OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 115, 14 December 1908, Page 4

OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

•<AH>!BjgiJts Reserved.)

By HEDLEY RICHARDS, Author of 'A Day of Reckoning," "From the Mill to the Mansion," Etc., Etc.

PART 7. '•lt's just the old limes. Miss Calthorp. to hear you say that. "Mr Hick would often pop liis head in at the -door, and say, 'Hallo. Ellis '. I've -come to have a chat.' and he'd sit cross-Egged on a. chair. Why. at the time voting Mr. Uewhirsi wa-"-killed lie would come here and talk about ihe affair. J. think if hare words would have killed the judge and jury who found Mr. L'Eslrangi guilty they'd have died. Me nevei Piked" Mr. pewhirst. .He used locall hi:i'. a. weathercock and a sneak, am! he said if Mr. L'Estrange had killed boih him and Miss Nettie it would not have been a great loss to the world, but he knew he was innocent You'll wonder what I'm talking about. I don't suppose' you heard ol the murder."'

•\Mr. Seholes told me the I'riory had a history. 1 suppose he meant there had been a tragedy there?" she said, avoiding a . direct answer. "Yes. It was an awful affair ;"

and Mrs. Ellis sighed. "Will you tell me about it?" asked Ersula, thinking she would like to hear the story from an outsider. 'Yes, miss. You're sure to hear it, talked of, and I'm certain Mr. Dick would have liked yoU—to i-show the rights of. it. He., was a. great' friend of Mr. L'Rstrange, though,-oi' ( course. soma #fi'"s younger?' 1 know he'- 'quite look&dS up to him. I've liaard \ him- «ay« Mi;;f.lj : -I"strange wa;; a right-good sort —one of fjiuv best to be. found, any where—without any cu.uE.jj.aiuE it> , asfti' ,-to th < ilk such. f a'fe *,"should have, him.; ''though T'iu' 7jladH6\'s&y 'Jib's got' awav Ellis? ' '•'-'■ ,; ' ;i ' "'- '' '*■■■ v -"' : *'

At iVtotneiifc' thcre r was a tap on the door,- and a footman appeared- - •-.£--' . "■: - ''-" *':•';•"'•' ; -if'M-iss Finlayson.-.is in the drawingroom-. ..She wishes to see Miss. .Calthorp." he said, then withdrew. "It's Miss Nettie. I wonder why she.'seso anxious to see- you, miss ? I'll tell ypu about jM», DcwhirsVs murdeyi£ripthe£ ; ..day.'" :f ; ■ ■.'

Ursula rose. . : , ; "How did tho footman know I was here ?" she asked. " •••' The housekeeper smiled. •'• '■■■ "You'll »find, miss, that the servants take a deal of notice of your comings and goings, ;; -A lady jor gentleman in -a houseful of. servants hasn't much privacy, and, just, no w they'ie ail taking a special interest in you. Of course, th'oy'Vc',curious to "find put the kind df" young .lady you are, as you ! arc the heiress." . ''-

"I see ; lam oh my trial. Well,-J. hope the verdict will be 'satisfactory.And now I must go to Miss Fhilayson," said Ursula, as she left the room, ,going slowly-, to. the drawingroom, telling ■ herself she must be careful what she said this girl, who had in some way "discovered that she knew L'Estrangc.

! Opening, the door, "she saw a ! slight, fragile figure clad in deep j mourning seated on. a,"- couch near a j window. {-The slight, sound-, made her i-turn . quickly round,-„and she came forward, saying,, "You arc Miss Calthorp ;" and Ursula saw a lace that was .thin and. white, the blue veins showing ,ph the"Torehcad, .while her .deep-V:ct, large- blue eyes glowed like lamps. It was a •spirituellc face * it mi ght have heeh the face of ' a -medium.-'"' ■""-•'•'• - • ■• ■" ■ 'lt only took a second- for her. to see this ;- then she ; .answered :...''' "I°.'airt Ursula..Calthorp."

VHrsula:? That .means a she-bear. A bear hugs and hugs, never letting anyone escape from her, aiid you are .tenacious—you; will -cling.... _to the cause vou espouse," said the other 'Birl. " . ~ .-,* •?' ••'. - Her words ware;;rsp.^trange and there was a siru'cltffecl 'excitement in her manner that foV a moment Ursula thought the,girl was mad ; but before she' could reply Nettie Finlayson said : ;; "Come and sit down here. 3 want to; 'talk to. you,.;'' and she drew her to the couch-V "You ; afe going to help me prove tha; innocence of John L'Estrange," she,ad' ded. ;, ":

Ursula looked at her in amaze-' nient> then' something prompted, her to say : . • . " 1 thought you didn't believe he was innocent ')" . •

A flash of light, almost joy, illumined the girl's" face ; then she exclaimed : ' ,

"I knew, I wasn't..rnjstaken— you do know Jack: No*onc~"clsc c o uld havo told you that ; but Jack would find out 'from .my letter., I didn't say anything, but I couldn't hide the truth. N/jw I know that I was mistaken. : Jack is innocent, and I must prove it; with your help. You know I went into a convent as a novice—Jack would tell you—and the first few weeks I was prostrate. The nuns had to nurse me. then as strength returned I seemed to know by instinct that my cousin was inji'uci'mt, and I suffered bitterly thinking ot him in prison for a crime he had not committed.

" A bout a month ago my old nurse came to see me. She lives in Yorkshire, but Until I was twelve year.- old site lived at Myl hemrqyil Hali, and was much attached to nty cousin. -Jack L'Estrange, I believe she thought fie was perfect, - '.\s soon as I saw her T was certain that she had something important to tell '■■me, and when the mother superior left us together, shesaid : •' 'Oh, .Miss Nettie, I've been staying- ■v-.i.'.h a brother of mine who has a 'lovely jiftle cottage near Dartmoor. ' After I'd been there a few da.', s, I had a note, from my cousin, !i;'isy Lawson, who is /eopk and -a sort of upper servant at the Nook Farm, where Silp.s. her husband, iy gardener, groom, and. handy map. I'.e!s,\ asked me lo go lo pee her, We hadn't met -for years, and we'd n. "■rand talk, when Betsy let slip that her husband had helped a convict

named L'Esi range to gel clear oil. Somehow .she seemed lo have forgotten. I'd lived at the L-'lvst ranges* and I didn't remind her. particularly as she. warned me never to mention what she'd said, or her husband would get into trouble.

" "The other day. al'ier ]'d been home a bit she sent me a box of lavender, and there was a' note with h . saying as they were in trouble at ihe Nook Farm, her master's adopted daughter having been claimed by her uncle, a .Mr. Calthorp ; and if. as Silas said, the gentleman lived near where the escaped con- \ ict earn- from, she guessed missie. who believed he v. as innocent, would keep ii'-r e.\ es and ears open. and three was no knowing what she might find out. as she was a clever maid.

"'! intended coming to tell ■you that Mr. dnhn had got out. of prison, and. litis letter made me resolve in come at once.'

'• 'Hut how does this girl know an;, tiling about .Jack?' I asked. " 'She saw him. and knew that Silas was helping him. and she said, s-w- on.i cert a. in that he was not. giiii.,'. . my old nurse replied."

.cn.\l'TEi; x. WHAT NETTIE HAS TO SAY

Nettie continued in a dreamy fashion :

••After my dear old nurse had gone, i\ spirit ot restlessness took possession of inc. t wanted to go 'hrinie and become ••acquainted with the girl who had faith in my cousin. 1 haul a feeling that between us we might discover the truth. It seemed to me that, having known 'hisr>, she must like him. I had always liked Jack', even when I thought he was guilty. '." That-night E asked to see the ucOFH»e» superior, and J repeated what nurse had told mo. She listened ,atten lively,, then told me I was o-> rr wrought,, iji.v nerves were out of order : the restlessness would .pass. ..Then sh,e dismissed me. But T. felt like a' caged bird, so I went -gain to* the mother. She listened patiently, then she said :

'**■•-■"- : *Y6u ; Tifave no real-ground for' believing the Mr. Calthorp named is John Oalthoxp, of the Orange; it is a common name. Still, as you cannot, settle, I. advise you,, to return honxcf , and'see if there is a Miss Calthorp. in ; your neighbourhood.; then if you hud there is, it is for you "to decide whether you will return to the convent or remain and carry our your idea that the two of you may- 'become amateur detectives.'

."'Her words stung me. I felt sure she thought it was a ruse to leave the convent, but I was even more determined to. come, and return when I had done my work. Once or'twice-it had struck me that my cousin would, come here.,, There are plenty of people who would hide him while he tried to prove his innocence. When • I left, the mother superior told me she hoped that my temporary absence from them might turn out to be for. my good. ' "On my arrival at the Hall. the first thing T heard was that Mr. ;i',Ca!thQrp J s'| 1 niece .was expected. Aunt s'jjaicfialdfme was coding, e^jji.^lj.yfi^*J"lSM,"^.l?ai , . tinoor » aiul T '"' "belicvc'd"' 'you knew Jack. ; l Now, tell: me if you do;" and Nettie clasped hdr hands, looking imploringly at "Ursula.

The latter .was- puzzled how to answer, her, for fear she should talk and get Silas .into trouble, so she said :«. .... c • . told nie.you were sure I knew your cousin, so why do you ask?;*", . ..'.'"'•■' :,.

'Nettie leaned forward and clasped her companion's hand firmly as she said': -•■.'•::•' "I see voir don't trust'me, but you may. • When-- I thought that Jack was guilty I was nearly w|ld with grief, because I-felt ib was through me be was in prison. 1 ought not to, have, let him go to the Priory that night, but have quietly agreed to the-. engagement being broken, instead of telling him it would kill mc T Oh, 1 have felt that J had Jim's- death oh my soul and Jack's guilty, ruined life ! Now J feel that the burden is lightened. . Jack is innocent, but we must prove it. Yes, I know-you •ale. meant to help"

"What if the proof of your cousin's innocence has come too late ?" said Ursula.^

"What do you mean'?", "IVhat .if he is dead.?"

Nettie 1 flung her hands tip"Oh, it cannot be! '.What made voir say that ?'"- she 'asked, in a quick, excited tone, v'For-a 'moment Ursula hesitated, wondering if it Was safe to trust this overwrought, hysterical girl. Then a sudden impulse prompted her to speak, and looking full, at Nettie she said : ..'. '

."Will you .promise me never to reveal what I tell you ?"'

"I promise solemnly. Never, even under the seal of the confessional, will 1" disclose it;" and the girl spoke in a solemn tone. "Then I will tell you that T do know John L'Estrange, and that. 1 have reason to think he is dead." Nettie's hands dropped listlessly into her lap, and Ihe tears came into her eyes. There was despair and hitler disappointment expressed in \vn- face.

Ursula laid her hand on the other girl's. ■'l told you r had reason to think Mr. I,' Estrange was dead, but somehow I cannot believe lhat he

There was a (puck change in Nettie's face, and it was almost hopeful as she raised it to Ursula's.

••Oh. do iell me where .vou saw him. and all you know/' she plead-

•'.My foster-parents lived on the •dge of Uartmoor. I saw your ■oust,, after his escape."

"And vim helped him '?" interposed fiie other girl, "No, I couldn't; but sonv\ one I r-new did. and he told us the hisd.'viii' the crime with which lie was .barged. Afterwards Mr. E'Eslrange took passage in a vessel that vv'as wrecked, and everybody on board was said to be lost. Still. I have ; ,n impression that he is alive, said Ersula.

"Wind was the name of the vessel '.'" said .Nettie. Ursula shook her head.

"I shall not tell you that. You are very quick tp show your feelings, and if the vessel was named in your hearing your face would reveal that you knew the name, and, suspicion once aroused, it might lead

to his arrest, even on the other side, of the world. I fold M>. ETOsl range if 1 could ever help him to prove nis innocence I would. At that time 1 did not even know .1 hnd an uneie living at Mythemroyd. "When I knew I was coming to live here, 1 resolved to do what 1 could to find out the truth. Jf you like, we will work together."

"Oh. thank you. Somehow 1 feel sure we shall be successful." "Well. then, to b''uin with. I want you to tell me who lives at Mythemro.\ d Hall." said ty'sulu. ".lack's aunt. -iiss 1 / Est range. We call her Aunt dam —al least. • lack and 1 did —and Horace I,' Estrange calls her the same. She's .[iicr. talks very little, and doesn't :-■(■ 'in to notice anything. though sometimes 1 fancy she sees more than people think. Then there's Horace E'Eslrange : he's a second :ousin of -Jack's, but a. good de a l older. 1 never saw him ; in faci . 1

don't think he'd ever been at MyIhemroyd until this alVair happened and after poor .Jack was condemned and .the sentence had been altered to penal servitude for life. Me saw him. and I suppose Horace made a good impression on him. An\wa>. Jack told Seholes that his cousin had better take the management o\ (lie Hall. Before he took up his residence there 1 had gone to Hie reinvent : but I don't think lv was pleased when I returned, so "1 told him he wasn't master. 1 don't like Horace at all. I won't cail him Mr. E'Estraugc—that's .lack's name. a s I told hini». He said ' Mi-. Horace' sounded formal, so 1 agreed to call him Horace, a- Aunt .lane does : but I cannot, bear him. Eve an idea, he's uneasy since , ' ;l( _''' ; escaped. I'm sure he hopes hell never be a.ble to claim the proper! v. You see-. Horace is the next heir." "Is he engaged 7" asked l.rsula.

" Oh. no ; and. I shouldn't eiwy the woman he married. Wh,\ do von ask ?"

"Because I want to know all about him. J. suppose you don't know anyone who had a' grudge against Mr. Dewhirst ?" Nettie shook her head.

'•No; he was rather unpopular." Then she added. in<*i lower tone. "I suppose you know that he was secretly married to a girl whose father worked in his pit?" "Yes. Mr. E'Estra.nge told me."

"Well, at first it was thought that this girl's father might have heard her name coupled with his master's, and not knowing they were married, have believed he meant to wrong his daughter, and in his rage murdered him ; but there was abundant proof that he never left home that night. Did you hear about the girl—Jim's wife?" asked Xetlie, and her voice faltered as she spoke. "What about her ?"

"It is supposed thai she had been in the habit of going to' the house, entering by the very window through which Jack made his exit. Several times the servants had heard a woman's voice in the room, and on one or two occasions the butler had found the door locked. The general opinion is that she went, perhaps by appointment, that night, and found him lying brutally murdered on the floor,' and that the sight made her lose . her reason, as she returned home a raving lunatic." "Did she regain her reason ?" asked Ersula, who had listened in surprise and horror. "No : she is still out of her mind, though quite harmless. The doctors say a sudden shock might restore her reason, but they arc not very hopeful." "Is she in an asylum ?"

"No. she lives with her parents; but they wouldn't take th 6 money to which she was entitled as Jim's widow. They agreed to accept a larger house rent free and a pound a week to enable them to give her more comforts. Oh, it has been a horrible thing ! I cannot bear to talk about it. and I hate to think of that girl. Sometimes 1 think if Jim had never seen her he would have been alive now. and we should have been happily married. Oh, the trauble she has caused 1 She has ruined my life!" and Nettie shuddered as she spoke.

Eor a moment there was silence; then Ursula said

•'Are people allowed in the Priory park ?" '•Yes : but don't go. It's enough to make you picture the whole dreadful thing. I cannot talk about it longer. I know now lhat you will help me. to clear -lack. and that is enough," said Nettie as she rose; and Ursula noticed that her black frock was beautifully made, and her hat with the drooping black feathers set off the wonderfully fragile, refined lace. Evidv.ni ly . though she had:been in a convent, she was fond of dress, and liked lo make .ihe best of herself. Some such thought passed through Ursula's mind. and caused her to - q a> :

"Shall you return to the convent when your cousin's innocence is proved '?" "I don't know. It may lake years to clear his name. i told the sisters 1 should go' bask. li. is peaceful, but it is the peace of Ihe dead : it is bidding adieu in life ;" ant\ Nettie spoke in a' dreamy tone. "Why did .vou go inlo a convent?" Ursula, asked. Nettie shuddered. (To be Continued.)