OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 126, 28 January 1909, Page 4

OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

(All Ittghta fUnon***.) t

fiy HKtu.r.v ru' i» \nr>s. Author r>f \ IV*> nt " "f»pm tft »■ Vli H t.„ the MtlflSiOß." Fti\. Kir.

i*\i:t i». "Y«*»." »n.*?r»-rr«". n«t raring le •ay tiHtfp, and then moved on. At ffce gate th»> found Horace 1/K*trangi- waiting. "Nettie came back, but t perswad- (.<«! her t«i drive home. Well, doctor. h»>* ».» »h> remarkable y»*»h* women who ha.* !»w*h peculiar fancies I* »he often given that way ?"* •"So. I've only sewn her owe befortt in !»wn a :*fwi-e. and that we* th« n>srhf- ♦•! Mr. IvwhirM'* murder : but a. l ' \*»n say. rh <■*.>» peculiar."

I"r!»i-** w fancied be »»» trying to al* a th- M'her i»«n> venation, bwt be turned lo her. staying :

"MiM» <'w r «hor|»» will you lei nit (frit*- *ow borne'.' 'the gig Ij» High. bwt I y*»it won't miml that." ■I +m f>'<p Mim Callhorj' home." tnt«vrri|»ttnt{ llocainr 1/R*trange. •"Tbant.-».. 1 driving /" and wHb th>- d*.«t«r> hel|« fhe climbed into rl" gisf and dr«»r »*»>'• "I n-oMfc-f b»»« it w«* that hi!* aP" pent &mr ••■\<rvl*'*l j«© : niuch?*' •»♦■■ i

"I »|»»f»'ti KhunV eft ber >«>•» [or 1 ean •it»«rr »h*a p4*>rt tl*xr%r*r. I

t'HAITKU XXV. I "Mr. %t r .tt,«f I»" KM rani:* rv t r*ttTn .Marnrrl up. jibe t«« .Mtting h'-t h-ad in h"k hand* thi.wP.fn-? w. rr lb*- evrnt* of th:l morning. Sb>' mad to'tl her uncle\ what bar! hapt *n» d. and he looked \ %er>* pr, T ';.-. r>r»f i« f | n»»l an o'»nm(i. 1 'or fb- !»••« hali'-hour hct mind hi»*i l-«vn cuiriig o'er what s-h< kn«w of .'o'.ng IVtthirM*» murder, and wergh-nrr ~-hat .lenny had ?*aid. thtf p»»or rs»d»»wwl u»rl"*» voire wem«d in in h*r earr*. " There** Mood on him—dV*'P red blotnl *" " and m» »be «hrtd«tere«l the footman announced the man of whom this had been »aid.

"■f >r>n didn't t?xpe«t lo sc»s me ?" ee sard, coming towards her tetth e*lend«>d hand.

f'e-r w n'.iofwm' she fell that she roulrinr torch u. there** Wood on bin* ''" .«!.•.■• c'.t v tl N» ring in her ears with a »(•<■■,-ci'.t*" »»»fw»fc* a rice •„ (hen she Hore*-*! berseb' to «rtf»R»«- haDfls.. "Vo'i ff.-rj'P lw»fc well.*" be said. »* h«* .*ef»'td b'nn.-»U ftrnr her. "t>»fii ; ►*-» I should after xvhaf. burr" ft'"J f-hi* morning?" "»»i" m-in- '•. b'-r *.»ord"» vrre hloottrtirdHn■ : : *«;.". then. •*«• «-xpevls* nil srfrt«< »n b>»t*K»;"!* ittnu a *o* mart." I>*««» u.t»r..-»i s»» bhki. her iace ex|»rt'^f»»wtsz in*V %'na% r*»n. "■Whw «r.t r't- »»ut of h«r mind? t think any *»nr wtih a spark of humanity i»*»Vf! .«>|:c«k pitifully and bindly mt' »li«' ',"*r*r giff-'" 111* f« •♦* ebwifgnfl. . w hir rould nnt »Vftn*» fb*r nwnivnlary e*|>rcw»ion. Then hr fa'M ■

*• I h*»j»* f**? ."*»••»»►* humanity in t »,r. r>F«e I n** trrribty annoyed by

«>»r»>rt';* »*Kv- felt i-hi*f. if fo>r .b-nn> bad n*» ground iiif b-r r-*»»•»{.«. a»* iftd»rd lutclly •l, <"<■>. »nd s«liie b»"k(pd up. ink-ntling (f» tffl bt'rf •*»»* and suaw that hf'tf "»ea.rrti.ift'V b*-r with a look in which wr.iH ['»«mn m>n«:l«*«l. "Ki fuM>»i!«h to br »nno>*««f •.wfh b•♦»♦»? girl if >o« kn»?w her W( ,rd'. l"»l n«» truth in them/" -*hc <ai.fl. f(n.i« tN . "iii | ivn«*rt- were not true ! ■ VnM I know anything _.r«f. Mi-;* *"»6»b»>rp ?" "I linfH' k>» : b»»e it w»-» strange ', wr» .«bf>nl'd totwr Ji'-nnX *»wt of b«rr

"Nnfb ; p»g »■« *'*»»***' *{»« , n a miml bus owe It**" 1 tt* «» r «nr««. Ity Ihe «»v, wb»»t dt»s» the doctor faS about, her ?"

"He .«*»>.» s»be *»»ll bate brain fever. »nfl »* ."♦*«■■* »•"• .»tr*»ng be espect.% !•!>• wiH pf»tt tbPo:*fch : lb*n*"— —and t'r<*»r» va r n«'fl. wishing fb** had not ■iarft *♦» »i'»*reb. "*bwt theft'V he w.oletl. *|Mickty.

Sf.nhieib'*•• itM|>«'ll»-*l her to an**er : •■Th" dwor thinfc." l when .*he re.',,*rr« b"F r.•■»■;»»•» will return- . »t. »»»» ; V r»lfl tw abte to t»jfl all tt Ff-r bti*l'a»d':* murtler." "Ih r» wrt.-* a momnt> .»ilmcv. then b- .'•ai'd :

"I tr.of»gbf. we knew nil their waa to krtow : at any rate, it *a* »«*- cbtit for the jury to find my coiwtn guilt v.' * "Ye*, on rlrrum»tanlial evidence; but the t"Mimntigr of an eve-wilnew* ma* m«an that he will tie proved inn«eent.' *

He harstbly. ••|»o yw» really think any one Would believe the word* of a woman who ha."* I«e* , n out of her mind 7" ••'Yea. tiecanw the> will have roedieat evidence that >hc Is *anc if abe make* n wtatement"

" l>rbap!* *on »re right; we shall jtee H «»be d«>e* reeover."

•rin* re «».« «oim thing in hi* tone ».« b • >fo»e the la»t wortfc* that *u»rf'»'»! I r.»'iEa. but before s»he Could tk-t'h It.- «aid r

•*«(►! »»-e we leave the subject of th>» |-«»»r girl : I did not come to taCW about her. I have l*-vn longing to ?r.* you. I told you the night of the l'«ll I .-hould not consider M>ur bnal. and I want to n*f» vou to think the imilter over. I |„ve >f.u with all my heart, and" »b n » o»an of my nature lovea he d»w!» o*»t easily S>*«? "f» ho|>e. I"r----j»fil«. i» >«u t*IH IfiUni-xc li» liecomc my wife I am »ur« I could WinyH"r Hove. ■"

•| »b>n*i think »o. and I fanic>' xttur love for me would die as HUiekl.v a» wb*it >»u fell lor Helen Itovre."

"Hbat do >o« mean?" ami lh*-rc W** better anger in be* voice. ".Iwl what 1 *my\ A man «ho coubt f.»rget Ilelrn lloyCe would soon forget iiw."

'Forget her ? I »»»•» »n»"d nse the rbanee. I M»psK*«e >»hr> lie»ri» poi.«oning your miml against me?"* Not intentionally : but I know rite think* lattlly i»f >«»u» that s>he «toe!» not trust >ou." -1% or she** dcsperately I Cf»»»ml we were not Millett. »wl tb»- ifrief engagetnent-«o

brief thai it «•* not known—l broke, •ml *h« cannot bear to see me make lov«* to another woman :" and there we* a ■"•n*« , r in bi."< ■voire. t rjMila looked him full in the face «v «.h<~ waid :

"\llll are not *penking the truth. I know rh«." wouldn't m«rr> yoi»— that nothing hi the world would indure her to hevotue your wife." "l»id «»he tell you that ?" and hi.* voire «a« full of nng«r. "Sever mind how I jrot to know. I do know it. and I thn's wc have talked about I hi* l»wg enough." -she .«nid. riMng.

"Then you rcttiac lo give me any hof e ?"" *"C»r'««inly. I told >mi lwfore 1 but I >hoild never l»e yo»ir wife, and I hope jmi will nevrr name the ingilrr iisrnin ;*" and t'r*ula*» lorn Bui frm.

"I -hnll name it agnin and agnin until I win you."

Hi* word* goaded her into "*a>ing : ••And 1 .-hall a.*k you what Helen llovr. l now* about you that mak.~ h«-V rfiiw to lie your wife, or lei any olle-r woman."

IV had ris»en wb«"n s»he did. and «h«T Mood facing each other, and -~h>' .«■<»» the look of mortal fear that cam- into hi;* eyes and blanched hi*

"What tio you mean t" he a.'dw'd. i:rip|»irg hrf wrj.«t j>o fk-rrely that "•h»" alnio?»t cri«l out. "1 mean that if you perswentf mc any more. I .nhail n«-k my uncle to lorhid yon to the ho:tMr. Hr dro|>|N'd ber wri»t.

"V,hi ,*»y Ihinn* that would r*»* p«' »».• »ny num. but they don't kill »n U»\r. ' 1 *hall go to *»»» ior tin >-\|»l»nrtlion of your word*. tHrvo-l »lt«*rnomt :'* and he left her. "Vhrti m«d«" me >»ay that to him? 11. will *li.«cov««r I wan at the I'riory »ni tb»- .l»rl»»on* will get into iroiib>. I? may even lead to him di«~.v('s,»»t' tbrti the ring wa* givrn to «■•>«■. He".* Ron»'*to Hwlen Itoyce. and irolabH be will cstll at the Triory »»n hi.* w»y hom«>. J* J could only >*•*• .Irtcl -*n liefore he did ! I'crb«!!« 1h? nirt> In? th»'re when my let* w*r nirito. and lie knows my writing/*

An ihot moment the footman came In wiih the ten and turned on the eteeirir livhi. nn«l looking at the cbr-k trsulsi saw i" wn* nrnrly five. 'I'll'" mi*l was g»»' hiring. a*, it had done ihe previous day. Outride ft was- almost dork. She |»nured herseli » cup of ten and at*.* a piorc of girdle rake, hut h«r "bought* were nt the I'riory. It would never do »«.r Hornet? l.'Kslrange to discover I hat thr had l»een found, and s»i**n to her. He would he capable of forcing himself »nlo Mr.". .Jackmui's r,»o«i if her h«»»t*and wa* not rsi the house oi»d trying to discover «H he could, and the nervous, eacitnMe woman would be like wax in hki hands. Irsula felt that she most *n at onre. nnd if *he found the but>r tt«i* not At home .the would stay •.iiih Mr*. .Inrknon until hj« came, tnd 'defy florae- l.'Kst range if He iw.e- 10 the Priory. Then she reMteiiil»rr"d ihe latter's manner when hj« sa'd. "it tbr mad girl reeovcr•d '** Th'-re had been something m«-itacii>g in hi?* tone. What if it wn* « threat ? Acting on the im■tulse of the moment, t/nmla went to n writing-table, and taking paper and pen. "If wrote : "fX-ar IV. Harri*on.—J want you to *«*p that poor .fenny i* never left a lon.' I have a feeling 'hat ahe will require guarding, nnd that tho»e in attendance on her moM lw l«rvnd »»ribery.~-Va«irs faithfully. •■ rmttn Calthorp."

ffaving ptit the h-tter in an enve!«»pe .*be «d«lre«».""«"«l it. th'-n Mood for * moment Irresolute, asking berwlf nhy .*hw f'-arpfl that Horace I/K»would wvk to prevent the titV* r»>«overy. and j»lw kw* that Jfnn*>> tr«rd:* had made her »«»picio't* o> this man. whoiu fthe had fi"A«r Inked. i:irm*»*g »h.» hell. *h«- told the fooliimo in swrwl a groom on hori«<f*»a«-k w*b the |ei|.. r l«» l»r. Harrison ; Shen .»be wen' »ip»'nir*». and putting »n ?» »l«rk coa« and j-nug little hn«. {•>?«ren«bd rmiekly. »n«l without lieing »bierv.-«l l»-«l the hoiijw. by 'he door n«'*»r «he bridge oter the monl. thit«rd»' .-»be paused for a m«»»m'nt. Tb«» whit*; mi*t lay over the garden, mingling with the d«isk that wa* «|iiirklv gathering, and f'rxulo «*hiver?d a.«"!»he thought oi crostjting the rrior>* park : but it had to I*' «b>ne. The Ja<ck»on* imi.»l b* warned. or Horace !/>>t range might learn of her vi«>it the previou* day. Kven Ihe object of it might lietome known «o bim. Ho bra«*ing ber>elf up. ."he w«nt qun-kly nrro** th" garden and l»»rn»*fl into lb- wood.

Tfc«? i*»»h »»'* narr»t«r and *n*»n »i«h l«'»vr?». while «ivi-rh"n«l «r»«r». I hut **rr- nearly Mripl*-*' «f lh*>ir l»»av«,"». groan**! aod moanod in «h«* autumnal wind, like n soul in di»«r**:*. It «n« no* n shriek»ng. I>u»wling wind, hut nw- I hut sighed «nd moaned. "*wing>nc »••»' hranrhea backward* ami forward* f«»r a monwnt : th-cn all wa» •|ui«"t. »nd •gtiin raitH- the sot»l»ing and sighing. t"ratlin was n«» r»»w;»rd. >«*t she would h«v<™ gi*«-n nmrh »«» mm hack. Hut she Iwlievwl it was hrr duty lo go on. and duly never railed in vain to her. So she w«nt resolutely forward, in s|»ite of an occasional >hivcr. and at last e ß me lo the railing that divided the two p«rk>. 'I hen *fie f»awsed and Iried to look ahrad. The I'riorv lay in a hollo*-. I»«il the mKt and thp fast-cnth«-ring darl»nt** |.rev.nl.«l her seein* «*v»fi the outline of the hotsse. H»e kn»'W the direction in which it lay. and she w«<t )u>i going in rlimli I Ik- railings, when the sound »d a t*ig Mn|»l'*nß marie her hesitate. Then she hnard stealthy ste|>s. and knew that *ome one was drawing n«-ar. and from th« soiinri she fell sure the jierson was ,i man.

"Ha* he Horore I.'KM range ?"' "ho a>kod ivrM'U : awl n horrible fear took hold ol her. numbing her liinlw and making her Incapable of motion. A* .*he .-lood wailing, owl dnaiing -lie knew not what, while, Ih* .«»t»-alihy-M"1»» drew nearer, whti murmured H prayer to f»od ««» guard her from all evil awl keep her in safely. Then n tall form came gliding "down by Ihr >ide of the wood, and a* ahe cta«ped the top of the fence in an agony of fear, a hand was laM on her*, gripping it firmly.

CIIAITKII XXVI. Til KIN SKCOMi MKKTIXC. "I»nn"l I*? afraid. Mi** C'althofp I It i» I." The voice «a* <lv t«iice >hc had ta»t b«-»r»l iti the h««l«!«-»i chamber at tin* Nook K«rm. l«ii •!« • ih«»ught her cars must he pin} we her a trick.

"You! Whn nrc >on?" she Cfl : nn«l h«>r vnif trornbt«*d with "Jack I.Ks.v.-vhk'- " '''h<: w«rdwere spnkn in n i<<-\ '<■.<,<. •'TIK-tl I' -M\- •*■':■• ihal. i hi' pit-nn-ti «n'l Mr. ~ <•'!-.. - : < s -nw ;. n'i " <ib. \n:.i .vhti-ii'in'i hnv4- < r.u..- li<-r<-. I'• r. ' \ nil knou- u-i-.n' !' :!..(• ii.'an'" '-h' .said, nn'i 'h< r. -.v.-n mi .-i'it.i <>) trtrrtr HI h«T \mr.v "<*oir.<* out with iw tn'o ih«' t>|»n th«- f tr«-.-s ( ~n \ hiil" li«-t«.n«Ts. 'l*h* l»ii.« I uill pi.■•..'fit i>s iM'iliK' r-rr>c-nif-t-d. nn«l wc fan talk with mor» »aViy." he yaiil.

with h»> h-l|» I r-uui. mi Kpii.- <>' h«r tri'.iililiug timlis. soi»n »v"i tlu* railini^. "'Vow nr-- ir»-iuld'iii;." h<» >t%'ul. •'<* hj- drew h- r hand through hi.-< arm. ntil n> !li«y moved J-I©wl\ forward ho .iskiil : "*»oii arc not afraid of int- * St:r>-ly >nu do not think mo tht j»uil!v wretch I have Im.-ch pninte«l ?"

"Xo : oh. no. 1 know you nr« iii.ii..»v nt. I tho'.ighi wh'-n you Krn.tf.il my hand thnt it wn.s Horace l/KKtraniik*. and I dread him. "ttell you may :*' u nd hex comp(in:"ti*>« voice wn* full of anger 'lb n he hsmil. "Where you going tr the l'rior> ? *

"Ves : I Wo* 4 going to teil .lackson ilai I have- lo."*t .xomelhing his wji't Ktty into my chnrge." .♦.he answered ; :»n«l h»*r .heart **ank nx fho re-iiieiiih.-I'.-d «hn*. it would b** worae thnn e\er for the ii.an by her fido :« the truth n ho«l the ring was known. "I know you IoM the ring, and 1 found it." he sa'nl a.s .«he pau.icd. "Vo i found i« !" *»he exelnimod. in Mirpri**-.

"V<*. Sup|m>e we Mand here : il an> one approach*:* we shall ? t ee. and 1 can tell y«».i how it happened." "Itut they would sec «i»*. and it wou'.d not l«c •'•fc for you." sh« >aid.

"We ean ea-ily sc-k th*: mhcltar ol the wood, but it's safer to talk here. Now. to Itepin at the beginning, you • bought I was* in Valparaiso ?" "Ye* : you wrote to Sila* from there, and he ha* answered hi« letter."

"I'm ufrmri I shall not get it. After I wrote thill letter to Silan I rnulilnl nettle «ny way. An «ns««n force seined to '•rg** m* to com* home, and I left Valparaiso n.s an able-bodied ;.eamnn on n vessel that *ailed from there a few hours after th«* mail Ml. One of the crew had di.tl ashore, so that gave me » "nance. I let m> lieard. mou«ta f ho. and hair grow while on the voyage. When we goi '" Knicland I ram" here. inking care t« g.-l off at a station tweHe iniloN dinar.t. and it was the middle of the nignt. when I reached the cottage where old Btnus and his wife live. itinn-H ia n gamekeeper, and 1 kn-w h- nr«l his wife believed I wo* inmicni. end would sheletr me. An:t Din"-* wax a cook at the Hall in my father"-* lifetime l»efore h»-r marring". They were delighted, and I got a lot of information from them. Once or mice wh»-n I *a-i out a* night mm returning from «»r going to their work lain at. night saw m«\ One or two took to their h«-f'-« in frich*. le|ie\ing I was a gho«.t : other* who .«aw mc gossiped, ind th'- reoort that I was in Ov neighbourhood got nho'il. and I had to In- more eareful.

At noon yesterday Ninns told mc thai a ><mng constable he knew had been talking to him. and sn\ingthe police had heard the men's talk. nJid §t wai» jm't possible they would ■Jtkirk th«* cottages on the Mythemrody estate. He >;» id they »'•«' not anxi-ei* in do il : but a' the time of my e*raf*e th-y had mrejved a communication from l»arrmoor. and it wa.* likely they might. in face \A the report:* tha' were goinu about. fe?»l Sound to search. Kinns «iaid the toting fellow"* father had N:en a ifri»nd oi his. and hj« took the words a* a. warning. WV came to the con"l«u»ion tha* it would not tie safe for »i«» in renin in longer, and finally 1 «k*rirtVd In **•*• Jackson and a*k him lo let me hn*« one of the nttiCH at •he IViory. and with that intention t came, under .shelter of the fog. \e*lerdny afternoon. just in time to .see .011 fl> from the garden into the park and run in the direction of the« :ir a tigr." "How did von know it was mc ?"

"I wax standing quit<j close, to the gate thHt leads from the garden into th«> park, hut \ou were too excited to notice roe. I *aw you were in terror of something, and I followed, keeping sulhVicntK (ju behind for ton not to >ee in- : but. I didn't like to think of yuu going through the wood nlon»' nt that tim«\ so I Vtrrmiried to watch until you were in sight «»i" the house. You must lihvi' heard my sleje* us you sprang -»\er the ruilirots. and ran as though in terror. 1 (-limited them after you. As t reached the ground my foot touched a piece of wood that, lay in the path, and an I kicked it on one •»i«le I saw a little dark abject lying «>n the ground. Picking it up I found it »«s a small lent her bag. I felt sure \uu hnd dropped it, so I put it in my pocket, intending to |c\i*e >om<! means of restoring it to ton. I did not then intend to let ion know I was in the neighbourhood. I hastened after you. and I did not return until you had crossid the drawbridge. "1 had an impression that Horace —my co«»Mii—might have hwn at the IViory and annoyed you. Report «aid he wanted to marry you : but 1 -ould not Imagine uhy you had gone there, and I felt sure there was a mystery, so I waited until nearly •ight o'clock. When I had the *er»ant go out—l knew there was inly «nve employed nt the l'riory now—l went to the back door. (To Ikj Continued).