs. Aliston seated in a big dressing chair, with a tempting breakfast tray drawn close beside her, looked up serene and comfortable, and said, after setting down her porcelain chocolate cup with
t care.
“Yes!” with the rising inflection.
“Tm exhausted, bothered, bored,’’ con- tinued the young lady, flinging herself down upon the nearest ottoman. ‘‘i wish my old diamonds had never had an exist- ence. I wish had better serrse.’’
“Have a cup ef chocolate,”’ Mrs. Aliston.
‘““T won’t,’’ snapped Constance, belli- gerently. ‘‘I have breakfasted if you please, auntie,’’ lowering her voice to a tone of mock mystery, ‘‘we have got an- cther detective in the house.’’
“So Nelly tells me,’’ reaching out for another roll.
“And, he has breakfasted with me.’’
Mm. Aliston laid down the roll, turned fora moment to gaze at her niece; and,
suggested
reading in that fair upturned face, the fact that its owner was in a state of mutiny against the properties and all
things else that might come in opposition to her will, she took up her roll and but- tered it carefuliy as she said :—
“Well! that’s quite like you. What sort of a man is he’’’
“Splendid,’’ with a shrug of the shoul- ders, *‘smooth as oil, polished as ivory; « Chesterfield in ill fitting clothes.’’
“And, a detective?’’
“Well, why not? Somehow he Picked up all the arts and graces of a gentlemat:.’’
* Really ! then.’’
“Not in the least, The other is eccen- tric, explosive, amusing. This one is like 4 lawyer; very non-committal, not at all inclined to tell all he knows.”’
“Oh! have you told him about the chloroform ?’’
“Yes; he has the hottle.”’
“Well, what did he say?’
“Nothing. *’
“Nothing !"’
“Not a word.”’
“Goodness gracious! fasted with him?”’
“Yes; and he has spent half an hour f more in the drawing room. I have told tim all had to tell, and he is now prowling about my dressing room.”’
Not much like the other one
and you break-
“But What does he think about this affair?’ “I don’t know ;”’ indifferently.
“Why, it didn’t take you all breakfast time to tell your story?’’
Oh, no; I told my story and Mr. Bel-
P listened very attentively; made *me entries in his note book, remarked that he would have a report ready for mein the course of the day, and then farned his back upon the subject.”
“Mercy !’
“He discussed the new opera, asked - ifI had seen Neilson in Twelfth Night, gave a brilliant description of a Foung French drama by a young French author, gave me his opinion of Dickens, aid jooked his opinion of myself.”
“What a remarkable person.’’
‘Exceedingly so. His remarks have Mite exhausted me.”’
“Now, Con. ;’’ reproachfully.
‘Now, auntie, don’t plead, my heart is ' ant. If you don’t go and interview
that man for the remainder of his stay I “all order William to throw him out of MY dresing-room window: not that I
ve a rooted antipathy for him, he is Certainly a clever man, and no doubt a 00d officer. But I am worn out, unfit
for duty y, and—I have another matter tc attend to.”’ : :
“Oh !’’ “then. ready tive,’ Accordingly Mrs, , Mitror, touches
-
ejaculates Mrs. Aliston arising, my child, lam ready, or almost ; © go and inspect your new detec-
Aliston goes to her up her dressing-cap, 4 shake there. and then
Piven. “ives 9 vat here,
Grandmama Wardour had ;
has |
RIK REIKI ie
The Diamond Coterie
By LAWRENCE M. LYNCH (E. M. Van Deventer)
* “John Arthur’s Wied,” “The Lost “A Slender Clue,” “Dangerous Ground,” “ Against Odds,” Etc., Etc.
III ER IORI IKK OR ERIK RE
(Continued )
ce eee
THE DAILY
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bird, follows her nieee.
Across the hall they find the detective inspecting the little safe, and hurriedly introducing Mrs. Aliston, and making her own excuses, Constance hastens away and down stairs.
Down the stairs and out of the house, first because she felt oppressed and needed the soothing effects of fresh air and ex- ercise, and, second, because she expected the tramp detective to be somewhere in the vicinity, and, for some reason, she wanted to see him. In spite of the fact that she had just declared herself bored, and desperate, and anxious to be alone in spite of the fact that she had fled from detective number two, she wanted to see number one for a Woman’s reason. Hay- ing quarrelled desperately with Clifford Heath, she was immediately possessed by an insane desire to hear some one speak of him, and speak well of him. This man had treated Doctor Heath from the first with the utmost respect. He was un- doubtedly pleased at their chance meet- ing after all might not this secret which lay between the two be a perféctly hon- orable one?
In fact, Miss Wardour wanted to see Detective Bathurst, not as Detective Bathurst, but as the man who knew Doctor Clifford Heath better than she herself knew him. Of her diamonds, she never thought at all.
She felt depressed, dissatisfied, yet not quite prepared to blame berself in any way. She was possessed by more uncom- fortable feelings than she could have analyzed or described, yet was too con- sistent a woman to be so soon ready to admit, even to herself, that she had wronged Doctor Heath. Indeed, she was more angry than ever with that unfor- tunate man. Had he not capped the cli- max of his iniquities by flying off ata tangent, and leaving her in a most un- comfortable position?
The grounds about Wardour Place were large, well shaded, amd laid out with a net-work of walks. With a view to the avoiding of those paths overlooked by the windows of her dressing room, or other rooms where her aunt and “the detective were likely to be, Constance kept to the north and east walks, thus coming near the river, which ran north and south, and toward which the eastern, or near, portion of the grounds sloped down.
Walking thus, and gazing riverward, Constance saw a form approaching, which she soon recognized as that of the detec- tive tramp.
Glancing quickly about to see if any of the servants were in the grounds, and assuring herself that the way was clear, she went forward to where he could see her, before approaching too near.
Gazing fixedly at him, a slight move
ment of his hand told her that he had seen, and was alert; and then she made a gesture northward, and, turning that way herself, disappeared frem his sight among the shrubbery.
On the north, the grounds were bound- ed by the orchard wall, over which drooped the branches of huge old apple trees, and down close to the eastern boundary of this same orchard, a siall iron gate opened into it. ‘Toward this gate Constance walked, avoiding any ap- pearance of unseemly haste, and toward the eastern wall, hard by, went the tramp detective, looking innocent of any thought or purpose, save to intercept the lady, und beg fora dinner, 2 dollar, or a dime.
Reaching the gate, Constance passed through it into the orchard, and, almost at the same moment, the tramp bounded
over the wall, und stood bowing beside Ler.
‘‘Come into the grounds,’’ said Con- stince, waivine all ceremony. ‘‘If we
are seen talking there, it will look less suspicious. My servants are quite accus- tomed to see m* interviewing tramps.”’
She led the way back into the grounds, closed the wicket, and walked along the orchard wall to a rustic bench close under the bending boughs of a great tree. Here she seated herself, and the tramp, leaning against a tree a few paces from her, turned upon. her a look of proper suppli- cation, and said :—
‘“‘Now I think we servers.’
“‘Quite. None of my servants saw you last night, and they are not likely to, come here in any case. We shall hardly be disturbed. ”’
‘You think so? May I ask how long you have been absent trom the house’’
are ready .for ob-
‘*About fifteen minutes, I should think.’’
‘Well, in fifteen minutes more Mr. Belknap will be out looking at the
grounds, and for you.”’ Constance uttered a low exclamation of
surprise. *‘Ah!’’ said she, ‘‘you know that al- ready. Pray tell me how you are more
puzzling than a Chinese juggler.’’ ‘‘No jugglery about this, however,’’ he replied, looking somewhat amused. ‘‘I
met Mr. Belknap face to face at your very gate: I have seen him wear that farmer disguise before, hence I recog-
nized him.’’ “And he?’’ ‘*Did net recognize mé.’’ ‘Yet you know each othe, “*Sliehtlv. ves:’’ with a droli iook
>
an
SS ee
TIRED MOTHERS find heip in Hood’s Sarsaparilla, which gives them pure blood, a good appetite and
| bew and needed STRENCTH.
a
EXAMINER, “‘HARLOTTETOWN MAY 6, 1897,
mts cyes, of which Constatice took nore.
*‘Now tell me, Mr. Bathurst, is Mr. Belknap.a good detective?”
‘Mr. Belknap is a smart Wardour; he understands thoroughly.’’
‘*He equivocates,’’ thought Constance ; aloud she said,
“And I need not business in his hands?’’
‘You need not fear,’’ he replied, with odd emphasis, “‘And now,’’ he contin- ued, ‘‘time presses; you received your package, Miss Wardour?’’
Constance felt uneasy, this man seemed
man, Miss his business
fear to trast my
to find out everything; did he know of what she hed accused Dector Heath? |
‘I received it an hour ago,’’ she re- | plied.
‘*Miss Wardour,’’ asked he, fixing his eyes upon her face, ‘‘have ‘you any sus- picion as to who these robbers Were?’’
For a moment Constance seemed haif paralyzed with fright; then she answered firmly,
**No, sir; not the cion; but—you have.’’ “If I have, it is not more than a sha- dow—at present. Now, may I ask you some questions, not just to the point but which, for my own reasons, I wish an- | swered.”’
She nodded assent.
‘*Can you tell me how men you have in W—?’’
Constance reflected fimally she said,
“I think there are seven, in all.”’
*“*Ah! all in practiee?’’
‘*Not all; two are retired, one is an invalid, doing but little.’’
‘Thank you; and how many of them have assistants or students?’’
“Only two, to my knowledge, «Doctor | Benoit and—Doctor Heath.’’
“And who are these young men—I suppose they are young men? Can you give me any information concerning them ?”’
“The young man with Doctor Benoit is a stranger to me, he comes, I believe, from one of the neighboring towns; the one with Doctor Heath,’’ here, in spite of herself, Constance colored slightly, “is the son of one of our wealthiest citi- zens. He had, I believe, been reading a little in the city during the winter before Doctor Heath established himself here; since when he has remained in W—, and read in Doctor Heath’s office, when it has suited him to do so; he is like many young men of great expectations.’’
“And his name?’’
‘“‘His name,’’ hesitating Francis Lamotte.
“Thank you; and now, Miss Wardour, I want to ask at least three favors of you, in return for which you may command me to any extent.
‘‘Ask them,’’ replied Constance, feel- ing inwardly that she was outgrowing surprise.
‘*First, will you promise me—I know that you keep your promises— not to repeat one word of this conversation to Doctor Heath.”’
‘*Doctor Heath is not my father con- fessor,’’ she said coldity; and _ then re- membering the sort of man she was ad- dressing, she added as best she could, ' *‘Although from what you saw last night, you might almost have fancied him such. I promise in any case to keep secret this interview.”’
‘*Will you promise, above all, to keep it from Mr. Belknap; to keep everything concerning me from his khowledge?’’
Constance laughed. |
‘*So far as I can,’’ she replied. ‘‘ Mr, | Belknap is a detective; let him find out things as you seem to do.”’
‘‘I don’t find out everything, more’s the pity,’ he replied; then hesitating slightly over the question. ‘‘May I rely . on your aunt?’
‘‘T promise for my aunt,”’ replied Con- stance, laughing again; ‘‘she is very’ loyal.”’ i
‘“‘Thank you. Now there is one thing more I very much wish, for reasons which no doubt you will know in good time, to see or hear the report of Mr. Jerry Belknap, private detective. This I know, is asking much, but you will have no cause to regret it if you enable me to obtain this knowledge.’’
Constance looked perplexed, and hesi- tated in her arswer.
‘*You distrust Mr. Belknap,’’ she said finally. ‘‘I thought—”’
He throws up his hand patiently.
“You jump at conclusions,’’ he in- terrupted; ‘‘a detective’s motives must be
shadow of a suspi- |
many medical :
a@ little, ‘‘is
a
somewhat im-
9?
taken for granted. It is not distrust that causes me to ask this faver; I could not tell you my reason without wumraveling a long web, and it is not time te Legin the process; I am still in the realm of con- jecture. So you won't help me to the re- sult of Mr. Belknap’s investigation, | Miss Wardour? I am sorry; it would save time for me, for I fully intend to find it out in some way.”’
Constance smiled in spite of herself; she admired this man’s cool way of mas- tering the situation; she felt that it would be policy to let him Lave his way, since he would take it whether she would or no. But the imp of caprice had not quite deserted her, and now he goaded her on to her own downfall. Looking up, suddenly, she asked :—
‘*Mr. Bathurst, why did you ask me if I suspected who stole my diamonds?”’
“‘T didn’t,’’ smiling oddly.
Constance stared.
‘Tl asked if you guessed who bers were.”’
‘*But—,’’ she began; but the detective drawing a step nearer, and speaking in a guarded tone, interrupts her.
‘‘T am satisfied that you were robbed on Saturday night, Miss Wardour; I am sure that you have no clue to the burg- lars; no suspicion as to their identity; but, lam not so sure that you do not know precisely where to look for the Wardour diamonds at this moment?’’
Constance flushed, and then turned pale. She had found her match; she was cornered, mastered, but she must give one last scratch.
‘‘Having divined so much,”’ she said bitterly. ‘‘I suppose you intend to find them too?’’
He drew himself up haughtily. ‘‘I am a detective, madam, not -a spy; so long
the rob-
reproach. “d.am Dehnaving Ke a ToOo1,": she thought, in severe condemnation. “lam losing my own identity; this man is a friend to rely on, an enemy to fear. He will not bow to my whims and cap- rices. What hus come over me? Let me
try and redeem niyself.”’
She had been musing with downcast eyes; now she looked up, straight into her companion's face. It had undergone a sudden change; the eyes, a moment since so full of fire and- subtlety, were dull and expressionless. The face was vague te apathy, the mouth looked the incarnation of meekness or imbecility; even his hands had taken on a helpless feebleness in the clutch in which he held his worn-out hat. Before she could with- draw her gaze or open her lips in speech, he said in a low guarded tane:—
(To be Continued.)
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