Pittston Gazette

              btttablintieri 18.10, I vol.. XI.VIII No. I* t Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Valley. PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY, PA., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1897. A Weekly Local and Family Journal, ( -or Y*ar ) In Advance* jOI|&0l^I1AY BDY I I AUTHOR OF • » «► • V 1 1 } yjjg J */~MSCR MOAOLC.Y3 _5tC!?ET AV/s^VARCHnONT BAI w r? D s /¥f IfrUWI IV 1I.MTI }, / Bv WM05t HAND"--® ® (,o»y r*« oht ByTMC AUTHOR eD«M Sir JafTray at the close Air. Borilerbaiii conns to question you you will be placet) in a inost a fix. But 1 will do this: 1 \*i to paying nothing When result of a resolve not to let tiiui go near farr until fbe hail confessed—what lif knew not. Ho Ion5od to rush and tak" her in his arms and yet was held back in a coiiriictrof doubts and fears. iiid worst tear that her action was tne i»K wmrn yon interrupted. i Knew men that every door of bopewas Miut against me, and when bo had gone I went up to my room aud tried to thiuk out tbe best Do you know what determiued "I have no doubt all that you say is juite correct," said the inspector at the 3lose in the tone of a man who didn't believe a word of it. "but there are «nne few questions I should like to ask Lady Walcote, with your permission." "As you will, Lady Walcote. I regret that I have no alternative. There are certain formalities to be complied with, but if you will agree to surrender this evening I will call here." matter had better stand over for a day dr two, air r all," said the baronet, and be then described what lie had done and said that he would, of oourse, bu responsible lor Lola's surrendering whenever the in pee,tor desired. Lola turned as pale as death and leaned for a moment against Beryl, by whom she was again sitting, and iHto Beryl's eyes there came a look of infinite pleasure, making her face giow with warmth. Sir Jaffray waited iu breathless suspense and fixed his eyes on the woman against whom the charge was hurled. for three days— -no ■onsent cours longer. Then, whatever ' happeiis, the facts shall be told." Beryl sat Cjuieily waiting for Lola to toll in her own way the story of wuich siii' knew the uiain features. Lola broke the silence at length with n long, deep sigh. Then she said: Sbo paused just an instant and looked at him as if hoping that he could read her thoughts, but before he had time to answer she continued: Can you guess "Much the best Way, Mr. Borderham," said Mr. Gilford when the two had left the room. "Never heard a lamer tale, did you? This ought to be a good thing for you. You've gone as straight as a good bound on a keen "Of course. Ask what you like," said the baronet. The latter listened deferentially, but at the close he shook his head slowly. It was left so, but there was n "First, I aui bound to caution you. Lady Walcote, that you are not compelled to answer any question, and that, if you do answer, anything you say may be used in evidence against you." "I am afraid that it is now too late," he said gravely. "It is very painful to me, but after what passed this morning I have made all arrangements, aud''— for even go long a delay, for the m xt day brought u startling development. The inspector came in the morning and by his desire saw Beryl and .Sir J a if ray together. Mr. Gilford was pres- Ah, Jaffray, 1 have been mad!" "Mo, you will not guess after what I have said and what has happened. I wanted to find some way out of the trouble which would have left some of your love for me remaining. I thought to kill myself, but I knew that then the man who is dead would have told you all my guilt and have tried to trade on the knowledge till tho thought of mo would have been hateful to you. I tried to tell you that afternoon, but the words were chilled on my tongue, and 1 could not. Then 1 saw no hope but to go away and so prove to the man who wes thus between us that he could no longer profit by his secret, and I planned it easily. He wrote to me that afternoon telling me to meet him at night at 9 o'clock near that cottage where ho seems to have met bis death. Then Beryl's letter came, and you know that it was to ask me to go to her, and it formed just the excuse I wanted. I left word that 1 was going to Leycester Court, and I drove over there, stopping just short of the house and telling Bobbins that I was uncertain what time I should return. and that one of the Court carriages would take me back, and as soon as he wa« gone 1 walked back. You know the lonely path across the fields. I came that way and did not meet any one the whole time." She turned on the detective like a wild animal at bay, bending her head aside as if half crouching between fear and desperation, her large dark eyes lookiug larger by contrast with the blanched face iu which not a vestige of color was left. The words so fitted themselves to his worst fears oil her aecouut that he looked across at her with an expression which she seemed to read intuitively. scent." "Ask what you please, sir," replied Lola readily. "I never had any doubt," replied the inspector. "The change of weapons was a little check, but there was never any doubt." "I am ready, sir!" cried Lola, rising and facing him resolutely. "I will go with you at once." "I want you to nnderstand my position exactly, Sir Jaifray," be said quietly aud deferentially. "I told you yesterday of an anouyiuous letter which had been sent to me saying that the dagger and bracelet had been put in the places where we four found them after the death of the Frenchman. I have i now had another letter w hich says that when Miss Leycester called here on the day of the discovery she drove hurriedly home and back again, and that before she went she bad had an interview with Mr. Gilford here, who had told you of the discovery of the dead body I and had given to you part of the. bracelet, the rest of which I myself brought here. I am not able to answer the questions involved either one way or another, but I am sure you. Sir Jaffray, and you. Miss Leycester, and yon, too, Mr. Gilford, indeed, will see the gravity of the matter uud of my position and will wish to give au explanation." ent ■ v V "Do you think 1 aui guilty of the death of Pierre Torrian, Jaffray?" she cried in a voice of pain and resentment. "And you. Beryl, do yon?" And with nut waiting for any answer in words, reading-one in the momentary embarrassed silence of the two, she cried in a voice all sorrow and suili ring: "Heaven help mel It is indeed time I came back! Oli, Jaffray, Jaffray 1" And, bursting into sobs, she buried her face in her hands on the head of the sofa. "What were the relations between you and this Pierre Turrian?" 4 'He was mv husband." "Ah! Will you tell me why you left home?" At that moment Mr. Gifford entered the room, carrying a parcel in bis hand. "I only wonder she came back; that's all. Better have poisoned herself. Wonder how the trains go. 1 shall just turn into the servants' quarters and find out. I shall give 'em a hint, too, of what's up. Well, I'm glad to have met you in this case. I like to see sharp work, even when I'm done myself. What time shall you take her? I'm sorry for the baronet. He's a good sort, and I'm afraid he won't thank you." together to tfce manor house, tbe baronet explaining more fully all that bad passed. lve vg "Wait a moment," he said, something to say." "I have "This is a serious matter, Mr. Gifford," said Inspector Borderham. "What grounds have you?" CHAPTER XXIII. "HKB ladyship, SIR JAFFKAYl" For some time after the police inspector's departure neither Sir Jaffray nor Beryl spoke a word, both being overcome with aMtouishinent at tbe bints which Inspector Border ham had dropped. * "What do you think of it, Mr. Gifford?'' be asked at the close. Lola glanced at Sir Jaffray. "There is no use in further concealment, '' he said in answer to her look. Sir Jaffray turned angrily to him. "I thought I ordered you to leave the manor!" he cried. "Ask her to tell you where is the bit of lace that is torn from that place. You'll see the pattern of the lace is a very marked one and the tear very singular in form." "I can't see it all yet, but I have a suspicion. I think the better plan will be to hold out against the inspector's hint, at any rate for a time. It's clcar enough what he meaDs. What he wants is to be spared tbe trouble of having to solve tbe mystery of the weapon, and somebody seems to want to help him. Who's that somebody?" "Bnt I didn't go, Sir Jaffray," replied Mr. Giflord calmly, "and, what is more, I staid to some purpose, as I think you'll admit when you hear what I have to say." "It is a rather long story, but I will tell it to you." And Lola told him. "It is a very extraordinary tale," said the inspector skeptically. "You admit, then, that you met the deoeased that night at 9 o'clock at the place where be was found dead. That is a very strong admission." "Well, what do you say?" asked Mr. Borderham, turning to the woman. "You need not answer unless you like, and if you do answer what you say may be used against you. Mind that." Beryl was the first to speak and characteristically took the blame upon herself. Sir Jaffntv could not bear the sight of her di ii .ts, tint w« nt quickly to her, and, laying a hand t n In r shoulder, said: "I shall get the warrant this afternoon and take her some time late in the evening. I want as little fuss as can be, but it'll make a bit of a spjash, won't it?" He spoke with an air of subdued but conscious pride, like a man who feels that he might boast if be pleased, but wishes to appear properly modest. CHAPTER XXVI. THE STOHY OF THE CHIME. "It is my fault," she said. Jaffray, I urn bo aci/jl" "No, no, Beryl; I can't let yon blame yourself. I ought to have seen what would certainly happen, though, now that it faaH happened, I am bound to say I am taken absolutely by surprise. Who can possibly have noticed that the things were absent for a time and then put back? At most there can only have been a ftw hours during which they could be missed. I wonder!" he cried and then stopped and exclaimed, "That is too dreadful a thought!" "Ob, There was a pause, during which the woman breathed twice through her widespread nostrils. Then, with an assumption of indifference, but in a voioe that showed her nervousness, she said, with a shrug of the shoulders: "I can't imagine." "Gi e lie your wor-l that yon know nothing of this, Lola, and I will believe yon against the world." "Yet it is the truth." "Why did you go armed? Why did you take that dagger with you?" Inspector Borderham took the interruption by Mr. Gifford iu bad part. He bad persuaded himself so thoroughly that be was going to make his reputation over the case and was so convinced that he had excluded the possibility of mistake that he was impatient of anything that threatened delay. "Exactly. Neither ?nn I at present, but we most find that out. In the first place, is it a somebody at all, or is it just a dodge of our friend Borderham? If he bad a ghost of an idea that anything of the kind had been done, it's all on the cards he'd get such a letter written to himself just to bounce ns into throwing that trump card down on the table. It stands to common sense that he'd give a lot to get tho difficulty of that dagger business cleared up, and if he could show that it really was Lady Walcote's dagger and not Aliss Leycester's it would be a good enough thing for him to conclude that Lady Walcote was the person wanted. And, don't make any mistake, that inspector would give balf his nose to spot the truth in this thing. I never saw a man keener. He scents promotion in it, removal to a busy center and reputation as a clever spot—I mean, detective. I know him." She slitxik his hand off as thouph his touch burned her, and, rising to her feet, looked him steadily in the face. "I did not go armed. I know nothing of the dagger beyond what I have read —that he was stabbed with a dagger which may have been taken from here." They parted then, and the private detective went into the servants' rooms to ask some questions about the trains and to tell them the news that Lady Walcote was to be arrested that night on a charge cf having murdered the Frenchman. "How can I tell how I tear every little bit of lace that I wear?" "Were the positions changed I should need no woid of yours to make mo feel your innocence, Jaffray," she said in a tone which stabbed him, "but yon shall have my word. As God is my judge I know no more than yourself how this man met his death." "Before any one answers such a charge we should know the person who makes it," said Mr. Gilford. "What of the bracelet?" "I don't see the necessity of this interruption," he said ixi his stiffest official manner. " Well, when did yon wear that dress last?" asked Mr. Gilford. "I know nothing of that either. Purposely I left behind mo every bit of jewelry which had not been mine before my marriage." "How can I remember? Do yon think I have but one?" "I know no more than I tell you," replied the inspector, "and I am most Meanwhile in the library blank dismay had fallen on Sir Jaffray and Beryl, and Lola, as soon as the excitement of her interview with the police Inspector was over, had broken down at the thought of the disgrace she was bringing upon the maa she loved. Air. Gifford read him at a glance and instantly resolved to puzzle hiiu still more. "What dress did you wear the night Pierre Turrian was killed?" "What is that?" asked Beryl anx- "Did you go to that cottage that night?" asked Jaffray when she paused, but DCryl sent a warning glanco that he should let her tell the whole story in ht r own way. "Your theory is, then, that some one must have taken the dagger and the bracelet and have gone with them to do this murder in order to put the blame on you?" iously. ?! [n J A flood of relief burst over him at tho words, and again he made as though he would clasp liti in his arms, and agai'i she prevented liiui. "I know it's unprofessional," he said very suavely, "but there is a little matter of theft which I think ought to be cleared up before anything else is done, and Lady Walcote's presence is essential for that purpose." "I don't remember. How can I?" "Can it.be possible that any one can have seen Lola take that dagger out of the cabinet?" "You lie!" cried Mr. Gifford sternly. "You wore that dress, and you went to meet Pierre Turrian in it. You had it on when you stabbed him to the heart, and it was when you delivered that blow that he clutched at your dress and tore from it the piece of lace that tits exactly into that tear. I have it here, and I myself took it from the dead man's fingers." Then Beryl, who had w+ited with suspense for the avowal of ber innocence. and who was quite ready to accept it ami to be convinced by it, feeling something of the agony which Lola must at that moment be enduring went to her, and, making her sit down agaiu on the sofa, insisted on si ting by her. She put her arms round her and held her in a close embrace and kissed her. "Yes, I met him there. It was before 9 o'clock, and we w alked back along the path I bad come, stopping every now aud then. I lied to him in one thing. knowing him—I told him that you knew everything, JafTray; that I was a fugitive of my own free will, that never again should he or yon set eyes on me. and that, though he had beaten me, the victory should be. as grit and ashes between his teeth. 1 taunted hiin wi'h the blows that you bad showered on him in the morning and maddtned him w ith jet re at the failure of his plans. What 1 did not let him even guess, however, was that my hC art was sick and my spirit bruised to death. We parted, a blasphemous oath on his side and a curse on him from me, aud I set my face to the darkness and plodded on through the night, alone with my grief and my knovs lulgo that the sun could never rise again in all my life. One single, solitary ray of comfort in it all I bad—that perhaps you would never learn how false I bad been and so come to curse me for it. " "I bad not thought of that It can't be possible. Even if she did take it she would be cautious uot to be seen." "I have no theory," answered Lola resolutely. "I tell you the truth. I had the letter from Pierre Turrian in the afternoon. I met him at the time named and at the place named. I walked with him for about an hotr in the direction of the Branxton road and left him at about 10 o'clock close to that road. I then walked on as fast as my strength would allow to Branxton, which I reached just before 2 o'clock. That is all." "If I were only dead," she moaned, "all this trouble would be euded, but I will Dot die till I have proved my innoceuce, aud then the sooner death the better." "This is unwarrantable trifling, Mr. Gifford!" exclaimed Sir Jaffray indignantly, and the inspector seconded this opinion with a look. "We are here in the midst of the gravest crisis of our lives, and you, having backed out of the serious business this morning, now come with some sort of flippant triviality on your lips. I must ask you to withdraw." "IfI" he repeated. "If! I wish with all my heart I could feel that if. What I fear is that iu the frenzy in which she must have acted she would be utterly heedless of anything and anybody and uot give a thought to the question whether she was seen or not. But that is not the point now. I am mad with myself for ever having brought your name into this most miserable affair. The thing has been bruited all over the kingdom now, and to draw back seems as difficult as to go on." r x "Why don't you take time so that we may try to get some evidence of the troth?" asked Sir Jaffray. "His manner was in the highest degree courteous to me," said Sir Jaffray in reply. The woman reeled back before this indictment, and, groping with her hands behind her for the wall, leaned against it for support, all the bravado and daring gone oat of her manner. rul lift "Forgive mo, Lola, fori, too, have wronged you in thought. I know what you must have suffered. Why did you "How could I wait?" she asked. " 'Cause he's no fool," was the blunt answer. "He wants to stauri well with you, and, if anything is to be found out that will paiu you, to have it seem to be forced out. But he's quite clever enough to try to use you all the same, Sir Jaffray. You see, he argues in this way: If there's been any exchange of these daggers, he cau frighten you to go running off to your solicitor in the fear that you may be involved as some sort of accessory"— "What do you mean?" "Where should I wait? I conld not stay here, and if I could not be here I would as soon be in jail I" she cried impetuously."It is no triviality, Sir Jaffray," returned Mr. Gifford apologetically. "I am not given to play the clown in the middle of a tragedy. What I say is correct, however. I have a charge of theft to make against a servant in the house) and I repeat that it must be heard here before anything more is done." "It is all a lie, a lie!" she gasped through her livid lips, which would hardly frame the words. not come to me?" "How are you going to prove that?" asked the inspector. "We have nothing so far but your bare word. What proofs have you?" At hist Lola tried to prevent the girl, but the touch of sympathy was too sweet to be long repulsed, and she first suffered, then welcomed and at hist reveled in the consolation thus offered. Sir Jaffray had no answer, for her reply tapped the other stream of hie trouble concerning her, and he could say nothing. "See, inspector," said Mr. Gifford, showing how exactly the piece of laoe fitted into the torn lace of the dress. "I don't seem to understand," said Sir Jaffray, like one in complete bewilderment. "When did you find all this out? Why, this morning I thought you had thrown up the case." "The scent was getting keener than ever then, and I wanted a little help. That was all." answered Mr. Qafford, with a smile. "I had suspicions yesterday or the day before. The thing looked all so bright and clear against her ladyship there that I began to suspect it, and I wanted to know badly who it was that was sending those anonymous letters. Ah, you may well start. Frenchwoman!" He turned to her. "You set up the suspicion yourself when you did that." "Why not go through with it?" asked Beryl firmly. "I have come back to find them," replied Lola stoutly. "If I had done this deed, I should not have come back; but, instead, I should have put an end to my life." "Because we cannot. It is a sheer impossibility. So long as there was no question asked and the weapons remained to speak for themselves there was do serious responsibility. Heaven kuows I had no intention of doing any thing wrong. I know your object. Beryl, well enough, and I cannot tell you how inexpressibly grateful I am tp you for it, but we have been wrong. We have tried to set the honor of our family before the truth, and now we see the result. I have tried to shield my poor, misguided wife, and I've sacrificed you instead. I've been miserably selfish just when I ought to have been most tsarefnl to guard you." • „ "Walt!" she said, xtoppiny and drawiny bach. "You make my heavy task lighter," she* said to Beryl presently, and then, after another pause, she begau her confession, beginning, womanlike, with au implied attack upon Sir Jaffray himself. "You could have come with me, Lola," said Beryl quietly. "I think, with Jaffray, that you should have waited, unless, that is"— She stopped and left the sentence unfinished. painfully placed I do not see how I He went to the door, and, opening it, beckoned to some one outside to come in. A woman who had been in charge of two footmen entered. can act otherwise than as I am doing." "Yet you went away?" "Do you mean"— began the baronet hurriedly, taking alarm for Beryl's sake at the other's words and bursting in with his interruption. "Supposing it should turn out that there has been some mistake of the kind, what would you have to do, Air. Borderbam?" asked Sir Jaffray. "For the same motive that brought me back—regard for Sir Jaffray. I went because flight seemed to me the only way out of a terrible entanglement, the only way to avoid even greater troubles. I came back because, for the sake of his honor, it was necessary that my name should be cleared of this suspicion." "No, Jaffray, the blood of that man does not lie on my hands," she said in a low, clear voice. "It was not for that reason that I would not let you take me in your arms just now. Heaven knows, I am bad and mad enough, but I am not like that." " Unless what?" asked the baronet, glancing at her. She was Lady Walcote's French maid, Christelle Duval. She held her head up with a saucy, flaunting air of bravado and looked angrily at Mr. Gifford."Wait a moment, sir, please, aDd try to hear what I have to 6ay. He wants to frighten you to go rushing off to tell some very respectable, steady going solicitor all the facts, knowing full well that such a man's first advice will be to you to take Borderbam's hint and make the change again while the ohance seems open"— "In the absence of Lady Walcote I should have but one painful duty," he replied. "What made Mr. Gifford turn suddenly in that strange way?" she asked as an apparently irrelevant reply. Her hearers bad listened breathlessly to this part of the story, marking every syllable, and when she stopped they could not understand ber. Sir Jaffray himself had seen her hours later than she said close to the cottage. "And that?" The baronet muttered angrily at the mention of the name. "I charge this woman, Christelle Duval, with the theft of this dress," said Mr. Gifford, rapidly unfastening the parcel which he had been carrying and holding up a black dress trimmed with silk and lace. It is one of your "To take means to find her and to ask an explanation of this most compromising series of coincidences." The baronet made a gesture of protest, but she checked him, and sitting up on the sofa, with her hand in one of Beryl's, she went on, speaking in low tones and with freqneut pauses: "It is more to the point to «sk Lady Walcote how she was dressed she went away," put in Mr. Gifford, "and how it came that Sir Jaffray was able to identify her by her dress that night." "I was wondering whether he had some motive, after all," she added. "But there—one clings to any straw." A long and painfully embarrassing silence followed, in which all four sat thinking closely. "Where did you go. Lola, aud where and w hat time did you leave that man?" he asked hurriedly and in some excite- "I think you blame yourself without 3ause, Jaffray. I am not one bit ashamed of what 1 have done. I would stand up tomorrow in the face of all England and tell what I did, and, what is more, I would do it again tomorrow, and I don't believe the bulk of people would blame me. If they did, I should not oare," she added, flushing in her enthusiasm, "if I had helped you." "If there is any possibility," interrupted Sir Jaffray again, when bis companion cut him short once more: "It is terrible, terriblel" exclaimed Sir Jaffray. "I cannot stand this inactivity. I must do something or I shall go out of my mind." At the end Sir Jaffray rose and pushed back his chair aud in a voice broken with emotion he said: "I will not try to make my faults less than they are. I)o you remember a story which that rnuu told a few nights •an at the diuuer table here? Well, the husband and wife in that story were Pierre Turrian and myself. Vou have a-ked lne oftejj whether there was anything in the put* that I bad not told yon. There was—that I was Pierre Turrian's wife. Now you can guess what I have suffered, and you know the reasou why 1 tied." mcut, "I was dressed as I am now." She wore a plain black costume. The woman tried to shrug her shoulders in reply, but she failed. "I was with him probably an hour, not more, aud I left him to walk straight to Branxton, in order to catch the mail that stops there at 2 in the morning. I did that. Wo parted about two miles from the cottage. I should think, on the field path that runs from there to the main road to Branxton and close to the road." "Please, please, please allow me and do try to hear me patiently. If you do that, Borderbam will not hesitate one minute. He'll be off to the nearest J. P. aud get a warrant for Lady Walcote's arrest At present be has absolutely nothing to go on, bar the fact of her ladyship's absence and the circumstance that there was a quarrel on the morning of the day about her as the result of which you turned the Frenchman out of the house. That's all the evidence he's got betause we've got all the rest, and at best it's only mere flimsy suspicion. But add the fact of the dagger found in the man's heart being the property of her ladyship, and you have just that substantial evidence on which a man can work and act. You see that?" "I thought I saw you in a cloak with a hood to it, such as I remembered to have seen you wear on our American trip on board the boat." Then a long and most painful interval of silence came. "I saw, as anyone might have seen," and he glanced hurriedly at the inspector, "that whoever sent those letters bad a strong interest in getting Lady Waljote into this trouble, and the fact that the writer knew so much about where the dagger and the bracelet were, or, rather, where they were not, on the night of the murder made me quite ready to think that she knew a little more. Again, another fact struck me as peculiar. Why should Lady Walcote carry a\vay one bracelet only out of all her jewelry? If she bad wanted it for its value, she'd have taken the lot, and the odds were dead against her wearing any such :onspicuons piece of jewelry as an ornament when she was flying from home and didn't want to be traced. That set up the notion that these things had beeu dropped just for effect, and that whoever had dropped them had done it with the object of planting this business on Lady Walcote. "You had better do so, inspector, let the consequences be what they may. The truth must oome out. God help her!" "Jaffray," said Lola, rising abruptly from the sofa, "we had better part now. It will be less suffering for you when we are not together. Goodby." She held out her hand to him. "I have made an ill return for all your love, but try, whatever happens, not to bear too hard a memory. I meant in all sincerity to pick out the course that would lead to the least trouble for you, and heaven knows I would have spared you all this if I could. Goodby." "No; I was dressed as I am." Then another silence as painful as the former followed. ' 'The dress, in my view, is a secondary matter," said Mr. Borderham dogmatically. "The important part of the affair is not what she wore, bat what she did. Much of that is qnite clear from her own admissions—most damaging admissions, too—and painful and unpleasant though it is to me," and he tamed deferentially to Sir Jaffray, "I am bound to say that Lady Walcote must consider herself under arrest." "Spoken like my dear, dear old friend and playmate, Beryl," he said, taking ber hand and pressing it "You brace one's fajth in human nature, and I believe with you that the world would not blame you for what has happened, but that would only make my responsibility the greater. But now there is no use in regretting. I must find out what we can do." In the midst of it a commotion was beard in the largo hall outside, and the door of the room was hurriedly opened. "I am bewildered," he said again. "If I am under the impression that I saw you close to the cottage in Asb Tree wood at. a time past midnight that nigl.t, is it not possible for mo to be right?" "Her ladyship. Sir Jaffray!" said the servant, aud Lola, looking very pale and worn, but very determined, came in. "Pierre Turriau's wife!" exclaimed Sir Jaffray, repeating the words over and over again a* though he could not understand them. "1'ierre Turrian's wife! His wife!" Then after a long pause he asked, "Did you know this when"— He did not finish, but she understood."What do you mean—that I was by that ruined cottage after the time I tell you?" "It is not that which troubles me now, Lola," he answered. "I am not such a brute as to be tbiuking of myself at such a moment as this. What I want to do is to see a way for you. Are you really resolved to give yourself up this evening? If you would delay it, the truth might come out." Sir Jaffray sprang toward her with a try of pleasure and gladness. " Wait!" abe said, stopping and drawing back from liis outstretched arms. "First let the whole truth be told. I have come back now to tell it." "Certainly. I quite agree with you," Raid Mr. Gifford in so decided a tone that the others looked at bim. "The story that we have listened to is obviously a very difficult one to accept, and a very little sifting will ahow its absurdity. I would suggest, Sir Jaffray, that it be given out here that her ladyship is under surveillance, that her admissions amount to a virtual confession, and that her actual arrest will be made as soon as the formalities can be completed. With your permission I will retire from the case, and I have only to express my profound regret that I have been enable to help you." "Do you think really that Mr. Borderbam has had that letter?" "You heard the story as he told it," she answered. "Let me make this clear,"he exclaimed. "When I found you had gone, I rode first to Leycester Court. That was directly alter dinner. I came back, hoping yo« might have returned, and then they gave me your letter. WJi n I had pulled myself together, I started off as hard as I could gallop to Mrs. Villyers' house, hoping against hope that you might have gone there. Finding the place closed and hearing, of course, that you had not been there, I rode again to the Court, but did not rouBe it, and then came on home. It was then a long way past midnight, and as I got to the comer of Ash Tree wood, by the path which leads from the cottage, some one came to the gap in the hedge whom I took to be you. I called to yon by name, but there was no answer, and when I had quieted my horse, which had taken fright at your appearance, I tried in vain to follow. Is it impossible that you can have been thereat that time:" "IJuquestionably I do, and, what is more, he means dm to understand that he will act upon it if I make it necessary for him. I will go to the inquest and hear what transpires, and then I will have a talk with Clifford. I must speak plainly to him." "Yes, yes. Of course," assented the baronet hurriedly. "Exactly. Well, then, if it's bonnce, it's clear that yon had better not give the thing away yet. But I'm not disposed to think it's bounce. I believe he did receive a letter." "He said you tried to kill him then." CHAPTER XXIV. "That id true, as true as light!" cried Lola vehemently, and Beryl felt ber start and her muscles harden with temper. "It was an impulse, coming either from heaven to free myself from a devil, or from hell to bind myself closer than ever to him, I know not which, bnt I acted 011 it, and never from rh»t moment till now, when 1 see you shrink and quiver at the thought of it, have I regretted it. 1 will not palliate my act or belittle it, but this I may say—I do not know that he could possibly have saved himself had I not stamped on his fingers, but I did not think of that then. He had made my life a hell, and when the chance «eemed to come in my way I tried to free myself, and 1 would do the same again." Beryl did her utmost to comfort her com- panion LOLA'8 STOhY. At the moment of her first entering the room Lola had not'seen the police inspector or Mr. Gifford, bnt when die noticed them and saw that the former wore police uniform she was startled. "Who are these gentlemen?" she asked of Sir Jaffruy. "I would rather face it at once. If I wait, my resolve may fail me altogether. I am a coward when I think of you, and death would be so much easier." dresses, Lady Walcote," he said, "aud has been foaiid among this woman's clothes." "There was another little thing: That bracelet was broken in two, suggesting that if the thing were genuine there had been a regular rough and tumble struggle between the murdered man and the woman who had done the deed, but there was no evidence whatever on the spot of any struggle, barring the bit of torn lace, while the two parts of the braoelet were found at such a distance from each other that only a most unusual sort of a struggle could have caused that. This helped me to think, therefore, that whoever had put that bracelet there had first broken it in two. "He knows," said Beryl. "How do you mean?" asked the baronet quickly. "Well, but who could send such a thing?" "You are a fool," cried the woman angrily and with vigorous gesture, speaking with a French accent, "a stupid fool! Have I not tell you £0 times it is a dress niadamc gave me? You know it, madame—you know what I say. You give it me since a mouth in London. Is it not so? It is only an old thing you have done with. You say, 'Christelle. yon can h;;ve this,' but this mau, this fool, lix on it aud say 1 steal it. Ha is—bah I" "Don't, Lola! Don't!" he cried in a voice of pain. "Precisely. We'll see about that presently. First let us see what we ought to do in this matter, supposing the letter's genuine. What can be do? He won't threaten you. He knows better than to do that for personal reasons. If you were a poor and obscure individual, and if Miss Leyoester were a wretched, friendless girl, nothing would be easier than to take you both by the throat, so to speak, and just shake the knowledge out of you. There's no difference between rich and poor in tho eye of the law, you know, but there's a deal of difference between 'em in the hands of the police, I can tell you," said Mr. Gilford dryly. Beryl told him what Mr. Gifford had gaid to her about the absence of dust on the dagger and the significant way he bad spoken. And then another long silence fell on the three. * But he was too much moved by her coming to be able to answer. As he said this he rose, and all the others stared at him in the greatest surprise and indeed dismay. Sir JatFray broke it. "I shall wire for some one to come and take up the threads which Gifford has bungled so terribly," he said, with sndden emphasis. "At all events it will be doing something, and heaven knows we need a cool head here now. In the meantime there is no goodby between us yet, Lola. I may be away some time, but I shall get back before —before the evening," he said, changing the pbrase with some slight show of embarrassment. Sir Jaffruy listened with a gathering frown of regret and annoyance. "Inspector Borderhain is charged with the inquiry into tile death of Pierre Turrian, and I am here looking into things for the family. I am Mr. Gifford, a private inquiry agent of Southampton row, Loudon, and well known." He could not resist the little self advertisement even at such a ino- " Borderhain may have suspected it even then," be said. "Those men don't carry about faces like open books. I'll speak to Gifford and see what happens at the inquest. Meantime try to think I am really aud honestly troubled to have brought this ou you." "I must ask you for an explanation of this singular course, Mr. Gifford," be said angrily. Sir Jaffray was full of indignation, She finished with a wave of the hand of infinite contempt, as if the detective were too much of a fool even for words. ' 'The explanation lies on the surface, Sir Jaffray," returned Mr. Gifford bluntly. "You instructed me to find Lady Walcote. She is found without my assistance. You then commissioned mo to look into this other matter, and again I have been able to do nothing, though everything is as clear as mud in a wineglass. There is no use, therefore, in my cooling my heels here at your cost any longer when there's nothing to be done. I don't want to rob you. You must excuse my being blunt, but everybody is bound to take Inspector Borderham's view of what her ladyship has told us. The thing's as straight as this table edge." ment. She stopped and looked eagerly across at Sir Jaftray, hoping to read on his face an expression less hard thau that which by her words she seemed to expect and not to fear. "Now yon are lying, you Frenchwoman, " lie said coarsely. "You Jiave taken that dress out of Lady Walootc's wardrobe within the last two days aud siuceLady Walcote left the mauor. You have stolen it. Do you hear?" "But it was one thing to see that the trail was too broad and another to find the right track. I made ap my mind that if Lady Walcote had gone out in tending to kill that Frenchman she wouldn't have been so determined to prove that she had been there as to use a dagger which every one knew by sight and to leave on the ground a bracelet which all the conntryside could identify, a piece of lace with enongh character in it to hang half a shopfnlof women and, as if that wasn't enongh, a handkerchief with her name carefully written in flaunting letters in the cor-- uer.'' "I cannot speak before these gentlemen, Jaffray," said Lola "What 1 have to say can be said to ynu—and to Beryl, for slio already knows everything, or nearly everything." He stood for a moment near her, as if going to say more, and Beryl, thinking this, did not reply, but he said nothing, and at the close of a somewhat embarrassed pause he went out of the room, just turning by the door to smile to her. "Impossible? Absolutely! You "know the distance from there to Branxton. I walked every step of tin-road. 1 reached tho station at a few minutes before 2, He went away then, and Lola and Beryl both found in his departure some relief from tiie strain. "As it is," he continued after a pause, "the inspector comes to you all soft tongued and pleasant, hints that if you've been hoaxed you may wish to see that the thing is put right, and so on. I know all that sort of talk, aud, putting it bluntly, it means that so long as you don't speak he daren't try to make you unless—unless, mind you, he can get some definite, positive evidence. You needn't bother yourself one little bit about the thing yet, therefore, but when he comes, as he will, of course, you can just say that you wouldn't think of doing anything, because some skulking coward has written as an anonymous letter what a newspaper penny a liner might hint for the purpose of getting up a sensation, and if—excuse my giving you a hint—if you'll put on a little grandee manner and tell him you are surprised he should let himself be fooled by an anonvmous correspondent you may do a good deal to check him." But be made no sign of any kind, and At this the police inspector pricked up his ears and looked across sharply at Beryl, who noticed the action and the look. she went on "Ah," she exclaimed, with a toss of the head and a sneer, "1 have it a month, and it never leave my possession one minute! Miladi knows. What do you say? Tell this—this cochon that he is a fool and then let me go." "The rest you know now or can guess nearly, except one thing. I will tell the truth now, tho whole of it, and you shall know the worst of me that can he known. I thought he was dead, and when my father died I dropped the name of Turriau like a bated thing and came here to England merely as Miss Crawshay.'' Then her voice grew harder, and the note of defiance again was perceptible. "I meant to marry and to mar ry well, and I had no wish to be known as the widow of such a cheat and villain as Pierre Turrian. Then I met you and resolved that you should marry me, and I married yon withou* loving you." rA 4 \ J li They sift together, their talkiug broken by long gups of silence, and Beryl did her utmost to comfort her companion and to draw her confidence. One confidence Lola shared with her, and the little story was both told and listened to amid scalding tears from both. The sharing of the secret drew the two women closer than ever together.She was a little puzzled by bis conduct, and with a frown of perplexity on ber forehead she eat for a minute or two thinking of it all. Then she smiled to herself very slightly and murmured: "I'm glad I did it. Whatever happens they can't do anything very dreadful to me, and Jaffray must see I it for his sake." Then she went uj r» to Lady Walcote's rooms. "Then we'd better go, inspector," said Mr. Gifford, seeing the difficulty and trying to get over it with a rush. The witnesses of this scene had listened in blank bewilderment while this had passed, and now Sir Jaffiay interposed angrily. But Inspector Borderhain did not move "I really think it would bo better for me to stay, Sir Jaffray," he said a little nervously, afraid to offend the baronet and yet very unwilling to go. "I don't take that view, for one!" exclaimed the baronet vehemently. "This is insufferable!" he cried, "A handkerchief?" interrupted the inspector. As the time passed Lola endeavored to assume a firm and resolute manner, but Beryl could see how completely she was overcome. "I think I can settle this in a moment," said Lola, who kept cool. "What Christelle says is quite true, Mr. Gifford. I gave her the dress at least a month ago. It is hers, and certainly she cannot be said to have stolen it." "Nor I, for another!" exclaimed Beryl as firmly, and Lola pressed her hand fervently for her support. "Yes, a handkerchief. You hadn't beard of that, but we knew of it. Sir Jaffrav found it. Well, I saw that tb« At the inquest everything went as Inspector Borderhain had anticipated. He offered just such evidence as he thought necessary, aud the coroner summed np the case ou the evidence presented. One juryman was disposed to question the desirability of not going Into more of the facts, but the other 11, who had been drawn carefully from the Walcot-e estates, took their cue from the foreman and declared themselves perfectly satisfied and gave their verdict in the exact terms the inspector had prophesied that they would. "I see no necessity whatever for your presences" returned the barouet shortly. "You must see tfc'it this matter has now taken a quite unexpected turn and that you can do uothiug. You can go." "Do you mean, Mr. Gifford, that you believe I killed that man, Pierre Turrian?" asked Lola, her voice vibrating and her eyes shining with suppressed feeling. whole thing had been planned and overdone. The proofs were tco many, young woman, and too piaiu. Well, then, the question was, Who had done it? Obviously it was a wornau—50 things proved that—and equally obvious it was some oue who not only knew tlie ins ana outs of the manor house, but had the run of her ladyship's jewel drawer. Well, there weren't many in the place who answered to that description, and I soon saw that it must be this Frenchwoman. You helped me to that, Siv Jaffray." With difficulty Beryl induced her to take some food and wine. w "You will need courage, Lola," she said, "for Jaffray's and that other's sake." And at this plea she yielded, forcing herself to eat and drink. "There!" said the girl, tossing her head agaio and curling her lip. "What did I say?" "You will accept the responsibility? The last words came slowly, and when she had finished she hid her face again, as though now afraid to meet his look. ' 'That is the hardest thing you have "W'liat responsibility is that?" exclaimed Lola excitedly. "Do you mean for my presence, sir? I tell yon I have come back for the express purpose of *'Your ladyship, it is not forme to turn accuser," be said. "I only tbiiik how a jury will view the case." In the evening Beryl's agitation increased, and her usual calmness quite deserted her, but, Lola, on the other hand, grew strong and determined as the time of the ancst approached. It was characteristic of her to meet the trouble when it came close defiantly. "Is that so? Then I have made a mistake," said Mr. Gifford, with a very crestfallen air. "Do you mean that you gave her this for her own, to wear when she pleased?" Ssaid, Lola," said .Sir Jaffray. Then for the third time a long silence came upon facing anything thut any one may dare to whisper against me, that I should not have come back had it not been for the fact of Pierre Turrian's death, and that I shall remain"—she was going to say "at the inauor house" Lut checked herself and substituted—"where yon shall know perfectly well where to find me whenever you wish. But now I have something to say to my—»o Kir "Then I will stand my trial," cried Lola indignantly, "and I will prove to the world at large that what you think is all wrong! If you think it, others will think it, and I will clear myself of all suspicion or suffer any penalty the law may inflict. What have I to do, Mr. Borderham? Shall I go with you now? I am ready. " "This is all very distasteful to me, Mr. Gifford," said Sir Jaffray after he had thought over the other's suggestion. "I have been woefully punished," said Lola in a low, half moaning voice of infinite sadness. "Out of both my faults have come the means to punish them. Thejuan who was dead lived to stamp out the light of my life. The love 1 had never felt woke to make my punishment greater than I could hear. If I had never loved you, Jaffray, I could have faced without flinching all that that man could door threaten, but when he hail the power to put out the lighted love which 1 had thought would never be kindled I was desolate. He came and forced himself upon me, and I dared not defy him utterly. I dared not tell you. because it meant—I must lose you, Jaffray. In a moment of madness and thinking I could play a desperate game with safety I tried to hold him at bay ami yet to kei p your love for myself, but it was useless. Some one else had learned the truth—Beryl here, and it came near costing her her life, for that evil, reckless man sought to lake it even in this house. But, like a woman feeling for a woman's grief, Beryl tried to make the trouble as light for me as it could be. Heaven knows how I have thanked you for that and for all, Beryl!" cried Lola, breaking off a moment to kiss the girl at her side. them all Her hearers listened breathlessly. and at 10 minutes past I left there in the mail train for Derby, where I had planned to change carriages and get a fresh ticket on to London." "Of course. What else, stupid?" exclaimed the woman, laughing saucily. "I tell you the dresB has never been out of my possesion, and I have worn it when I pleased." She repeated his words in a mocking tone and laughed. "And now," said the inspector to Mr. Gifford and Sir .Taffray when it was all over and the courtroom was emptying fast—"now begins the serious business of the investigation." "I've no doubt it is, Sir Jaffray," returned his companion shortly, "but the alternative is an immediate warrant for Lady Walcote's arrest on the charge of murder.'' When Sir Jaffray came in, he was surprised to find Lola so cool and confident and Beryl so agitated. "I? How?" exclaimed the baronet, who had listened like the rest with rapt attention. Sir Jaffrny lose quickly from cliuir uud rang the bell loudly, and, go ing to tlie door, told the servant to scud Inspector Borderham and Mr. Gitford into the room ut ouco. his "Yon told me that you had seen your wife that niirht near the cottaee. but She rose, looking firm and resolved. He told thorn what he had done—how ho had seen Giffnrd and spoken ont his opinion in strong terms and iu the presence of one or two of the servants had told him to leave the manor, then how he had telegraphed to London to a well known firm of solicitors, accustomed to the nnraveling of such mysteries, and had asked them to come down at once and bring all the skilled help that was needed, and so on through all his plans. "I think this has gone far enough, Mr. Gifford," said the police inspector. "It is clear you have made a mistake. You had better leave the room,"he added to the girl. "Yon'Te bad some anonymous letter, I hear, about the weapon," said Mr. Gifford, to whom the baronet had already spoken. "Do yon mind my seeing it?" ' But I object very strongly to any course that entails this deceit and false- "Madame, I am placed in a very difti suit position. Sir Jaffray must feel well enough how difficult and how painful it ia Certainly I do not wish to do a thing which can interfere with your chance of proving the truth of your story, and if I have your assurance and that of Sir Jaffray that he will be responsible for your remaining here I shall be quite willing to give you any reasonable time." (Continue) ntl Pacro Fotir.) hood. I have no right to put this indignity upon Miss Leycester. If she were questioned"— Jaffray, which concerns 110 one but himself, and for the moment we must be left together." "There is something that you must hear immediately, inspector," ho said very excitedly. "There is a mystery here which roust be probed at once. I can give you a clew to the whole affair." And thru he began to tell hurriedly that part of Lola's story which had excited him, while tho inspector, calm and stolid and skeptical, took copious notes of what he heard. g®' of tDe Globe for  f rheumatism! M NEURALGIA and similar Complaints, J nnd prepared nnder the stringent GERMAN MEDICAL LAWS,^J prescribed bv eminent physicians Ml DR. RICHTER'S |#£1 " ANCHOR " D3 VPAIN EXPELLERl I World renowned! Remarkably successful! ■ ■Only gennfne vrlth Trade Mark " Anchor,"■ HI - Ad. KlrhteriCo., 215 lYarlSt,, York. H 3( HIGHEST AWARDS. 1 13 Branch Houses. Own Glassworks, ■ ■-' A: 50e Endnrnefl & runmiiuMM Ii.a JH FjA r'ar.-er & PcH:k. 30 Lazdrne Aveuue. WL o. C'. Glk k. 90 North Main St Iwm -T. H Hourk. 4 North Main Ht Pitttstou. Pa. no 'CD*a I "ANCHOR" STOMACnALbertforl A flash of rapid thought convinced the inspector that he could not possibly do any harm by doing what was asked, as he oould easily shadow her ladyship should she attempt to get away again. "One moment, please," said Mr. Gifford calmly. "I am not qaite the fool you seeni to think. Now I have something serious to say. You have all heard this woman," pointing at her with his forefinger, "own' that that dress is hers, that she has had it a month and more, that it has nev« r left her possession, and that she has worn it You marked that, all of you?" He paused and looked around him. "Not in the least. Here it is." And he produced it. "Yon see the suggestion," he said pointedly. "And a most monstrous one it is," exclaimed Mr. Gifford, "a most monstrous one! I suppose you haven't a ghost of an idea who wrote this?" "If I had, I am afraid I could hardly tell you, Mr. Gifford," was the reply, given with a smile, "but I have not. I am thinking where to look." "So ain I," returned the other shortly. "Who is there owes yon a grudge, Sir Jaffray—Miss Leycester or, for that matter, Lady Walcote either? Hate of some kind inspired that letter." "She'd be quite equal to keeping Mr. Borderbam at bay," interposed Mr. Gifford bluntly. "The world isn't a palace of truth, sir, and if we have to have a nodding acquaintance now and then with the father of it needn't hurt us. But of course yon can do as yon like, only if you're going to do this I may as well go back to town." "I will do what you wish," he said, and with a bow ho left the room with Mr. Gifford. "I want no timet" exclaimed Lola The telling of this was a relief to them all. It enabled them to avoid those sides of the subject which were so oppressively sorrowful, and, moreover, it fed the Same of hope. As soon as the three were alone there was a long siience. The warmth with which Lola had spoken to the inspector died out, the pallor which all had noticed on her first entry increased, and she leaned back on the sofa on which she sat as though weak and striving to collect her strength for a great effort. "But what do you expect to gain by keeping up this thing now that it is bus pec tod?" CHAPTER XXV passionately. "I am ready to ro with WAIT1MJ KOU THE AJiREST you now." "Well?" asked Inspector Borderham in a tone nud with an expression that seemed to say the whole business was a tedious interruption. Sir Jaffray was so excited at the possibility of clearing Lola from the terrible charge of which she had been suspected and so relieved at having liis own distressing doubts removed and indeed eo overjoyed to see her again that lie lost sight of all the first part of her confession in thinking of the end, and he told the facts to the inspector with all (he enthusiasm and confidence of profound belief. "I think there should be somedelay," said Sir Jaffray. "I can then get some one to look into the matter who is not "One thing is certain, however," he said in conclusion. "There must be a delay, at all events until the London lawyers have been down and looked into things. It must be so, Lola, and I must find a means of getting Borderham to wait for a few dr~ t at any rate." "Time, Sir Jaffray, which is everything. Let us put the thing plainly to Miss Leycester. I know what she'll say." blinded by surface details." And he glanced angrily at Mr. Gifford. "It must be possible to prove the truth of this." "Well, I withdraw the charge against her of having stolen the dress, and instead—he stopped ami glanced around as if to enjoy the full effect of his next words—"I charge her with the murder of Pierre Turriau!" Sir Jaffray sat apart, torn by infinitely painful emotions Her first repulse of him had roused u multitude of disturbing thoughts in which bis fears on account of her madness, his doubts about the part she had played in the death of Pierre Turrian and his love, quickened into hot passion by the  ■ of her, were all mingled with a new "I am at a loss even to guess," replied Sir Jaffray. "May 1 take a tracing of a bit of the Sir Jaffray assented to this, and Mr. Gifford went over the whole ground with Beryl, telling her precisely what he bad told the baronet and leaving her to decide. Without a moment's hesitation she decided in favor of standing by what they had done. "I think so, too," said the inspector, "How long"— letter, Mr. BordeTham?" And without waiting lor permission Mr. Gifford did no, rapidly and cleverly, and handed the letter back to the inspector, and then Six Jaffray and the private detect- Just then the po1 inspector was announced and cam-; in, looking very grave, but very important. "But there was no hope of escape," she resumed. "Failing in his attempt to kill Beryl, tho madman came to me with a plan to kill you, Jaffray, and— hnt vnn re»mDmher the scene that mwn- But Lola burst in: If he had aimed at producing a dramatic effect, he could not have been more successful. "I will not have an hour's unnecessary delay. The sooner I meet the charge the better, if you dare to bring it ncairst nw»f" she exclaimed anenlv. Beryl, who was sitting by Lola, felt ber tremble and her muscles stiffen for an instant, while she bit ber lip hard. But the two men to whom he spoko listened to it with thoughts very differ- [ ant from his. ' "I don't like the deception. Beryl," The words fell like a bomb in the midst of thi.ui all. "I think. Mr. B«wriC rbaui, t! .t thii^