A LOST WITNESS, OR THE MYSTERY OF LEAH PAGET

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 289, 13 December 1897, Page 6

A LOST WITNESS, OR THE MYSTERY OF LEAH PAGET

BY JLAWRENCE L. LYNCH,

Author of "Shadowed by Three, '/ Slender Clue," "Dangerous Ground, "Madeline Payne," "A Mountain Mystery," "The Diamond Coterie," "Romanceof a Bomb Thrower," "Out of a Labyrinth."

\ CHAPTER XLVII. (Continued.) aquai-itance of Hortense Novalis?' asked Ferrars. , , 'Oh the day on which Quinlan and the janitor testified. Shall I relate the circumstances?' , 'By all means,' said Ferrars, while Sir Felix leaned forward eagerly, and the eider Talfourd drew back in his chair ahd put up his hand to shade his face. Max noted the movement and that the hand was rather unsteady. 'That morning,' Max began—'l can t recall "the precise date—Fred Quinlan came to liie. It was at my down-town rooms, I remember, and I was writing at the time. Quinlan said that he brought an invitation to dive with a friend of his ; in short, with the Novalis. She had been creating quite a sensation, and I had seen her at a distance, and knew her as any other cltib man naturally would. Quinlan said, with some of his usual chaffing BoiiSense, that she had seen me in the park and elsewhere, and that she wanted to be introduced. He ended by Saying that be had just received a fitSte from Hortense, in which She assured him that he must bring me, for La Belle Fabrice Would be present. I-believe I manifested surprise, for I didn't think the two were compatible. I eau't say that I needed much urging, although I did hesitate a little just at flt-St. So I told Quinlan that I would be on the spot at the appointed hour, and that he had better be on hand a little earlier to introduce me.'

H_* paused here, as though he had reached the end, but Sir Felix contitluied to look expectant, and Ferrars {Said, 'Weil?' in a tone not to be misilndersjtood.

'Somehow, I suppose because the drive to the place was shorter than 1 ihch-ight, I was a little early. When I got inside, the maid helped me to take off the light topcoat that I wore over iiiy dinner dress, and I heard voices in the room beyond. As I tttade my itppearance in the little reception room, I saw in the next room tv?o tyomen. One was tall and superb, in a magnificent toilet, and blazing with jewels-^-my hostess, Horteft^g Novalis; the other was La Belle Fabrice. I suppose that both were too excited to have heard ray entrance At any rate, before I could think to make my presence known, I caught a few Words —parts of a sentence or two. 'You'll be very sorry for this,' I heard Hortense say, and she added something about "intentional insult." I didn't hear a word from the lips of Fabrice, but she turned at that monlent, and I saw that she was pale, and looked shocked or frightened. As she turned, M'lle Novalis, who had not yet seen me, flung- after her a gfross insulting epithet. The next moment both saw nie. The face of La Belle Fabrice flamed and paled again under the insult, but she did not open her lips. She was hastening toward the ante-room, near the entrance of which I still stood. As she saw me — Hortense I mean—she struck a bell violently, and before Fabrice could cross •the two rooms, a maid appeared. •'Shdw that person out at once," Hortense cried angrily. Then she advanced toward me, trying to muster a smile and sa*.f some word of w_.l-.Oiti... I did not hesitate a* secotid. The scene provoked and disgusted me. I did not so much as glance at my would-be hostess, but as Fabrice approached, I stepped to hef side and said, Tt appears that I am on time, as I came to look after yon, M'lle Fabrice. Please take my arm. We will not trouble M'lle's servant.' I spoke as if I were an acquaintance, and as I looked down into her face it lighted up, and I saw that she understood me. She put her hahd on my arm add walked out With me like a little princess. At the door we encountered Fred Quinlan. It was not the place for explanations and iione Were made. By th.c time we were well out of the place, Fabrice had regained her composure, and she made a brief explanation. It was to the effect that she had been decoyed to the rooms of Hortense upon a misrepresentation. She had received a note, she said, and had gone in response to it, expecting to meet an old acquaintance, ill or in trouble, and hoping that she might be able to serve the person. Instead she had found Hortense Novalis, blazing with jewels, and was informed that she was called to dine with some gentlemen who wanted Very thiich to know her. In order to make sure of her coming, Hortense had said that she had per-' petrated upon her a harmless little joke.' '11l making her explanation,' asked Ferrars, 'did the lady say she found, in Hortense Novalis, the acquaintance .who was in supposed distress?' 'N—now that I think of it, no.' 'Oii the contrary, then, did she say she did not find the person she expected to meet?' Max considered a moment. 'No,' he said again. 'I see your meaning. I haVe held the impression that she found a stranger, but she did not say it. was a stranger.' 'And about your subsequent call upon Quinlan-^-how was that ?' 'Very much as Quinlan related upon the witness stand. When we left the house together, the lady and myself, we walked a short distance, she telling rte in substance what I have, just related. She was very reserved, and used as feW words as possible. She finished by asking me not to mention the fac x of our meeting at that place to any one. In face, she laid so much stress upon it that I promised her very solemnly, and volunteered to procure a like promise from Fred Quinlan, which I did, as you have been told. It seemed to relieve her anxiety, and I confess that I did not much Wonder that she was anxious.' 'And was that your first and last call upon Hortense Novalis?' asked ferrars.

'It was. I have since received two notes from the woman—one a day or two after the event, and the other perhaps two weeks later. I gave them no attention. They were the same in purport. She wished to see me, regretted the unpleasant incident at my first call, and would like an opportunity to explain, to set herself .right in my eyes.' 'And you say you ignored the notes?' 'I did; simply, threw them in the waste basket or the grate. You will remember, you reminded me of the fact once to-night, that on the day after my call at the Dresden Flats, I learned of Leah's disappearance.'

While they were talking, Mr Talfourd had slowly lowered his band from his face, and drawn himself erect in his chair. He extracted from one of his pockets two envelopes, and placed them before him on the table. 'A mistake which I made to-night,' lie said, gravely, 'is now accounted for. This letter,' taking up one and handing it to Max, 'came into my hands late this afternoon. I had opened it. and xmzzled my brains over it for some time, before it dawned iipon me that it was meant for you. As you may judge, it made me very anxious, and as you did not come home to dinner, I humoured my impatience and came here in your stead. Take it Max.' Max took tbe letter and glanced at its contents. It was the letter from Ferrars, and he said as he put it down, 'It's just as well that it came into your hands; better, in fact. Is the other mine also?'

'Yes,' said his father, pushing the other toward him. 'That's the letter that stirred me up to act as I have in this matter. Perhaps,' be added, as he turned once more toward Ferrftrs, 'you can guess how these two letters, followed up as they were by the news of the murder, affected me.' Max had taken up the second letter and opened it. 'Ah,' he ejaculated, throwing' it down before Ferrars, 'that's the third.' Ferrars took up the letter and read it aloud. ~ 'Dear Sir,' it ran:' 'Do hot think that I mean to persecute 3'ou, for I do not. But you owe me an opportunity to say a word for myself. Will you not give it to me? To-morrow I appear before all New York. Preapear bpefore all New York. Previous to that I want to see you. I am very busy, and so not to encroach upon your valuable time, I ask you to come and see me for a few minutes oniy, at 12 o'clock (midnight) to-night. 'HORTENSE.' Tertars laid down the note. 'Were the others like this?' he asked thoughtfully. 'No, they were not so wordy, nor so grammatical. The other notes were sent to my club.' Ferrars was silent for a moment; then —'May I have this note?' he asked, 'or will you lend it to me?' 'Certainly; it is yours.' Ferrars took from his pocket a tied packet, Which he laid upon the table before him, and proceeded to open under their eyes. He drew from it a photograph of the size known as small cabinet, and laid it silently before .Max, who caught it up and exclaimed: •Where did you get this?' Sir Felix craned his neck aud looked too. 'Why it is yourself, Talfourd,' he ejaculated. 'Yes, it's myself, certainly,' said Max. 'Where-—' He stopped short. Ferrars had placed before him a letter. It was torn and soiled, and hove marks of much crumpling, although it had been restored with care. Again Max stared, then caught the sheet, aud coloured to his temples. 'Do you recognise that, too?' asked Ferrars. 'Of course.' Max did not put this down as befoi't.. 'It's my own writing.' 'YoU are sure of that?' 'Yes, I am sure.' 'Look at this.' The detective held before his eager eyes tbe envelope bore the name of Leah Paget. 'Good heavens, man,' cried Max, 'where did you get these —?' Ferrars put down the envelope, and looked hard at the questioner. 'That photograph,' he said slowly, i 'and the letter also, 1 took from under ! the pillows and the bed-spread in the i dressing-room of Hortense Novalis. The envelope, bearing the name of Miss Leah Paget, was found by Captain Connors in the ashes of the fire--place, as I have, described to you. Do you still claim these as yours?' As they waited a silent, breathless moment for his answer, the ft-_?e of , the father wad filled with suspense, | that of Sir Felix alive with sympathy, indignation, and poorly-suppressed excitement. But Max Talfourd's hand was firm as he took up, in turn, the picture, the letter, and. the envelope, glancing at each and laid them down. His voice vt.s steady and calm as he said: 'Yes, they are mine. The letter and the photograph I sent to Lea.li on— Wait—my God, what does it mean.? I sent tliem to her on that day—'Jk? day of my visit to Hortense-—the di»y before Leah disappeared. How ca*nic they there? How—-' 'Wait,' broke in Ferrars. 'Turn thr: letter over; lok at the left hand corner." Max obeyed mechanically. 'What Is it?' he said. 'A blot—a stain?' He held it tip toward the drOp-light above the table, and looked again. 'My God, he cried, as the sheet fell from his now nerveless fingers—'my Odd, it's bl6od.' (To be Continued.)