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-= "4'l,.i,1, ø'>n#:1\ |THE, CSH8D BEflfil) S<1 ,Jh»r, Ii-' b [ it ;< HICHABB Synopsis of Previous Chapters. CHAPTERS I. and If.-f)crottiy Gilbert is walking in the convent garden with her friend Frances YTernou when she is sent for by Sister Celest-sne. Dorothy is introduced to a Mr George Emmett. a stout and dsagreeable person. He tells her that. her father, on his death, nine months' previously, had appointed him her guardian, and he asks her to leave the convent at a few moments' notice. She does I so. and Vie takes her away on hi.s motor car. 1 They tour through France together, she grove- ingto detest him more day by day, and to wish herself back in the convent. Landing in Eng- land, Emmett takes Dorothy to a racing centre in the Midlands by rail. There having taken apartments at the •• Bolton Arms Hotel," Emmett tells hid ward that she will have to marry hitn, and gives her a ring. Just then he is told that a gentleman wishes to see him. He leaver the room, and in his absence Dorothy determines to run away. She is on the point of leaving when she hears footsteps approaching, and hides behind the curtains. CHAPTERS III. & IV—F rom her place of concealment Dorothy overhears a violent altercation between Emmett and a strange man. The latter cails her re- puted guardian a thief. who, retalia-' ting, they come to blows. The stranger strikes Emmett with murderous force on the head with a champagne bottle. Emmett col- lapses, and the stranger leaves him for dead. Dorothy is terrified and remains motionless. By and bye the waiter enters, finds the body, and retires precipitately, locking the door after him. Then he returns with the hol proprietor, Mr Elsey, and his wife. They are horrified, discuss the crime, and finally leave again, locking the door after them as they go. CHAPTER V. Dorothy is Left Alone with Her Guardian for the Night. With the passing minutes Dorothy's plight took a different shape. When she had first rushed behind that curtain it had been with a childish desire to hide to avoid the man who had threatened her with kisses, and perhaps worst: for her maiden soul had warned her that he was one who, if opportunity offered, would not stop a,t a little. In sheer childish terror she had 6ed to the first refuge she could think of, as if it was a refuge, as if, after an instant's search, he was not sure to discover her hiding-place and have her out The advent of the stranger, if in a way it had saved her, had also complicated the sifcutation It was not, then, so much discovery she had to fear as something it was not good to think of. Indeed, the situation was reversed, because had she then taken the initiative and disco- vered herself, not only would she have been eaVed, but also Mr Emmett, and the strangsr. Too late she was beginning to realise that all three were destroyed, the two living and the "De dead. Practically, in killing Mr Emmett, the stranger had killed himself and her. It might turn out that he had done it actually. And in his action she was aware that she had been an aider and abettor. So in remaining hidden she had thrown away her own salva- tion. The position now. however, wore a different aspect. Her mental faculties were more on the alert than they had been, as it seemed to her they kept coming and going so that now she raw clearlv, and now not at all. So far as they enabled her to judge, now, again, her only hope of immunity rested on her continuing undiscovered. If they found her all sorts of dreadful consequences would immediately result. For one thing they would quite pro- bably accuse her of having had at least a haad in her guardian's death, if she were not the actual assassin—not unnaturally, taking it for granted that tier persistent concealment could only have a criminal meaning. She rould only disprove the charge, if it could be disproved, by shifting the onus of guilt on to the vanished stranger s shoulders. Already, though as yet the thing might not be acknow- ledged to herself, in her heart she had arrived at a final resolution that under no conceivable circumstances would she bear witness against him. Happen what might, where in this irinU-er he was concerned, she would be dumb. A had not formulated it in so many words, slve felt that, in what had been done, ",rl been partners, even friends that, «i :ucb .fittingly, it had been done for her. Therefore, it u prove her innocence it should become necessary ° prove hi- guilt, her wa." .1ed. In that so soor they drew I aside th* rurtiin, and iouud. her behind it, her fate was sealed. It amazed her to think that she had not been discovered already. She herself was so conscious of her imminent proximity to what had taken place, was so well a warp of how slender a protection that screen of hanging drapery really was, that it bewildered her that she should have played, with. complete impu. nity far so long. the part of spy, and more. But the continuance of such impunity could not be counted on. When the police came— and possiblv they were already on the thres- hold, the room would be searched for evidence. Then in a-, moment her hiding-place would be revealed. She. could not wait for that—she must get a-way out of the room, before they came. But how ? since the door was locked. Parting the curtain, she stepped out from between them, looking about her eagerly for a kev to the riddle. The wildest notions came Into her head. There was a sideboard at one end of the room, with a cupboard beneath. It might not occur to them to look inside that, cupboard might there not be a room in it for her ? A moment's consideration made her ioubt it. She might be able to squeeze herself into a small space, hut, compress herself a-! she might, she doubted if there would be room for her inside that cupboard even if it was „mpty. which was by no means sure. Then there was the fireplace but though it was old fashioned, it not a large one she was -prettv certain that she would not he able to force herself up the chimney. But though she crammed herself into the cupboard, or ,wnmed herself up the uc, she wouIrl still he itt better off. That was not at III tiit- sort of thing she wanted. She would still he in the •oom what she wanted was to get out of the room. Plainly there was only two ways out ,nfit-thi- floor and the window. Since the door was locked, only the window remained. Drawing back into the recess she turned towards the window it would have to be that way. since there was no other. though she threw herself out of it. Getting inside the ^ind she tried to raise the sash it was im- ible obviously, it. was fa;stened She ht. nothing of English windows this was the first. øu, h?d seen but she presumed that it was meant to open. She searched for the fastening above, below, on either side so far as she could learn, there was none apparent- lv this window was a fraud-it was not meant to open. Examining it more closely, she saw that there was nothing on either side to show that it was intended to be moved up and down: the paint was unbroken: the thing was a picture. The discovery startled her was it an English custom to have no practicable window in a room ? Nothing which would admit fresh air? If that were so then, sirice the door was se- cured against her beyond the slightest shadow of a doubt, she was caught like a. rat in a trap, and only Gorl could help her. She noticed that what looked like two wooden bandies were hung on the ends of cords on either side of this dummy window, near the top of the sash. Did they mean anything ? If thev did, what was it ? She gripped the two on the right, and pulled then the two on the left. and pulled at them nothine happened. Then she per- ceived that one handle on either side was of dark, and the other of hghtwood perhaps thfit. meant something. She took hold of the lighter handle on either side, and was about to tug; when she heard the key turned in the lock. Instantly the handles slipped from hetweeen her fingers but before she could get from likund the blind she heard the door open, and footsteps came into the room. -.Thistime she was indeed at a disadvantage. Tixall intents and purposes she was pinned Weel1 the blind and the window she dared BOt-move, since the slightest movement caused stiffened blind to mate an ominous rust- line if she tried to get awav from under it. she would be certain to make a noise which would ensure discovery. The only thing she could do was to stay where she was, and to jsefrain, if the thing were possible, from moving even so much as a muscle. She could see nothing. At first, in the shock of being taken unawares, her limbs trembled so her train was in such a tumult there was such a singing in her ears, that she could not even hear. It was only by degrees that the sounds resolved themselves into distinct voices and she became conscious of what was being said. The personage, who was a landlord, and whose name was Elsev, had entered the room and his wife, who declined to be kept out, and a fair-haired, spectacled young mn, who was a doctor and a policeman, who chanced to be the nearest at hand. The procession of four moved towards the table. The landlord spolte his manner suggested a sense both of import- ance and of resentment- Here, Dr Nichols, and officer, is Mr Em- mett. as you can see for yourselves. You see him exactly as he was found by Timmins, one of my waiters. Timmins is outside the door, aiad can give testimony to that effect, if re- c quired. He has not been touched and nothing has been touched each thing is just as it was when discovered, as Timmins can testify, and as. for that matter, I can testify, because I know it to be a fact. As regards this unfortu. n'lote man, the question now is-is life ex- tinct ?" He spoke as a showman might have don?, who wished to call attention to the special features of his show. The doctor was bending over the figure in the chair. M How long is-it siuce he was found in this candium I" g "It might he ten minutes—it might be a quarter of an hour—:1, might he more. Timmins i:; outside and will < orroborate me if required. At the earliest possible moment I sent for you, you happening to be the medical gentleman who lived nearest." I should say that there can be little doubt but that, as you put it, life's i extinct hut it 3 not easy to examine him properly in this chair." He looked round the room, his glance passing over the curtained recess. If he had only known of the girl who shivered within it That. couch wouldn't be convenient, either, it's not long enough. Couldn't you have a mattress or something placed upon that table ? We might lay him on it, or, for the matter of that, we might manage without." Certainly you can have a mattress. I wish to do everything for Mr Emmett, who is an old customer of mine, which can pos.sibly be done, though nothing can he more serious than the inconvenience, to say nettling of the posi- tive loss vvhieh he is likely to occasion me. Timmins The waiter came just outside the door. rubbing his chin. Fetch me a mat- tress. at once." Y es, ir, Where from, sir ?" "Anywhere Don't be a fool. sir, and stand gaping there. Do as you are told." His wife interposed. It's you who's the fool, Mr Elsey. Where do you suppose Timmins is going to get a mattress from ? Who do you suppose is going to give it him without my sanction ? Come with me. Timmins I'll see that a mattress is got." When she reapdeared the waiter was carrying one doubled up on his shoulder. A space had been cleared on the table, on which the mat- tress was placed. Then the landlord, the waiter, the doctor, and the policeman lifted Mr Emmett between them. The united four seemed to find him no easier burden than the stranger, single-handed, had done. While the doctor was -till conducting his gruesome exam- ination someone else came into the room-an inspector of police. Him the landlord greeted with bustlirg cordiality. Most dreadful thing has happened Mr Tin- ney So unfortunate for nif- that it should have occurred in my house, at this, my busiest season. Ofte of my oldest customers, too-iNIr Emmett. I daresay you know him." George Emmett ? Oh, yes, I know him Who doesn't. ? How did it happen ?" That's what we don't know-what nobodv seems to know. That's the mystery. The whole affair is most mysterious—and—and lamentable. To put it at its lowest, with every desire to put self on one side, one can't help feeling that someone has been guilty of a very unfriendly act to me. In my business one never know-! how this sort of thing may be taken, especially by one's best customers. At this moment every bedroom's full, yet directly this becomes known I may have my house empty on my hands. My race week spoilt I will certainly give you such an undertaking," said the hotel manager. What's the cause of death ?" I The inspector put this question to the doctor. "A blow with some blunt instrument which must have been delivered withtremendous force, Some of the frontal cranium bones seem to be broken in two or three places., Of course, my examination has at present only been super- ficial, but that appears to be the case." The landlord proffered an addition of his own. It looks as if the blow had been delivered with a champagne bottle." He held up the broken neck. We found this on the table, and the remaining pieces are here upon the floor." The inspector again addressed the doctor. Could it have been done with a champagne bottle 1" The doctor settled his spectacles on his nose. Being a young man, a sense of responsibility seemed to weigh upon him. His reply was guarded. It might. Of course, you understand that I am not prepared to give a definite opinion, but, to some extent, my present impression is that it might have been." The inspector turned to the landlord. "Don't you know who was in the room with him ?" That's the point, we don't that's to say, not so that we can speak with certainty. You see, this is a private sitting room. and occu- pants of private sitting rooms have visitors of whom we know nothing. We can't keep an eye upon them as if they were public rooms it stands to reason. But one of my waiters, named Timmins-this is Timmins—informs me that he brought a message and a note to Mr Emmett, who was enjoyinx his wine after dinner, to the effect thati, gentleman wished to see him, and that he went out to see the gentle- man, but whether the gentleman returned with him Timmins cannot say." The inspector addressed the waiter. When you brought that message, was he alone ?" Yes, sir, he was alone, except for the young lady." The landlord exclaimed "Young lady What young lady ?" Why. sir, the young lady he dined with he and she clined together." This is the first time you've mentioned a young lady." "Well. sir, he and the young lady had dinner together dinner was ordered for two. I thought you knew that." I knew nothing about it: this is the first I've heard about it. This is the first time I've heard about any young lady. Did you know about it ?" This last question was put to his wife. I knew a lady came with him he took two bedrooms, one for himself and one for her his was No. 238, hers was No. 49, on the floor above. He wanted her next to him, they tell me in the office, but the rooms on either side of his were engaged." What was the lady's n%me?" That I don't know I find he's entered himself in the book as George Emmett and Lady.' Wben I asked Miss Wilson, who was there when he came, why she let him do it she said that she asked him what was the lady's name, and he said that it was all right, and didn't matter." Did you see her ?" No, I can't say that I did. I'm told that she's quite young. She seems to have brought precious little luggage. There s only a small battered old tin box in her room." I can only, say that this is the first men- tion I've heard of any young lady I'd no idea that anyone came with him. I can't un- derstand, Timmins, why you didn't speak of her before." Well. sir, I thought you knew." Don't I tell you I didn't know ? What do you mean by persisting in thinking I knew ? I understood you to saytbat when you brought the message he was alone." So he was, sir, except for the young lady." Except for the young lady ? What the devil do you mean by exceptfcor the young lady ? He wasn't alone if she was there. was he The inspector interposed. That's all right. Mr Elsey, you leave this to me this is more in my line than yours." He tackled the waiter, whose expression, as they worried him, became more and more rabbit-like. You say that Mr Emmett and this young lady dined together." Yes, sir, they did I waited on them." Did she strike you as being young ? How old would you have set her down as 7" Well, sir, not more than seventeen or eigh- teen at the outside, though perhaps she might have been a little more or less. It's not easy to tell a young lady's age." Did she strike you as being a lady ? You know what I mean. Yes, sir, I do. Well, sir, I daresay-I should say, sir, she was quite a lady; most cer- tainly a lady, though plainly dressed, in fact, for a lady. almost shabby." Did she and Mr Emmett appear to be upon good terms." Well, sir, I couldn't exactly say that they did." What do you mean by that ? On what sort of terms were they ? Explain yourself, man t" Well, sir, for one thing sbt. never uttered so much as a single word while I was in the 1 room, neither t4. me nor to Mr Emmett not even so much as yes or no when I handed her a dish.. And she scarcely at e anyt hing and she never drank anything either. Mr Emmett-, told me to fill her glass with champagne, but I don't believe she ever so much as put her lips to it, in fact, when I came in and found him, there was her glass just as it was when I filled it. Mr Emmett, he did ail the talking. From the way in which she sat right hack in her chair—that's the chair in which she sat, sir-and never spoke or moved, it. seemed as if she were frightened half out of her life of him." Why should she be frightened ? Did you hear him say anything to frighten her 1" No. sir. nothing I could swear to. but he kept speaking to her in a chaffing sort of way, which I could see she didn't like." Did she seem to be angry—in a bad temper ?" -N-n. sir, not. so much that as afraid of him." When he went out to see this gentleman, did he leave her behind ?" Yes, sir, he did. on that, chair, and I couldn't help noticing how queer she looked so white that I couldn't help wondering if she was feeling ill." Was she here when you found him ?" No, sir, the room was empty." Did anyone see her go out of the room ? Did you ?" No, sir, I haven't seen her since I saw her sitting in that chair." Then where is she now ? Where is she, Mr Elsey ?" "I've no more idea than you have, Mr Tinnev. As I've already tried to explain, till a. moment or two ago I hadn't the faintest notion that there was a lady in the case." "Mrs Elsey, where is this interesting young larly Dorothy, behind the blind and the curtain,, could scarcely refrain from shriek- ing, Here Mrs Elsey shook her head. ".That's more than I can tell you, Mr Tinney. ".That's more than I can tell you, Mr Tinney. Beyond knowing that a young lady came with Mr Emmett, I don't know anything. What Timmins has been telling you is all news to me." Someone must know where she is if she's in the house. I don't want to make any state- ment, but it seems to me that, she's a most im- portant witness, and the sooner she's pro- duced the better. If, as Mr Timmins hints, she was feeling ill, she may have retired to her room. Perhaps, Mrs Elsey, you won't mind making inquiries. If she isn't in her room, wherever she is, she must be found, so don't let there lie any mistake about it I must have an interview with this very interesting young lady before we are either of us very much older you understand ?" I No, Mr Tinney, 1 can t say 1 do under- stand, not as you put it. I will have inquiries made, in fact I will make them myself but as for finding her wherever she is, that's an- ol-her question altogether, and one for which I dccline to be held responsible. Things are coming to a. pretty pass if I'm to be held responsible for the comings and goings of any one who chooses to take a room in my house." The lady sailed out of the room, with her head in the air. The inspector looked at her husband. I'm afraid I've trodden on Mrs Elsey's toes." She's very sensitive, Mrs Elsey is, very sensitive. I'm far from saying that you mean anything, but, as you must see for yourself, she has enough to bear already without having more put upon her." I'm putting nothing on her. I simply say that the young woman must be found, and if your good lady can't find her someone else will have to, because she's got to be found, and pretty soon." Quite so, Mr Tinney, quite so no one denies it for a single instant. I only wish that T had known of her existence sooner, much trouble might have been saved." How, that was not quite clear. The inspector made no comment. He turned to the waiter. Now, Mr Timmins, about this gentleman whom you say Mr Emmett went out to see. Did you know trim I Was he a stranger? What did he look like ?" "That, sir, is more than I can tell you, seeing that I never saw him. The message and the note were both brought to me by one of the coffee-room waiters, of the name of Dowling; he may be able to tell you more than I can." Then fetch Mr Dowling here." The landlord interposed. Excuse me—one moment, Mr Tinney. At present no one knows what has occurred except ourselves, and, if it is possible, I should like as few persons as possible to know, till the morning." "I don't see how you're going to prevent people knowing; you can't cover a murder with a napkin." Exactly still, at the same time if you wouldn't mind interviewing Dowling in my room, instead of here, I shall be only too glad to place it at your service, and to ensure you all possible privacy." U Very well, there need be no difficulty about that. Have you finished, Dr Nichols ?" I think I may say that, for the present, I have. Of course, a further examination will be necessary, but, I think, under the circum- stances, that. that may be postponed till the morning, when, perhaps, I may be able to have the assistance of one of my colleagues." Have the assistance of whoever you like- Have his pockets been touched, Mr Elsey ?" Certainly not, Mr Tinney nothing has been touched—nothing at least, not by anyone in my employ. I took care of that." Then I'll go through them in your presence. It's just as well to have witnesses in cases of th' sort." Mr Tinney went through the pockets of the man on the table, subjecting him to a process to which he would probably have strongly objected had it been in his power to object. A heterogeneous collection they produced. I'll put these things in my handkerchief, Mr Elsey, and, if you don't mind. I'll draw up a list of them in your presence in your room downstairs. In these cases you can't be too particular, and as it's quite within the bounds of possibility that circumstances may arise in which someone may wish to hold you respon- sible for the property which he had in his possession when he came to your hotel, its only right and proper that you should know exactly what I have got of his in my keeping. Now there's one other thing before we go downstairs—about this room. If the corpse is to be left here—and I think it'll be just as well that it should be—then I must lock the door and take the key. Have you a pass key t" I belieive I have one somewhere." Then you must let me have it; you must let me have any keys which fit that lock. And you must give me your undertaking that no one, neither you, nor Mrs Elsey, nor anyone, shall come into this room till I unlock it in the morning If you won't, or can't, give me such an undertaking then I shall have to leave one of my men outside there all night to keep an eye on the door to see that no one does come in." I will certainly give you such an under- taking—certainly I will I promise you that no one shall come near the room—no one You need have no fears upon that score." Then that's all right. Now I think we can go downstairs, and I'll hear what Mr Dowling has to say about that mysterious gentleman, who, maybe, wasn't so very mysterious after all. _&.nd perhaps Mrs Elsey may have some news for us of that very interesting young lady, though it doesn't seem as if she s found her, or we should have heard. I'm not giving away any official secret when I say that I shouldn't be surprised if that young lady turns out to be the key of the situation, and on that account it's just possible that she may not be so easv to find as we should like her to be. But found she'll have to be, and found she will be if our good hostess can't do it, then I will. I always was reckoned pretty good at hide and seek. I generally knew as well as another whether I was hot or cold. Now, gentlemen, ifvou please." The party passed to the door. The inspector switched off the lights, drew the door to after him, locked it, took out the key, and Dorothy was left alone, in the darkness, to spend the night with her guardian. (To be Continued.)

FOR CONSUMPTIVES.

[No title]

AT Y BEIRDD.

BARDDONIAETH.

EIRA YN NECHREU MAI.

YR HAF.

MACHLUD HAUL.

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-----WALKED INTO THE CANAL,-

---RHYMNEY COTTAGE HOSPITAL

HOSPITAL INMATES ALARMED,

TREVECCA COLLEGE.

AMATEUR TAR-B0ILIN6.

GLOUCESTER FESTIVAL.

FAMOUS FLAUTIST DEAD.

PRESSMEN AT CHURCH.

NEWPORT MAN'S SAVINGS SEIZED.

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