The Riddle of the Frozen Flame

me of its gloominess, though there were those who said that the whole place was ruined thereby. However, it was certainly an improvement to be

ty nothing short of madness. To him the dignity of the house had gone. But when it came to Nigel installing a new staff of servants, the good Borkins literally t

son, who spoke with a harsh, cockney accent, and whom Merriton introduced as his "batman", "Whatever that might be," said Borkins, holding forth to Dimmock, one of

o think himself. Many a word he and Borkins had over their master's likes and dislikes. But invariably Collins won out. While every other servant i

ng papers failed to appear at their appointed time. Collins c

to hide the fact-"what the dooce 'as become of his lordship's pypers? 'Ave

speak to 'im. I've 'ad nothink whatever to do with Sir Nigel's evenin' papers, and you know it. If they're late, well,

ship's been a-arskin' fer 'em, and like as not they ain't turned up. Let's see what's the time? 'Arf-past eight." He shook his bullet-shaped hea

nd his face went a dull brick col

a 'ero as Mr. James Collins. Oh no! You'll find it a mile or so less than the three miles by road. It's the shortest cut,

ernight and see. You're right fer once. I ain't afraid. It tykes more'n tw

rough the dusk at Collins' sturdy figure as it swung past him dow

uch a lot, well, let 'im take the risk. I warned 'im anyhow, s

ught by the station-master's son Jacob. Jacob had seen nothing of Collins, and Merriton, who did not know that

n's absence, went to bed and slept soundly. The first knowledge he received

ton said pettishly, for he did not

t, sir," responded Borkins, bravely. "'E 'asn't bee

t in bed and ran his fingers through h

patiently, "and so far as I knows he 'asn't returned yet. Whether he dropped into a public 'ouse on the way or not, I don't

ng hold upon his master's heart. He certain

out last night to fetch my papers from the station and

obably go that way. That no Frozen Flames was a-goin' ter frighten 'i

knew the-the truth about Mr. Wynne's disappearance, and yet you deliberately let that man go out to his

or two paler, and t

igel,

id Coll

is pig-'eaded, if you'll forgive the word, sir, and he was bent upon gettin' your papers. I swear, sir, I ain't 'ad anythin' ter do with it, and when 'e didn't come back last night before I went to bed I said to meself

n his heel and looked at t

rection. Have Dimmock go down to the village. And ransack every public house round about. If you can't find any trace of him-" his lips tightened for a moment, "then I'll fetch in the police. I'll get the finest det

ad met with the same fate as Dacre Wynne? What were those fiendish flames, anyhow, that men disappeared compl

a very unsteady hand, "I'll go straight up to London by the twelve o'clock tr

t long list of others had vanished. Eaten up by the flames-and in Twentieth Century England! But the fact remained. Dacre Wynne had disappeared, and now James Collins had followed him. And a new flame shone among the others, a newer, brighter flame than any before. Merriton saw it himself, that was the devilish part of it. His own eyes had seen the