OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 129, 8 February 1909, Page 4

OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

(AH Right# n«Hr*td.)

n>- HKId.F.V Hit H VIU>S Author Of 'A Pa> Hc-kmiing." "FYon) the Mill to 'h» Mansion," Ktc . Ktc. I'AKT 21. The *tlvm chime* <>< »b** cluck in the rhainln r wMe Helen Itoyce lay range out. and thow who wwrt gathered in the chamlier waited for hn to sppak. The iliirloni had helped the n»»rsr to (fop her up with pillows. nnd now her great dark eye*, that looked like lamps in the pallid, drawn far. gaaed round, finally rwV ing nn Irsula's (act. She had parrrqi»?>trfl her '.o he prwnt. A moment later she looked at Mr t'althorp. swying. "Have yo«« got I'* n and paper ?" When he had replied In the alHrmtirp. she said : "I don't think it is generally known that 1 was eoi»g«l to Horace liTxtrange. f met hiui during niv uncfe's life, when I was believed I should he hi* heire*». nnd thinking he would object to tlje tnarriaffv*. a* Mr. I,'Kstrnngi* had little money and no we kept it Secret. Then my uncle died, and the money went to charity. t had a bare pittance, nnd mv lover Mid we could not marry." Therefore, as it was likely to »*• a lon* mgagement. hj- wiiit was nn M.H 1 announcing it. I agreed and took up my residence with my brother, trying to help him in hi? parish : hut even from him I kept the secret of my cngag*ntenl. One nEght in the August of la>t year I had Iwn to a poor *omen who lived Iwvimti Mvthemroyd Priory. I stayed i»tf. <»n my way home it Kfrttrl. oh- that a gra|»*s would V very »rr [><«•»!• to her. and. lute ».4 it ui . I itfriihil to shw Mr*, .lark.'tm. th*- hi'iivlsiTi'ir at the l*riory . wntl «*k her to Ink#- or send some ef nfr«» in > h«* ninrnin«. Mr. Ivwh'rst w».« al*a>» willing for her t«> Help lilt- It""*- hrn thr thought o**r»»rr d i» m»*. I had the prirH n> mtr,vn<r, l»ut further on there Is a liitb r gfctfc' in the wall, and »t that tin** it w#» rarely fast- ► ned. ■») I of* n--d it and rrwwl the purk in u slanting »»g to make for the front tnrfancc at the tnd of th»* hove ; but just •* 1 drew near to the howc a girl whom I rf.«r;ni!>rd a* .fenny Itawson cam* rir»hing p»."t me. "Creaming 'Jtlood I Blood r* "I stood hesitating, not knowing wh»th"r to follow her or see if their w»s onyth'ng wrong at the Priory, tnd a* I K'#w«l at the house I 'a* Horace L'K»lranp" spring out of the window.. As I drew into the shade of » Irre something told me he didn't went to !»• rrrogniswl. He iwwl eln«c to me. and I watched him go at a «**»ck pace, hut not a run. in the direction of tht gate through whirh Jenny had gone. The moon h«d come from uwfcr a cloud, nwl I w» him distinctly.. After this I was afraid to go to the house. I felt sure something dread(nl bad happened, fo I. too. mtufe m> way to the gate and went quickly home, hut t did not tell toy brother what I had seen. "The ne*t morning 1 heard that Mr. Ivw hirst had been murdered, hut I still held my peace, and when Mr. John l/Kstrange was arrested. I went it) London to see my l*n«rr. ' told him what 1 had seen, and challenged h'm with the murder. At fYr.-t he tried to make me brii«?vr 1 had liern mistaken ; Ihin he changed his ta*ttcs. and got mc to promise not to repeal that I had seen hln that n-gbt. "When Mr. John I." KM range wa.» {trntrMvil to death I warned hitr that t>n'r»"« the sentence was commuted I rhould tell what I knew. "RhfTi all wus settled. »nd I found he had |>erso««k>d his cousin to let him tate charge of the estate. I was indigrorot. but I could not nltei things w itfco'it telling the truth. Horace then tried to Induce mc to marry him. He kivw that as his wife" I could not gite evidrnec again.* t him: but. I refaefd. 'Of late he has not wished it." "Hfnce the eon*iction of Mr. John I/ftslrongc my life h«s be<n a burden. but I could not bring my*-lf tc to ttffl the truth. I had loved Horace, and though my love »H dead t rotildn't lorget that the fatal Mow had lueen struck in rage. "Hoping to win my forbearance. Ilorare had tobl mc how it happened. Mr. I*w hirst and h<" had been friendry in l-ondon. and they had M»»b itnie a considerable amount ol gambl'n;. Horace had a debt of h«>n*>ur to pay. and he would have tried to Iwmtow from U-whirst if he bad Imin in l.ondon : hut as he was not. Horaie forged a cheque in IVwhirst's mmc and paid the debt with It, thinking, a* they *w« distinctly ronnectrd. he would condone It. Thrn Horace came down intending to expta'n. and at IN* same time sec me ; but he missed his train. *>nd in t.nk-r nut to wait in Manchester he raroe b* a dlflerml line, which caused him to have a •*(# utile# walk ; and as the little ma - In the wall . *J|S ii »rt r tie »otered that way. and w«s in time to s«s John l.»trangc leave the how:«e. but «t« m»t seiu by him. "Mr. I'ewhirst was in a bod teu»t>er. and Horace's words sent him into a Bt of rafT. in which he called him a thief ttMl a rogue, finally saying be would write to his bankers warning then* the et*i|ia *»* f» forgery. Turning to hi* desk he took up hj"» pen ; then Horace—who was nearly n»ad with ingtt and approhensioo —set'etl a stick that was lying on the couch, and struck Mr. fVwhirst on tlh' tMck of the head, and he tell forward dead lieforc he hdd writt> n a word. "Horace said he could not say wht'tlw i«cr hud nuant to kill him. It w«a all o*er in a mona-nl. But he assured thai he did not know the stMi lielopged to his cousin. AflerwartH h«* was too grrat A cjjw.ard to s«ve his cousin at the possible sacrifice of his own life, and I ahiebted him. "A little while ago 1 hefard that Mr*. iVwhirst had said that-J»*rn> "s memory was returning, and Hor*"' (old »»e tha' only I r.mM hinr. I must «a\ t.hiif- hj- fca«f n wi'h

! pla«"". f '111! n ' ,1 m-iv. it litci, >.'tr in- , ! ilnv '» h'Ti t>r M.it "n '1 11.'' , ' -J'-nn- ■* o-i'-i •••• -t l > • n " '• • ■ 1 .i!! .h- ,n-'A I 1 ttifiV.' a i-.'ii>:i >• I ! .'in 1 ! >i, ••• • 'h" .1 n I hii l i>: l 1 •' I ' 11< j a . h .11: i " ;' :: I (|;i| i,.* 'hi I'.■ ; ~r I ,m'i ! lia' ■ it ; .1-.: : ! 'I- •• • 'a-.- f. j-:': rvl ' His . ,<-.»( ■ n •>'.!*! nr.". h. r- • j ••line «'i' h v.-u'.-n- • i ' !'.'i')Kht ! i it i>\ •r. 1 ;' •! T i<in'■ ir. •«! 'iin' 'ih.!'- | i i-r I n.iijt.' m»- •; • "=. j th.- Ni-nn-s." h.l-1 -ilk. r. a:... Ih«t H-l'iC" ! ./f.ir v.'i'lM )" i.' Ill' 1 1 ,!. ni. T . I. fl| arri'wnf) !*"'*-» t i-.i- i.i' i. u n'l'ii with a \iil )>■• 11 i'-buii-n 1 . I thnt t (oiildn't ia.fi: it. wit hot ■ oit"«l I Ii«» ncaiti to snvi- him. Ahite I thought I bus I h«-arri tht h'r. of tl»«* titotor-rnr. It rami irnrrr. and with it the .noiutioi* Ol he dillieulty. "A «icp or two. «nd I thought alt woubl Ijc over, hut it was not to be. Wh n I n|* n-il my eyes in this room I knew I must tell the truth before I went to face my Maker." C*HAPTKH XXX. A ttltANll lIKC-BPTIOX. The moin'ng sunshine stole through the drfcwn Minds and lighted the room when* Helen Itoycc lay in her la*>t sleep. Th>-n- was a restfulncss and peace in the face thvt it had laekr«l in life ; the spirit thnt bad chafed nl the cramped, joyless life had g>>n •. nn«l in the going peace had touched it —|sace bought by confession ami the attempt to right a i;reat wrong, and the husk left l»e----hind Ison- th? mark of the change. In th* morninif-room Mr. Cglthorp was talking to t'rsula. "I must semi that j»oor woman's "ois'ession to the Home Secretary," he said. At that motmnt the door opened, ami l>i*. llurri>on entered, looking pleased and excited. "I've *■» n Seholes. ami he told mc tlxiut Misn IJoyce's ei»nf»-.*sion. It tallirs exaetly with what Jinny has to suv : hut I suppose now- she realises hvr changed position wc shall have to call her Mrs. fftctvhirst. It -terms the night h-r husltand was killed she got a note from him. It was brought l>y a boy. who had often acted as his messenger, and in it hj- asked her to come to the I'tiory alsiut nine o'clock, as he had something important to say. In a script he added : ' I intend you to stay ami take your place as mv wife. Ibtt don't say anything to -our people: I'll d« al with them." "Full of joy at thr prospect of being publicly acknowledged a* the wife of th?* man she loved, she almost danced along the lane, and passed through the little gate in

•he wall to the park, then hurried nrr»<i> the grats. knowing she was late. "Frequently *he had gone to the Priory, ami h«-r husl and had generii'lv lie»-n on the lawn watching for her : then tney had panned through the window into the sitting-room that li- railed hi* den. Not seeing him. »he went quiet ly forward, and as she reachtd the window she saw a man—whom she swears was Horace htid turm-d to hts writing-table, a fearful blow on the back of his bend : then blood and brains were sra'trred aliout. She saw- blood on the bands of the man who had killed him. (tnd that is the last she remembers. until |he aigbt of Horace l,'K*trang»; recalled the tragedy, and was the cause of her memory returning." "It is h|range she should recognise him. as she had only seen hint , on<«\" said Mr. Calthorp. thoughtfolly. "She had seen him a couple of month* tirc'ore. Her parents thought «h- was sta>»ng with an aunt who livrs in* Staronlsltire. but *•!»<• was really in I^mlon—where l»ewhir«t and she were marrit d —ami one day l/Ksirange saw them, and Mopped to spta" to l;er husband, who did not introduce her. s n l she doesn't think he they were married ; Iwit while she stood waiting al a little for them to finish their talk .-he had a good look at him. and at one - r«.rotrni>ed him on that fatal n : ght. Lord Helliitetd took down her statement, and he thinks there i* no doubt it will clear Mr. John I/Fat range, lty th- way. Itoyre is in an awful state—talks of r« signing his living." said the doctor. "He must, do no such thing : a «•! Irr man never lived." said Mr. t'alfhorp*: and when tie; doctor had atone he turned to t'rsula. saying : "I wonder where .lack is hiding? I'm Inclined to think there was some truth in the report that he wa« in the neighlmurhood, thouf.h the police failed to find him." "He was in the neighbourhood ten V« H ngo." she replied, quietly. Her uncle regarded her with »urliriae. "How do you know t" he asked"llecause f saw him." , "You saw him !" he exclaimed, add-ng : "You don't know him." She smtled. ''fatten, Mnclie apd I'rsula told the tale of the escaped convict, the Tonversaiiona that she had overheard between Horace I/Kstrangc ami Helen Hoy ce. of the ring being :onf*W to her care by Mrs. Jackson. its lostt, and finally that Jack ; f,'f!strange returned it to her. "I h*ve often heard that truth is j >tranger than Ihitlon : now I know it is. Hut I don't think I shall try i to learn whether Jack is now at 'he Priory : it will he better not to ' now his exact whcrealiouls until tib- Home Secretary* has had time to a\e action in the matter." .Oalcaworthy." a footman innounccd, af)d Julius ■ entered the room, and they nuticod an unusual ■aritenient in his manner. -She's dead ?" he said, as ho •hook handa with 1 r*-ula. "Y«->. litit Jou arc not to blameSh»- confessed that she stepfssl in front of the motor-car. I*o«>r Miss Itoyee t" and I'rsula sighed. "Yes, I'm awfully sorry for h-r. •Kfeholes came to the Hnll 'hf murnng nnd told my grandm.it h-r ,-i!h>ui her statement. Tlv -.t- ;:h: 'h.i'. ' nitffder will out ' i- < r-i- ' ■ -■■■■' j did Mki- llofni.l It r«i.l ran- j not I magi i><- Inn r M !«•. H -•••-! j cam*- to rnr- i>< r !••••:; I '* j (o!ng '•> t»-n * •••> "l. j <•••' | \ « »rr.in' io- >. .ir- . Th- | I w »-n f ,1 :: j ; lln:: ;• .- ■ ' " • ' ' t ' -i *" I ; 11* r !! V' ' h ■ "T". . I 'A n . lift, a . | • !.*• Horn.** j

I/'I!s 1 ra nn-t. have got wind of ; i' h- - - <.ho-.ni n ' pair of : !■-. > I: ~-n. ■ he i ifT in n . '. i.- 11,• !.,!,! ! 1h; <-hnlk ■;v : ii'i .•' • ■ h;ii'.. nini a - h- hn<i | y T ■j i - -.t!i: ■ ■ 'An'.' 1 -fi> ri -, Ni'M !r- | 1 !; ii..l j art nrh nr.v iniI ■ !• . t ho-ji(h --h-' ' hough' ; ; • :..: r. ■ r- ord u' ' oIT h;.*- hors'. ml '>' •' K': i' l: wai' H"K "I ■ •10-iWi i ii- ;-t '-!• IV. TO'- al j M- lln-. iliii.t i»! no. ' i.at w ftrih-d j . IT- ' .-lil'il to n v '«. :f *k'- * a.« ; ,r«-«!. i,..d 1 K" ••' " hj :" ' i. 't- !>." -aid I't "Viii I. t jmiii - -,ii!! i--i ii* ot, tfn'-V. M«- L'T;: r 'if n•h' "" : mt\i'M!v I |l'-> -> 1 • > l ll d hITt i . Hi' ' : "ilil al'oiif. .Ixi'-' 1.1!'. " , *> i>|« g ; »a:. but. t !,•■ A ;•. - 1 nn\;in> In- !>hf)wlil p> -i ' : h- l»--|r-n.-.s to ;.fi ill'i ' • .•<!•'! l{ woilitln'l do i'or bun 'n t' li;ii :,'"'i "Th l n hi- sho'il'l V ' ■ crime." Said Mr. Cul^hmp "So I think ; hut "tin trr ß j.i : i-. >■'h'thinks th<-.c i'- mi-. J• >i* .tt1 1•«folk** und atioth-r for li.i trr> . H.' whether he is i>-nti<-h-d <■■•' i,- 1 •'h-1. l#'F.str«ng-t will 1 nn."!-v~' • or.- long." sa>'l Juli'is. " Yts. and wc will i n n Itoyal welcome." r»rj»lir-ri Mr. <'hl- ; thorp, ami rrsula's ilu.-l-.i-d ; Ihi'-tt. as Nettie KinlnyMin an ; nouureil, Julius bade them day," About three o'clock thf.t mi-it th-- inqtn-st was held ii. th-- di«t'i,v'roon. at the tlranK'- - nn r -- ,; '- llebu Hovce. nnd aft-" . ' i . -; I** n giM-n l»y the do«-t..r n:.•: -I'tlfiiirtd the sta'etut-nt -.h- i.jc; i.- .i<i. — that she had d-lib-rat. iv -t.-j.j--<! •>. front of the cur—ltud Imi-h 'old ''r. jury by Mr. Calthorp, a v.-rdi'-t r.T ; ••uii'ifle v hile temporari'.y ii:--ati-returnetl. i It was in \ain th-: doct.or point--d j out that she had !>•-■» j..-rf—■ tly rational wh-'n ->h'.- tiiaiif- 'h- i ni-n'.. Hie foreman deelnfe'l that «hat.ovi.r- I -h>- «hs later, she whW out of h-r niiml wh«*n sh:> put h'-r*-f )f in the wa.v of the car. "I'll defy any one. Mr. foroner. t«i say it was th- act of a sane woman." lie said, in conclusion. The coroner made a non-committal reply, and Mr. Scholes heard one juryman whis|»er to anoth«-r "It's all right. The \ irar uill Ik; i able to bury her properly. It -.wiuUl : have pretty- well finish- <1 hin: if -h' <1 'tad to lie "iMit^flfJ. 1 ik#* n dour, without j a v.ord out of th<- rra;--r-t'ook ' an«l ns Mr. S»hid'.-S rirt>\. he was glad the ionnati had ir.--ist '.* l on : Ojch a vcrilict". ns it. en.iMi-ci pom- ; Helen Ito.vce to In; ,t- a 'hti-- i tian. Two days later she Wii-- In id '• ■ f»*?«t in the churchyard, ci. l to t'.%icaragt>, and the sati.e ?!'■ r: i r. news Cntne that starti'-fl ! : &{ My themroy <1 —n-:ws (!•,.;• Hor.:r.I/Rstrange ha«l Iwvn .• t Paris, hut before th>" iiar-.dr-i On his wrists he had mar,• -1 o -ontething into his n.oiiMi. a;. ! minutes later h- ua.- A-;i. - Jane received a H- if he Was to In; brought horn- forl.urial. and the u-unll;- 'a-i'urn -.votnaii —whom some |»-op!e thmiKh' n cra^v —wire*l hack . "Uury- hitu wh-r- hi; di-d. M•• don't want .such carrion to li-: with the I/Katrangi'-s." A'day later m.-ws canm to Heiiifield that the Home Secretary hud, after reading ih>: two stat'-nients, come to the conclusion »ha' t h»-re had tiei.-n a misrarriaffe of justice-, that John L'Km rn»!«.- th- nmn who hail escaped from I>arur.oo"—in- j nocent. and every on' ti-'-ked I was he ? As the October nigh' .< p 'he . man about whom ev. r;. or.-- iri th«- ! town and for mile- round *n - *nlking .stepped into thr: poli' •-at ion. ami going up to the sup-riri'• -ndT.' . who * talking to a >n^< fill'-■, -aid : "Well, Orevillt. whot an- . o i ; ing to do with me ?" The ollicer. who had his lui-k to ; him. turned round as though h- had i been sh«)t. "Mr. L'Estrange he exHainn-d. "Yes. I thought it w R s. nboiit. ! time I put in an appearance." he j -laid. : "So you really were in -ili- di-trir'. I'm afraid we're nut good for much j to let you slip through our fingers," -aid SujK.-riiitendi-nt (Jr-vill-. "Well, ynta've C"' Hi-- t o - *. Hut you haven't ans»-r-<i ir.y o-e -ii«n." The orticer sttul-d : thin I. .said : "I shall ha'.- to t-i-i:i,iph for or:kTS." (To he Corn ;i. ;e f i i. i I