LEAVENWORTH MURDER.

BY ANNA KATJIERTNJS GREEN,

Authoress of

"A STRASOB DISAPrKARANCE" AND

«' The Sword of Damocles."

BOOK I.—THE PIIOBLEM. VIII.

CIRCUMSTAHTUt EVIDENCE,

" O dark, dark, dark!'

And now that the intoreat was at its height; that the veil which shrouded this horrible tragedy seemed about to be lifted, if not en tirely withdrawn, I felt a desire to fly the scene, to lcttTO tho spot, to know it no more Not that 1 was conscious of any particular fear that this woman was going to betray herself. The cold steadiness of her now Fixed and impassive countenance was sufll cieut warranty in itsolf against the possibility of any such catastrophe. But if indeed the suspicions of her cousin were tho oflsprfng, not only of hatred, but of knowledge. if that face of beauty was in truth only a mask> and Elcanoro Lcavonworth was what the words of her cousin, and her own after be. haviour would seem to imply, how could I bear to sit there and ccc tho frightful serpent of deceit and sin cvolvo itself from the bosom of this white rose ! And yet, such is the fascination of uncertainty, that although I saw something of my own feelings reflected in the countenances of many about me, not a man in all that^nssßUiblago showed any disposition to depart,.l least of all. The coroner, Upon whom the blonde love linear of Mary hail impressed itself ti> Eleauore's apparent detriment, was tbe only one in the room who showed himself un uflcclod at this moment. Turning toward the wituesa with a look which, while tes ncctful, had a touch of austerity in it, ho began : " You have boon an inmate of Mr. Leaven worth's family from childhood, they tell me, Miss Leavenworth?" " From my tenth year," returned she. It was the tir-it time I had heard her voice, and it surprised me, it was so like, and yet so unlike that i)f her cousin. Similar in tone, it lacked its expressiveness, if I may so speak, sounding without vibration on the car and ceasing without an echo. " Since that timo you have boeu treated like a daughter, they tell me?" " Yea, sir, like a daughter indeed; he was more than a father to both of us." " You and Miss Mary Leavenworth arc cousins, I believe. When did she enter tho family I" "At the sumo time that I did. Our res pectivo parents were victims of the samo disaster. If it had not been for our undo, we should have beca thrown, children as we were, upon the world. But ho "—here she pausod, her firm lips breaking into a half tremble—" but lie, iv the gooducsj of his heart, adopted us into his family, and gave us what we had both lost, a father and a ~liome." -■ " You pay that lie was a father to you as well as to your cousin—that he adopted you. Do you liiciin by that, that ho not only sur rounded you with present luxury, but gave you to understand that the s>ain« should be secured to you after his death ; in short, that he intended to leave any portion of his property to you ?" " No, sir ; I was given to understand, from tho first, tbat his property would be bequeathed by will to my cousin." " Your cousin was no more nearly related lo him than yourself, Miss Leavenworth; did he ever givo you any reabori for this evident partiality?" " None but his pleasure, sir." Her answers up to this point had been so straightforward and satisfactory that a gradual confidence eeemed to be taking the place of the rather uneasy donbts which had from the first encircled about this woman's name and person. But at this ad mission, utterod as it was in a_ calm, unim passioned voice, not only the jury, but my-; self, who had so much truor reason for' mistrusting her, felt that actual suspicion in her case must bo very much shaken before the utter lack of motive which this reply so clearly betokened. Meanwhile the coroner continued, "If your uncle did for you all that you say, you must have become Very much attached to him?" "Yes, sir," her mouth taking a sudden determined curve, " His death, then, must have been a great shock to you!" " Very, very great." ' "Enough of itself to make you faint away, as they tell me you did, at the first gliinpec you had of his body." "Enough, quite." "And yet you scorned to tie prepared for it?" "Prepared?" "The servants say you were yery much agitated at finding your uncla did not make his appearance at the breakfast table." "The ser»ante 1" her tongue seemed to cleave to tho roof of her mouth ; she could hardly speak. " That when you returned from his room you were very pale." Was she begmuing to realise that there was some doubt, if not actuil suspicion, in the mind of the man who could assail her with Mich questions like these ? I had not seen her so agitated since that memorable instant up in her room. But her mistrust, if she felt any, did not long betray itself. Calming herself by a great effort.she replied •with a quiet «esture— " That is not so strange. My uncle was a very methodical man _; the least change in his habits would be likely to awaken our apprehensions." '! You were alarmed, then ?" •' To a certain extent I was." " Misj Leavenworth, who is in the habit of overseeing the regulation of your uncle's private apartments ? "I am, sir." "You are doubtless, then, acquainted with a certain stand in his room containing a drawer?" "Vps, sir," "How long is it since you had occasion to go to this drawer ?" "Yesterday," visibly trembling at the admission, "At what time?" " Near noon, I should judge." "Was the pistol he was accustomed to keep there, in its place at the time ?" "I presume so, I did not observe." "Did you turn the key upon closing the drawer ? "I did." "Take it out?" "No, sir." " Miss Leavenworth, that pistol, as you have perhaps observed, lies on the table he fore yon. Will you look at it ?" And lift ing it up into view.he held it towards her. If he meant to startle her by the sud.

den action, he amply succeeded. At the first sight of tho murderous weapon she shrank hack, and a horrified but quickly suppressed shriek, burst from her lips. " O no, no," she moaned, flinging out her lands before nor. " I must insist upon your looking at it, Misa Leavenworth," pursued the coroner. "When it was found just now, all the chambers were loaded." Instantly tin agonised look left her coun tenance. " O then—" She did not finish, but put out her hand for tho weapon. But the coroner, looking at her steadily, continued, "It has been Litely fired off, for all that. Tho hand that cleaned the barrel forgot tho cartridgo-chambur, Mus Leaven worth." She did not elmek again, but a hopelots, helpless look slowly settled over her face, and nhe seemed about to sink, but like a Hash the reaction came, and lifting her head with a steady, grand action 1 have never soon equalled, oho exclaimed, " Very well, what thou ?" Tho coroner laid the pi'tol down; men and women glanced at each other; every one seemed to hesitate to proceed. I heard a tremulous siyh at my side, and turning, beheld Mary Leavenworth staring at her cousin with a startled flush on her cheek, as if she began to recognise tho fact that others, bosido herself, felt that there was something unexplained about this woman. At last the coronor summoned up courage to continue. " You ask me, Misi Leavenworth, upon the evidence given, what then ? Your question obligos me to say that no burglar, no hired assassin, would have ufed this pistol for a murderous purpose, and then taken the pans not only to clean it. but to reload it, and lock it up again in the drawer from which In had taken it." She did not reply to this, but Mr Gryce made a note of it with tbat peculiar em phatic nort of his. "Nor," he went on even more pravely, " would it bft possible for any one who w«s not accustomed to pass in and out of Mr Loavenvofth's room, at all hours, to enter his door so late at night, procure this pistol from it-* place of concealment, traverse his apartmont.aud advance so closely upon him us the facts show to have been necessary —without causing him at least to turn his head to one side, which, in consideration of the doctor's testimony, we cannot believe ho did." It was a frightful ftiggcstion, and we looked to see Klranoro Loavonwnrth recoil, lint that expression of outraged feeling was left for her cousin to exhibit Starting indignantly from her scat, Mary cast one hurried glance around her, nnd npeuod her lips to apeak, but Eloanoro, slightly turning, motioned her to ha»c patience, and replied in a cold and calculating voice, " You are not sure, Mr, that this mas done, I' my uncle, for some purposeof*na own, had fired the pistol off yesterday, let us say,—which is surely possible if not probable—tho like results would be observed, and the same conclusions drawn." "Miss Loavonworth," the coroner went on, " the ball has been extracted from your uncle's head." "Ah!" " It corresponds with thoso in tho car tridges found in his s>tnml-drawcr, and is of the number used with this pistol." Her heart fell forward on her hands, her eyes sought the floor, her wholo attitude expressed dishcartoDinent. Seeing it, the coroner grow still more grave. " Miss Leavonworth," said he, " I have now some questions to put you concerning last night. Where did you spend " the evening ?" " Alone in my room." " You, howorcr, saw your uncle or your cousin during th« course of it?" " No, sir ; I saw no one after leaving tho dinner table—except Thomas," sbc added after a moment's pause. "And bow came you to soo him?" "He came to bring me the caul of a gentle man who called." "May I ask tho name of the gentle man?" " The name on. tho card was Mr. Lc Itoy Itobbins." The matter seemed trivial, but the sudden start given by tho lady at my side made me remember it. " Miss Leavenworth, when seated in your room are jou in the habit of leaving your door open ?" A startled look at this, quickly suppressed. "Not in the habit, no, sir," " Why did you leave it open last night ?'' " I was feeling warm." " No other reason ?" " I can give no other." " When did you close it ?" "Upon retiring." " Was that before or after the servants went up ?" "After." " Did you hear Mr. Harwell when ho left the library and ascended to his room ?" "Idld, sir." "How much longer did you leave your door open after that?" " I—l—a few minntcs a-I cannot say," she added hurriedly. " Cannot say ? why do you forget ?" " I forget just how long after Mr Har well came up, I dosed it." "Was it more than ten minutes ? " "Yes." "More than twenty ?" " Perhaps." How pale her face was, and how she trembled. "Miss Leavenworth, according to ovi dence, your uncle came to his death not very long after Mr Harwell left him. If your door was open, you ought to have heard if any one went to his room or any pistol shot was fired. Now, did you hear anything ?" "I heard no confusion, no, sir." "Did you hear anything?" " Not auy pistol shot." "Miss Lcavonworth, excuse my persis tence, but did you hear anything ?" " I heard a door close." "What door?" "Tho library door." "When?" "I do not know." She elapsed her hands hysterically; " I cannot say. Why do you ask so many questions ? " I leaped to my feet; she was swaying, .almost fainting. But before I could reach her, she had drawn herself up again and resumed her former demeanour. "Excuse me," said she, "I am not myself this morn ing. I beg your pardon," and she turned steadily to the coroner. " What was it you asked ?" "I asked," and his voice grew thin and high, —evidently her manner was beginning to tell against her, —"when it was you heard the library door shut ? " " I cannot fix the precise time, but it was after Bar Harwell came up and before I closed my own." " And you heard no pistol shot ?" "No, sir." Tho coroner cast a quick look at the jurj\ who almost to a man dropped their eyes ai* he did so. "Miss Leavonworth, we are told that Hannah, one of the servants, started for your room late last night after some medi cine. Did she come there ?" " No." "When did you first learn of her remark able disappearance from this house during the night ?" " This morning betore breakfast. Molly met me in the hall, and asked how Hannah was. I thought the inquiry a strange one

and so questioned her. A moment's talk* made the conclusion plain that the girl was gone." " What did you think when you became assured of this fact ? " " I did not know what to think." " No suspicion of foul play crossed your mind ? " 11 No, fir." " You did not connect tbe fact with that of your uncle's murder?" ''I did not know of hia murder then." '■ And afterwards?" " 0, some thought of the possibility of her knowing something about it may have crossed my mind, I cannot say. " "Can you tell us anything of this girl's past history." • 'I can tell you no more in regard to it than my cousin has done." •'Do you know what made her so sad at nights?" Her cheek flushed angrily; was it at his tone or the question itself? "No sir; she never confided hor secrets to my keeping." " Theu you cannottell us where she would be likely to go on leaving this house ?" "Certaiuly not." " Miss Leavenworth, we are obliged to put another question to you. We arc told that you were tho one who ordered your uncle s body to be removed from where it was found into tlie next room." She bowed her head. " Didn't you know that it is not proper to distuib the b"dy of a person found dead, ex cept in the presence and under tho authority of the proper officer?" " I did not consult my knowledge, sir, in regard to the subject-only my feelings." " Then I suppose it was your feelings that prompted you to remain standing by tbe table at which ho was murdered, instead of fol lowing the body in and feeing it properly deposited? Or 'perhaps," he went on with relentless sarcasm " you wore too much in terested just then, in the piece of paper you took awuy, to think much of the proprieties of the occasion ?" " Paper?" lifting her head with determi nation. " Who says that I took a piece of paper from the table? I am sure I have not." " One witness has sworn that he saw you bending over the table upon which there were lying several papers, another, that when she met you a few minutes later in the hall, >ou were in the act of putting a piece of paper in your pocket. The inference follows, Miss Leaveuworth." This was a home thrust and we looked to sec some i-how of agitation, but her haughty lip never quivered. " You have drawn the inference, and you must prove the fact." The answer was stateliness itself, and we were not surprised to fee the coroner look a triile tallied; but recovering himself he said, " Miss Leavenworth, I must ask yon again, whether you did or did not take any tiling from that table ?" She folded her arms; " I decline answer ing tbat question," Bhe taid quietly. "Pardon me," he rejoined, " it is neces sary that you should." Her lip took a still more determined curve. " When any_ suspicious paper is found in my possession, it will be time enough then, forme to explain how I came by it." This defiance seemed to stagger the coro ner. "Do you realise to what this refusal is liable to subject you !" She dropped her head. "I am afraid that I do ; yes sir. " Mr Gryco lifted his hand and softly twirled the tassel of the window-curtain, " And you still persist ?" She absolutely disdained to reply. The coroner did not press it further. It had now become evident to all that Eleanorc Leavenworth not only stood upon her defence, but was perfectly aware of her position and prepared to maintain it. Even her cousin,who bad till now preserved some sort of composure, began to show signs of strong and uncontrollable agitation, as if she found it one thing to utter an accusation herself, and quite another to see it working its way to light in she countenances of the men abont her. "Miss Leavcuworth," the coroner con tinued, changing the line of attack, "you have always had free access to your uncle's apartments have you not ?" "Yes, sir." "Might even had entered his room late at night, crossed it and stood at his side, without disturbing him sufficiently to cause him to turn his head ?" "Yes;" her hands pressing themselves painfully together. " MissLceavnwoitb,tbe key to the library door is missing." She made no answer. " It has been testified to, that previous to the actual discovery of the murder, you visited the door of the library alone. Will you tell us if the key was then in the lock ?" "It was not." "Arc you certain?" "I am." " Now, ■was there anything peculiar about this key, either in size or chape?" She strove to repress the sudden terror which this question produced, glanced care lessly around at the gronp of servants stationed at her back and trembled. "It was a little different from the others," she murmured at last. "In what respect?" " The handle was broken." "Ah,gentlemen, the handle was broken," . tho coroner observed, looking towards the jury. Mr Gryce sf c.mcd to take this information to himself, for he gave another of his quick nods. " You would, then, recognise this key, Mies Leavenworth, if you should see it?" She ca«t a startled look at him, as if she expected to behold it in his hand, but seem ing to gather courage at not finding It pro duced, replied quite easily, " I think I should, sir." "Very well, then," said he, waving his handindismissal, "that is all. Gentlemen,1' continued he, looking at the jurymen, "you havo heard tho testimoney of the members of the household, and—" But here Mr Gryce quietly advancing, touched him on the arm. " One moment," said he, and stooping, he whispered a few words in the coroners car, then recovering himself, stood with his right hand in his breast pocket and his eye upon the chandelier. I scarcely dared to breathe. Had he repeated to the corcner the words he had inadvertently overheard in the hall above ? But a glance at the latter's face satisfied me that nothing so important as tbat had tran spired. He looked not only tired but a trifle annoyed. " Miss Lcayemyorth," said he, turning again in her direction, "you have declared that you were not with your nncle last even ing, did not visit his room. Do you repeat the assertion ?° " I do."' He glanced at Mr Gryce, who immedia tely drew from his breast a handkerchief curiously soiled. "It is strange, then," re marked he, ' • that this handkerchief of yours, in the hands of the officer, should have bcea found this morning in that room." The girl uttered a cry : then while Mary's face hardened into a sort of strong despair, Eleanore tightened her lips and coldly re plied, " I do not see that it isso very strange. I was in that room ealry this morning," " And you dropped it then 5

A distressed blush crossed her face ; she did not reply. "Soiled in this way?" " I know nothing about the soil. What is it ? let me see." ' "In a moment. What we now wish, is to know how it came to be in your uncle's apartment." "There are many vays. I might have left it there days ago. I have told you that I was in the babit of visiting his room. But first, let me see if it is ray handkerchief." And she held out her hand. " I presume bo, as I am told it has your initials embroidered in one corner," he re turned, as Mr Gryce passed it to her. But she with horrified voice interrupted him. " These dirty spots ! what are they? they look like—" " Likc>hat they are," said the coroner. "If you have ever cleaned a pistol you must know what they are, Miss Leavenworth." She let the handkerchief fall convulsively from her hand, and stood staring at it, lying before her on the floor. "I know nothing about it, gentleman," she said. "Itis my handkerchief, but—" for some cause she did not finisU her sentence, but again repeated, " Indeed, gentleman, I know nothing about it." This closed her testimony. Kate, tbe cook, was now recalled, and asked to tell when she last washed the hand kerchief. "This, sir; this handkerchief? O some time this week, sir," throwing a depreca tory glance at her mistress. '•What day?" " Well, I wish I could forget, Miss Eleanore, but I can't. It was the only one like it in the house. I washed itday before yesterday." " When did you iron it ?" "Yesterday morning," half choking over the words. " And when did you take it to her room ?" The cook threw her apron over her head. " Yesterday afternoon with the rest of the clothes, just before dinner. Indade, 1 could not help it, Miss Eleanore," whispered she ; "it was the trutb." Eleanore Leavenworth frowned, This somewhat contradictory evidence had very sensibly affected her; and when a moment later, the coioncr having dismissed the witness, turned towards her, and inquired if she had anythibg further to say in regard to this matter, in the way of explanation or otherwise, she threw her hands up almost spasmodically, slowly shook her head, and without word or warning, fainted quietly away in her chair. A commotion of course followed, during which I noticed that Mary did not hasten to her cousin, but left it for Molly and Kate to do what they could toward her resuscita tion. In a few moments this was so far accomplished, that they were enabled to lead her from the room. As they did so, I observed a tall man rise and follow her out. A momentary silence ensued, soon broken, however, by an impatient stir as our little juryman rose and proposed that the jury should now adjourn for the day. This seemiog to fall in with the coroner's views, he announced that the inquest would stand adjourned till three o'clock the nest day, when he trusted all the jurors would be present. A general rnsh followed, that in a few minutes emptied the room of all but Miss Leavenworth, Mr. Gryce and myself. IX. A DISCOVERY. His rolling Eies did never rest in place, But walkte e»cu where for foare of hid mis chance. Holding a lattis still before his Face Through wliich he still did peep as forward ho did pace. FAEniE QUEEX. Miss Leavenwoktji, who appeared to have lingered from a va?uc terror of everything and everybody in the_ house, not under her immediate observation, shrank from my side the moment she found we were lett comparatively alone, and retiring to a dts tant coroer, gave herself up to grief. Turning my attention, therefore, in the direction of Mr. Gryce, I found that person busily engaged in counting his own lingers with a troubled expression upon his coun tenance, which may or may not have been the result of that ardueus employment. But at my approacn, satisfied perhaps that he possessed no more than the requisite num ber, he dropped his hands and preeted me with a faint smile that was, considering all things, too suggestive to be pleasant. " Well," said I, taking ay stand before him, "I cannot blame you. You had a right to do as you thought best, but how had you the heart? Was she not sufficiently compromised withoutyour bringing out that wretched handkerchief, which sue may or may have dropped in that room, hut whose presence there, soiled though it was with Eistol grease, is certainly no proof that she erselt was connected with this murder?" "Mr. Raymond," returned he, " I have been detailed as police officer and detective to look after this case, and I propose to do it." "Oi course," I hastened to reply, " I am the last man to wish you to shirk your duty ; but you cannot have the temerity to declare that this young and tender creature can by any possibility be considered as at all likely to "be implicated in a crime so monstrous and unnatural. The mere assertion of another woman's suspicions on the subject ought not—" But here Mr. Gryce interrupted me, " You talk when your attention should be directed to more important matters. That other woman, as you are pleased to desig nate the fairest ornament of New York society, sits over there in tears; go and comfort her." Looking at Mm in amazement,l hositated to comply, but seeing he was in earnest, crossed to Mary Leavenworth and sat down by her side. She was weeping.but in a slow unconscious way, as if grief had been mastered by fear. The fear was too undis guised and the grief too natural for me to doubt the genuineness of either. "Miss Leavenworth," said I, "any atlempt at consolation on the part of a stranger must seem at a time like this the most bitter of mockeries, but do try and consider that circumstantial evidence is not always absolute proof." Starting like one caught back from the verge of a precipice, just as destruction Ecemed inevitable, she turned her eyes upon me with a slow comprehensine gaze wonder ful to Bee in orbs so tender and womanly. "No," murmured she, "circumstantial evidence is not absolute proof, but Eleanore does not know this, She is so intense ; she cannot see but one thing at a time. She has been running her head into a noose and O, —" Pausing she clutched my arm with a passionate grasp, •• Do you think there is any danger ? Will they—" She could not go on-. " Miss Leavenworth," 'whispered I, with a warning look toward the detective, " what do you mean ?" Like a flash her glance followed minp, an instant chr.nge taking place in her bear " Your cousin may be intense," I went on as if nothing had occurred, " but Ido not know to what you refer' when you say that she has been running her head into a noose," " I mean this," returned she firmly; 'that wittingly or unwittingly, she has 'so parried and met the questions' which, have

been put to hea in this room, that any one listening to her, would give her the credit of knowing more than she ought to of this horrible affair. She acta,"—Mary pered, but not so low but that every or j could be distinctly hettfd in all quarts of the room—" as if Bhe were anxious to con. ceal something. But she is not, lam ante she ia not. Eleanore and I are riot good friends, but all the world could never make §1 me believe that she has any more kno«r» ledge of this murder than I have, won't ll somebody tell her then,—won't you—that her .manner is a mistake, that it is calculate & to aroufe suspicion, that ie has already done so ? And 0, tell her from me—" she went on, ber voice sinking to a low whisper now "what you have just said, that dream*: stantial evidence is not alwajs absolute proof " I surveyed her with great astonishment What an actress this woman was ! "You requo't mo to toll her this," said I I; " wouldn't it be better for you to speak 1 to her yourself ?" " Eleanore and JI hold little or no confi. dential communication," replied she, • I could easily believe that, and yet I wag puzzled. Indeed there was something | n^ comprehensible in her whole manner. Not knowing what else to say, l remarked "That is unfortunate. She ought to be': told that the straightforward course ig the; beat by all means." Mary Leaven worth only wept, "'oj| why lias this awful trouble come to me who" have always been so happy before I" *■ <^m "Perhaps for the very reason that yoa have always been so ha.ppy." "It was not enough that dear uncle should die in this horrible manner; but* she, my own cousin, had to—" I touched her arm, and the action seemed1 to recall to herself. Stopping short she bit her lip_. " Miss Lcavenworth," I whispered, "you1 should hope for the beet- Besides, I'! honestly believe that you are disturbing yourself unnecessarily If 'nothing freah' transpires, a mere prevarication or so of Your * cousin's will not suffice to injure her." : '-'■: I said this to see if she had any reason"to 1 doubt the future. I was amply rewarded. I "Anything fresh ? How could there be anything fresh, when she is perfectly' innocent?" ' Suddenly a thought seemed to strike her. I "Mr Raymond/ said she, wheeling' | round in her seat till her lovely, perfumed' i wrapper brushed my knee," "why didn't ? they ask me more questions : I could have! told them Eleanoro never left her room' ■ last night." " You could ?" What was Ito think of tills woman. " Yea; my room is nearer the head of the"': stairs than hers ; to have gone down, she would have been obliged to pass my door. I should have heard her, don t you see?" Ah, was that all! "That does not follow," I answered . sadly. "Can you give no other reason?" • "I would say whatever was necessary," sue whispered. I started back. Yes, this woman, would, lie now to save her cousin, had lied during i the inquest, but then I Ml grateful, and I now I was simply horrified. "Miss Leavenworth," said I, "nothing ; ; can justify one in vielating the dictates or r his own conscience, not even the safety of * one we do not altogether love." y •' No ? " returned sbe ; and her lip took a-;, tremulous curve, the lovely bosom heaved," v and she softly looked away. ! If Eleanorc's beauty had made one jot f; less of an impression on my fancy, or her".: frightful situation awakened one iota lesßof anxiety in my breast, ! should have been if I lost man from that moment. ,j " I did not mean to do anything very':; wrong," murmured she; "do not think toY;]! badly of inc." " No, no," said I; mid there is not a man living who would not have said tho samehr. my place. W hat more might have passed betweens I us on this subject I cannot say, for jiistj, 1 then the door opened and a man entered,^! whom I recognised as the one who hWrji followed Eleanore Leavenworth, a Bhort|j;| time before. ; "Mr Gryce," said he, pausing justing; side the door, "a word if you.please." $M The detective nodded, but did not hasten*:; towards him; instead of that, walked'" deliberately away to the other end of the! room, where he lifted the lid of an inkstand* he saw there, muttered some unintelligible v words into it, and speedily shut it again. Immediately the uncanny fancy seizedJ me, that it I should leap to that inkstand, open it and peer in, I should surprise and' capture that bit of confidence he had,;; intrusted to it. But I restrained my fooM|Y impulse, and contented myself with noting t the subdued look of respect with which the£.>■ gaunt subordinate watched the approach of j; his superior. "Well?" inquired the latter1 as he'l; reached him, "what now?" The man shrugged his shoulders arid>"; drew his principal through the open door. I Once in the hall their voices sank to a-j" whisper, and as their backs only were visible, I turned to look at my companion. She was pale but composed. " Has he come from Eleanore?" / "I do not know; I fear so. Miss Lea veil', worth," said I, "can it be possible that 1 your cousin bas any thing in her possession ■ that she desires to conceal ?" :;S II Then you think she is frying to conceal something?" •, '*„ "Idonot say so. But there was con siderable talk about a paper-—", '' They will never find any paper pr > any thing else suspicious in Eleanore's posses sion, interrupted she. "In the first place, < there was no paper of importance enougfl 1 -I saw Mr Uryce's form suddenly stiffen " for one to think of concealment ■ Don t. I know ? Was I not my nncle's confidant? ■. • . " I do not suppose there was,, suggestea I, "as far as your knowledge jjocs, ifct could she not have been acquainted wnn. something?—" m , „« She drew back coWy.. "There wasmm. thing to be acquainted with, Mr RaJ~ We lived the moatmethod leal ff domeshc , , of lives. I cannot understand for my part. ; .. ; , why so much should be madei out of this. ; , My uncle undoubtedly came to his deatu - by the hand of some intended ? burglar. That nothing was stolen from the n0"86'. 1, 3 no proof that a burglar never entered it. , As for the doors and windowi being locked will you take the word of an Irish as infallible upon such a point as that? 1 cannot. I believe the assassin to be one ot a gang who make their living by breaking into houses, and if you cannot honestly agree with me, do try and consider such an ; explanation as possible, if not for the sake | of the family credit, why theu- and.she turned her face with all its fair beauty upon mine, eyes, cheeks, mouth all so exquisite^ g and winsome—" why then formme. ■• Instantly Mr Gryce turned Awards us. "Mr Raymond, will you bo kindenough tft I step this way ?" . „ •«_, : Glad to escape from my present posittos, I hastily obeyed. . , '' What has happened ?" I in*!^ 4- « | "We propose to take you into our «onn* douce," murmured Mr Gryce ««Jy, " Excuse me, Mr Raymond, Mr FobbS. I bowed to the man I saw before me, and stood uneasily waiting. An»OUS as x was to know what we really bad to fear, i still intuitively shrank from any mm o t"u ( . cation with one whom I looked upon o» • | spy. | .-,„•:'j

STA& SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, JULY 22 4 1882.

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