A LOST WITNESS, OR TO MYSTERY OF LEAH PAGET

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 288, 11 December 1897, Page 6

A LOST WITNESS, OR TO MYSTERY OF LEAH PAGET

By LAWBENCE L. LYNCH, Author of "Shadowed by Three, / «S_!™w Clue " " Dangerous Ground, d S'Pavne--'AMounta_n Mystery," "The Diamond (kern," "Eomsu.ce erf a Bomb Thrower, "Uttt of a Labyrinth.

CHAPTER XLVIL A DROP OF BLOOD, m-ranee as his first words were, F errars gethonght that he comprete^y cddear e"ellow, compose yourself he said 'Miss Paget came home to-da'To-day!' Mas could only stare at k^Yes this morning.' Then his .oic^chanW to one of brisk just-ness-like good-humour It gu^e SU an account of yourself .we will fettle'down to business. Max looked about him. His lather and Sir Felix were already seated, and as Ferrars quietly lowered himself into an arm-chair beside the table Max gave his hand, first tc.his father and then to Sir Felix. Then he sat down and looked inquiringly from one ' toS eaveTo'u seen Quinlan.' asked Ferrars. 'Yes' said,' s__Xg scornfully, 'that he« busy looking out for number one He strongly advised me to do the same. •A piece of advice, it would seem, that you are very much in need ot, ■eaid his father, not unkindly. 'I daresay you are right, said Max, trying to speak composedly, but tailing in the effort, and turning an agitated face toward Ferrars. Tell me, he began, 'tell me what it all means. You said ' ,__,, . Ferrars lifted his hand. 'This morning, while I was in conference with Captain Connors, word came that Miss Paget had returned. Before we had found time or breath to comment, •upon the fact, a letter came. It was from Mr Paget, brief and curt, and it confirmed the statement of the messenger. His daughter had returned, end he would see Captain Connors soon. No explanation, no comment; just the bare fact. You, who know Captain Connors, can fancy its effect upon.him. Probably Mr Paget would have been surprised by a call from police head-quarters a little sooner than suited bis august pleasure, but for the coming in, a moment later, of the summons to the scene of the double murder. Captain Connors set oft' for it at once, and 1 accompanied him.' As he spoke of the murder, Ferrars slowly turned his gaze upon-Max Talfourd; but the only sign that Max gave of having heard was one of impatience. 'Then you knew to-night,' he broke out, that she was alive and at home? "Why didn't you tell me? Dou you think I wouid not have seen her before this?' 'I "shudder to think" what you might have done,' said Ferrars, quietly. 'Will it serve to restrain your eagerness, Mr Talfourd, if T tell you that unless great caution is used the name of Rieah Paget, already sufficiently quoted by the newspapers, will become mixed with this affair of the Dresden Flats?' Max Talfourd half rose in his chair. The detective was seated near him at the round table, not so close but that they might face each other without a change of position. At the first movement he fixed his eyes upon Max. Under his gaze Max seemed to recover his self-command. He dropped back in his seat and met the eye of the detective squarely. 'Having made that statement,' he said, 'don't tax my self-command too long, Mr Ferrars.' The only change in tbe face of the detective was in the eyes that still rested upon Max. 'Perhaps I had "better say to 3 rou now,' he said, 'that the return of Miss Paget does not necessarily mean an end to the mystery. lam aware of how you must feel at this moment; but if I had informed you at once that Miss Paget had returned and you hn ■" rushed off to see her, possibly getti? into an altercation with her father, the result might have been disastrous. I have found it necessary to instruct the parents of the young lady not to let the fact of their daughter's return become known at present.' 'You!' was all Max could ejaculate. 'Yes. I have lost no time, you see. I paid my respects to Mr and Mrs Paget this morning.' His three listeners were now past the explanatory stage. They could only gaze mutely. Ferrars turned squarely toward Max. 'Ls there any reason why. you should prefer to hear my explanation, or the part that concerns you most, at another time?' he asked. 'Mr Ferrars,' Max said, gravely, 'as far as I am concerned I have no reason for wishing to keep back or to conceal any act of mine. You will answer me one. question?' The detective nodded. 'Has anything transpired to connect me in any way with the strange fate of Hortense Novalis? Have I also, along with Frederick Quinlan, fallen ■under suspicion?' 'Yes.' There was a start and a smothered ejaculation from Sir I'elix, and a sound that was almost a groan from the elder Talfourd. Max tuu not remove his gaze from the face of Ferrars. 'Then,' said he, T beg, I demand, that you speak out, that you keep nothing back. I know from Quinlan that I can speak upon my call and encounter with La Belle Fabrice, since it is no longer a secret which I am bound to respect, and beyond that I have nothing to conceal. No nutter how serious the case my father and my friends would be my conbdants, my advisers.'

Ferrars put out his hand. 'Now,' be said, 'I see my way. In more or less degree, each of us is concerned m what I am about to set before you. Strange as it may seem, and is, tbe case of Miss Paget's disappearance, and the murder of the two women in Dresden Flats are, or seem to be, connected. Patience, my dear fellow—' Max bad started and flushed hotly again at the mention of Leah in connection, with Hoartense Novalis. 'I am going to begin over again at tbe point where Captain Connors and I set out for the Dresden Flats, after being apprised of Miss Paget's return. And then 1 am going to call upon you all for your active but not too inquisitive co-operation. If I get it, I shall hope to unravel the present mystery.' Never had a story-teller better listeners. Ferrars began like a born narrator, telling of his entry with Captain Connors upon the scene of death — describing everything, the rooms in their disorder, the bodies as they lay, the presence and appearance of Frederick Quinlan and Dr. Grove, the search, the daggers with blood upon the blade-hilt, the bloodstained statuette.

When he came to the subject of the letter and photograph he described faithfully their finding, but nothing more. He dd not say that he recognised the picture, nor that the letter bore signature of any kind. Neither did he break off to describe his sudden visit to the house of Abner Paget. He went on to the end of the story, telling how the chief of police had unearthed the envelope in the ashes — but sAill speaking no name. Then he gave a graphic account of the Coroner's investigation, as far as he followed it. At that point where he had left the scene of the inquest he stopped, ignoring all that came after. And one other thing he omitted—he did not speak of Frederick Quinlan's request, nor tell them that his identity was known to that young man.

Apparently, his narrative had been so complete as to leave no room for a question or comment. At anyrate no one spoke for many minutes. Then the detective turned to Max again.

'At this part,' he said, answer me a few questions?'

'will you

'Anything,' said Max, promptly (To be Continued.)