LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 713, 2 October 1876, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE MAJOR’S WIPE, { Continued .) <He more than once dined there, and always took refreshment—sometimes in very large quantities. Once or twice he came evidently somewhat intoxicated,’ ‘What sort of a man was he—young or old?’ < About five and-thirty, or perhaps forty years of age. she thinks.’ ‘ Good looking ; ’ ‘Yes ; but of dissipated appearance.’ ‘Well dressed? ’ < Tolerably; sometimes better than at other times, but always respectably dressed.’ ‘ At what hour did he usually come ? ’ ‘ About mid-day. But on each occasion when he slept there, he came late at night; and that was the visit on which the sergeant's wife more particularly noticed that he appeared to be slightly intoxicated.’ ‘ Did she describe his features to you ?’ ‘ Yes ; he had dark eyes, heavy eyebrows, an aquiline nose, very bad and discolored teeth, dark, curly hair, large whiskers, and sometimes wore a moustache. ’ ‘ Only sometimes f < No. The very last time she saw him at the cottage it had been removed or shaved off ; and that was only three days before Lady Mellish so unaccountably disappeared. ’ ‘ Does this woman seem to think she took any pleasure in his society ?’

‘On the contrary; whenever she received one of those letters of which I have spoken —and which, by-the-by, she thinks seemed to be all in the same handwriting as far as she could judge from a casual glance at their addresses—she invariably got_ into a dreadful state of flurried, snappish illtemper, which continued up to the time of her visitor’s arrival, and until after his departure ; and then all became comfortable, and calm and quiet, and her usual kindliness of manner seemed to return as if by magic. These were her very words.’ ‘ And what did you gather about the time and mode of my wife’s disappearance ?’ ‘ It must have taken place between five and six o’clock in the evening of Monday, the fourth of January last.’ ‘ Three days after she had drawn her quarterly allowance of fifty pounds from Cox and Greenwood’s.’ «Indeed ! I was not aware of that.’ ‘ Yes ;it is so. I forgot to mention it in our former interview. ’ ‘lt is a very important fact,’ said the detective, taking out his note-book and jotting it down. ‘ Most certainly it is; and the close coincidence of time is remarkable. But tell me can this old woman not give the time of her departure more nearly than that ?’ ‘No ; she was not at home. She had gone out for her usual monthly holiday for the day ; and, unluckily, I have not yet been able to find the boy who acted as page.’ ‘ Do you suppose he had anything to do with the affair ?’

‘lt is impossible to saw at present; but if you mean to ask whether I suspect that he had any hand in the abduction or flight of Lady ‘Hellish, I should say decidedly no. When the female servant returned from her holiday as usual at eight in the evening, she found him at the cottage in a state of wonder and alarm at the prolonged absence of his mistress, who, he said, sent him about five o’clock on an errand, from which he did not get back until nearly six, and on his arrival the garden gate was unlocked, and the house was perfectly empty. Nothing in the place was disarranged, and there was not the slightest sign of any struggle having taken place.’ ‘Did not the sergeant’s wife ever see or hear anything which would lead her to suspect that there was any impropriety in this stranger’s visits V ‘Never, Sir Herbert. At least, so she said ; and I thoroughly believe her.’ ‘ I cannot understand it. My wife, after ten years’ unexceptional conduct during my absence, suddenly disappears, vanishes, without leaving a single trace of her fight, or the faintest clue to her discovery.’ ‘ I should mention that though everything else in the 'cottage was left intact, all Lady Mellish’s jewels and trinkets disappeared at the same time.’ ‘ I fancy she had a few that were of much intrinsic value; very little, if anything, more than she would have been in the constant habit of wearing. I don’t think that fact is of much importance, Mr Holden. ‘ Has she any relation ?’ ‘ None that I ever heard of ; and if .she had, I feel certain I should have known it. The more [I hear, and the more I reflect on this mysterious matter, the greater is my grief—the more intense is my astonishment. Tell me—what is your present opinion on the subject ?’ ‘ I—l fear, Sir Herbert, that there is some —some unhappy entanglement in connection with this strange gentlemen visitor.’ ‘I do not. Notwithstanding all that you have told me, nothing will ever make me believe that my wife was false to her vows, or unfaithful to her husband. But enough of that; we do not meet to discuss facts. Have you any further particulars to communicate ?’ ‘ I have. This old servant, who lives, as I mentioned, in Bowell Terrace, has twice, within the last fortnight, seen Lady Mellish’s strange visitor pass down the street at dusk in the evening.’ ‘lndeed.’

‘And I have, with her full permission, taken a lodging for a trusty spy in the same house, so that if she is so lucky as to see the man pass again, he may be traced and run to earth.’

‘That is the most re-assuring piece of news which you have yet brought me,’ said the Major eagerly. ‘ I declare it makes me—though I don’t know why—feel quite hopeful. Take another glass of sherry, Mr Holden, and I’ll join you this time.' ‘Thank ye, Sir Herbert,’ replied the detective, placing the decanter and glasses on the table, with much unction. ‘ That man,’ continued the Baronet, ‘ is, I feel certain, agreat scoundrelinany case ; and if we only succeed in ferreting him out, take my word for it, we shall soon get at the bottom of this mystery, whatever it may turn out to be. ‘I think so too, Sir Herbert.’ * Hark ye, I’ve an idea ! I should like very much to see this old sergeant’s wife, and put a question or two to her myself.’ ‘ Very well, Sir Herbert,; we’ll go whenever you please.’ ‘ Say to-night at dusk.’ * Certainly ! ’ ‘ It is somewhere overWestminsterßridge, I think.’ ‘Exactly so.’ ‘Then suppose we meet in the Palace Yard at six o’clock.’ * I will be there to the minute, Sir Herbert.’ ‘ Egad ! I feel quite a presentiment that, somehow or other, everything will shortly be all right.’ ‘ I hope so, I am sure.’ replied the detective, rising to depart. ‘ Take another glass of wine, Holden, before you go.’ ‘ No, thank ye, Sir Herbert; I have business to attend to,’ said Mr Holden, looking wistfully at the decanter. ‘ Nonsense, man alive ! It will do you good. I insist. Come, I join you again.’_ When thus pressed, of course the detective quaffed off another glass of the Baronet’s brown sherry ; after which they renewed their appointment for six sharp, that evening in the Palace Yard, and Mr Holden departed. Chapter 111. At the appointed hour of six, the Baronet and his detective met in Palace Yard ; and, although it was a very foggy evening, immediately proceeded over Westminister Bridge, and straight onward, until they came to a broad road, which branched off to the right. At the corner of the road stood a large tavern, before which Mr Holden suddenly stopped. * I have a little business connected with your affairs Sir Hurbert, to transact here.’

said he ; ‘it won’t detain me above three or four minutes, and, upon the whole, we had better not be seen together inside this public house. Will you, therefore, walk slowly down this road, which is Hurcules Buildings, and wait for me at the bottom, if I have not rejoined you before.’ * Certainly,’ said the Baronet; and he sauntered on. The fog had much thickened since they started, and there were no shops in that side road. Even the street gas lamps, which were somewhat sparely distributed, were scarcely discernable until the passer by was almost close beneath them; but this was not noticed by Sir Herbert, who walked leisurely onward, deep in thought about his coming interview with the old servant, who could tell him more than any one else in the world about his dear Ellen; for he never for one moment faltered in his firm faith in her unceasing truth and love. Having arrived at the bottom of the Buildings, he came to a full stop ; and after pausing for a few moments, and turning round to see if he could catch sight of his guide through the fog, which was every minute becoming thicker than ever, he began to retrace his route. He had not however advanced above half a dozen steps, when he was suddenly seized upon from behind by a truculent ruffian, who, clasping one burly arm like a vise round his neck, so tightly that it well nigh amounted to strangulation, gave a low whistle, which instantly brought a confederate to his side. „All right, Jem—l have him safe! Be quick about it.’ ‘Ay, ay, mate; but the coast’s clear of the bobbies for ten minutes; and if there was one of ’em within three yards of us, I’ll be shot if he could see us,’ replied the other. * But the fellow struggles like a Hercules ! He ought to have been born in these Buildings ; he’s the strongest colt I ever tackled.’ ‘Jem Smasher, you’re my prisoner!’ coolly said Mr Jonas Holden, emerging like some ghost, revolver in hand, from the fog, as he gripped the first of the robbers firmly by the collar, and clapped the death-dealing fire-arm close to the villain’s head; while the other bolted and disappeared in the now thick, dense mist that surrounded them. {To he continued.)