CHAPTER VII.

Otago Witness, Issue 2571, 24 June 1903, Page 59

CHAPTER VII.

It was a master stroke on tlie part of but I saw plainly by the old nistressed look that instantly appeared upon tier face again that she could recall nothing taore. and that it would be unwise to Squestion her further for the present. It fcras a great pain, and I was more than content to let it rest at that. So I hastened Jto offer her our congratulations.

"Bravo!" I said. "We are getting on ffamously. Now we know by what name Jto call you. Don't try to remember more. -This is a most excellent beginning ; the [test will come in good time."

Helen took her cue at once.

"Mv brother is right, Miss Garcia," said Vhe, in her most persuasive manner, "and mnst promise to obey his orders."' 'Til promise anything," she answered, her face beaming again, "if you. will not call me IMiss Garcia. Let me be Maicella — only IMarcella, to you all." That we agreed upon in all heartiness, ttad irom that day to this she has been jonly Marcella to us all. Mortimer wouldn't let me walk with him %o the station. "Not to-night," said he. "We forgot something to-day. Til buy a good revolver End bring it down to you to-morrow. It's just as well to be on even terms with ]tha sort of gentry we have now to deal jjvith." „ „ Fortunately, neither Helen nor Marcella Overheard this, and a moment later he was gone. That night I slept the sleep of the just, md awoke the next morning like a giant refreshed. Curiously enough, my very first thoughts were of my Aunt Maria. It ■would be a great mistake, I felt,. to delay seeing her, and d' * 'ing the present state t>i things in our little household. I dreaded \t, but it had to be done. There was the inquest on the page boy, however ; I had forgotten that ; and Mortimer was coming down at 11 o'clock. Then, too. my usual round of visits ought to be made this day, of all days, I thought. Still, an hour or two must be spared for an interview with Aunt Maria. Taking it all in all, it looked

I as though I had an uncommonly busy day ! ahead of me. At breakfast I was glancing through the Daily Telegraph in a somewhat cursory manner, when my eyes became suddenly rivetted on the following advertise aient in the '"Personal" column: — £100 Reward. — Missing. — An American, lady, recently arrived in England ; disappeared from Hotel Cecil on the 18th inst. Aged twenty, of striking appearance, would be taken for a Spaniard; wearing at time sable cape and toque, with diamond ear-rings. Believed to have a large sum of money in her possession — property of husband. Of weak intellect, subject to hallucinations and frequent lapses of memory. The above reward will be paid to anyone giving such information as will lead to her whereabouts. — Address, Messrs Jorkrns and Jorkins, 10 Upper Joha street, London, W.C. Fortunately, Helen and I were alone in the room, Marcella being still asleep, and under no circumstances whatever would I have her natural rest disturbed in her present state "Well, I'll be hanged," I said, "if this is not distinctly precious." "What is precious?" and Helen looked up from her plate in blank surprise. ! "That,'' I said, handing her the paper, and pointing out the interesting item in question. "Complications seem to be setting in now with great severity, little j woman. A pretty bold game, isn't it, they are beginning to play?" Helen'b lip curled as she read. "' Of weak intellect !' " said she. "Weak \ fiddlesticks] 'Property of husband!'! Whose husband? She is no more a mar- ' ried woman than I am. Still, this means more trouble, Ted." j "I daresay it does," I answered, "but ; we can put up with just a little more of j it. It is becoming interesting, now that i the chill of the thing is off. It was rather j creepy at first. Now that I 'have an idea or two, and Charley is in with us, I am i [ wanning to the job. lam beginning to like it. I tell you what it is, Helen — that girl upstairs is worth fighting for." She laughed a quiet, knowing little laugh, and nodded. [ "Yes," said she, "I really think if I were a man I'd "' and she looked at me archly. " "You'd what?" "Fight for her. Yes, I would, Ted." j "Do you know, Helen," I answered — "do I you know that I think you are one of the dearest and cleverest little women in the world?" "Indeed 1 I fear not. If I were clever — and just a little bit mercenary — I would run up to town and get that £100. It would buy such a lot of gloves and things." "And yet you say you would fight for her!" "Of course I would — after I had got the money. It is only ' information ' they offer to pay for." "Information, so far as she .is coaoerned," I said, "is a, drug" in the market to-day. They will be running special trains up to London. Half of Richmond will be on the job. By this time, I daresay, Upper John street will bs blocked from end to end." "But, really," she said, in a more serious tone, "joking aside, do you think these Jorkins and Jorkins' people will come down here and take her a.way?" "Take her away '" I repeated. "Take our Marcella away ' ' Let the 'beggars try it on. It will please me. that will. Charley will be here in a few minutes. Ask him that question, and s.ee what he will say. ' Suro enough, Mortimer turned up just at that moment. HeTiad seen the advertisement. His very first words were: "Have you seen this?" as he pointed it out to us. We both nodded, and Ec went on. "Woll. what do you think of it?" "Another move in the game,'" I suggested. ".Tiw-t so. and a very bad one — too much bluff ; shows they hold a weak hand. It surprises me, upon my word it does. I thought they had a sufficient taste of our quality that famous Cafe Royal night. They don't seem to know us yet, Te<3. They haven't been introduced properly. They probably will learn more about us later on. But don't let us be too cock-a-hoop. I Their methods seem very crude — almost suspiciously crude. However, it's their lead ! now. and they must soon expose their hand. Ar<3 that reminds me. Here's a small irmnp card you may as well keep up your sleeve," and he handed to me a pretty little thing in the shape of a revolver. "Take my tjp, and put it where you can always find it at a second's notice. The orchestra is only playing now. The curtain has not even grnig up yet. I don't know how many act? the piece will be in, but I doubt if there will be a vpi~v strong oomedv part in it. "But. God bless me, Ted. I'm forgetting. How is the lovely Marcella this morning?'' "Sleeping like a top," I said. "I encourage her to do as much as she possibly can in that line. She will be visible, I daresay, on our return, and that reminds me," I added, looking at my watch, "if we dont hurry we shall be late at the inquest " With that we were up and away. Nothing of a sensational nature occurred at the inquiry, and no n^w fact came to light. Considering the rumourb I knew to be -afloat in the town, I got off extremely well, I thought at the hands of the coroner. I said that on the night of the supposed murder I had cause to suspect that some suspicious person was lurking about my premises. Indeed, I had a strong impression that I saw a man's face at my dining-room window, and that led me to visit the garden, where I found tracks in the snow I could not otherwise account for. I then, sent a note to the police station, asking that an extra watch might De k e P fc upon my house that night. Tho note, despatched by the deceased, had never been delivered, though he assured me on his return that he had placed it in the hands of the superintendent himself. I, of course, drew my own deductions from that fact. Asked if I had miused anything from ihe house, I said that an envelope containing papers of no special importance had disappeared from nay bedroom during the night.

by whom and for what reason abstracted I was not in a position to state Was it a fact, the coroner wished to know, that there was a considerable sum of money in vhe house that night, and, if so, was it my own property? I replied in the frankest manner possible that on tha night in question there was a considerable sum of money there: money placed in my hands for safe keeping by a patient at present staying at my house under my sister's care. Mildly pressed upon other points relating to Marcella, I handed up the address of the Lincoln's Inn solicitors* referring the coroner to them for such information, which I held, however, to he wholly unessential to the present inquiry. With regard to the death of the boy, I had no theories to advance. I had stated such facts as I was conversant with, and it was not for me to make suggestions to those whose duty it was, to arrive at an independent conclusion. In short, I got on so well that I did not once require the interpositioa of Mortimer. The coroner duly summed up the evidence, and the jury brought in a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown, and that ended the matter for the time b e i n g> at least, so far as I was concerned. Mortimer returned with me to the hou^e, and after luncheon I left him with the ladies while I went out on mv round of visits. I could plainly see that I was everywhere regarded as the central figure of a very piqnante mystery, but as there was nothing in my manner suggestive of evil doing or the possession of a wicked conscience I was subjected only to the very mildest form of interrogation, and this put me quite at mv ease — so much so, indeed, that I broached the subject myself in several instances, treating it in quite a jocular spirit, which carried conviction with it in every caj^ as I could plainly see. (To be continued.)