Blackthorn Farm

ded the temptation of taking a taxi-cab, but walked to the underground railway and took a train to Westminster. He was turning over a new

was out and that nothing was ready for him. His rooms looked dusty and u

inald at the Imperial Hotel, telling him of his arrival and saying he was at his service during the whole of the next day. Then, after unpacking his suit-case and changing

him at every turn-though there was gold in his purse and a balance at his bank. A week or

lised its importance. And his father'

nce between eight and eight-fifteen. Every minute cabs and motor-cars drew up and members of the company got out and passed through the

quarter-past eight, he began to grow a little anxious. Ruby was late

passage he knocked at the sliding glass-panel of the d

s been called away for a moment, but he'll be back directly. All the c

passage nearly ran into him. As she apologised

. "I've just come up to town from the country, and I don't suppose I shall have mor

she hesitated a moment before replying. "But don't you kn

" Rupert ec

something-at least, she said so! Anyway, she wanted a holiday,

holiday," Rupert said mecha

n affairs or other people's like the rest of the girls." She held out a neatly-gloved hand. "I must rush away; late as usual. I expect you'll hear from Ruby in a d

himself with an effort and made his way into the street and walked slowly along in the direction of Piccadilly Circus. He found it difficult to believe that Ruby had gone away suddenly without a word

t. He rang the bell three times without receiving

d her telling the driver of the taxi-cab to take her to Victoria Station. She had left about eight o'clock on the evening of the same day Rupert

gone alone, then he checked himself, ashamed

udden wave of jealousy, was swept away by the return of the dreadful fear which had assailed him several times during the last forty-ei

t his rooms in Westminster she must have known she was going and have made her preparations. Yet she had carefully concealed the fact from him. It wa

ad she suddenly run away fro

ith in her love. She had proved it. Her l

traffic echoed dully in his ears; on his left the lights of Oxford Street glared. Fa

pictures rose before his eyes presenting each incident of the last day they had spe

d in his hand. Yet she had known his position perfectly well: she had known that with the defeat of the fav

hut out the pictures which danced be

rk trying to escape from his thoughts and from

to get back to his rooms again. He might find somethi

ed a vase of faded flowers on the bureau. He was about to throw them into the fire when he

to speak to the landlady. The maid gave him a sc

r, stood with her back to it. She gave Rupert one glance, the

pectedly on business," Rup

there ain't no ser

ouble? Why-by the way, are

a few moments produced a crumpled envelope wh

that vase on the bureau. I said as how they wouldn't live until you came back. But, t

e over, broke the seal, then changed

tters?" he a

is head, and picking up her apron com

im you had gone away and weren't expected. He said you were probably coming up to London-I did

ook out his key intending to open the bureau. To his surprise he found it was un

her letters for

fter you was gone, I think she paid some bills for you. At least, so I understoo

picked up an imaginary

nd. He waited fo

ave admitted them, sir-bu

do you

nds in her apron now, and she sniffed suspic

' sake!" Rupert cried fiercely. "What

to me before, sir, never since my poor husband died and I was forced to take in lodgers. I told them what I thought of them, but it weren't

Jones," Rupert said qu

one's own house. Police officers they were, sir.... I told them you was a p

rrupted. "Did they take any

ace card you'd left and which I'd put on the blotting-pad was missing; and they took the blotting-pad, too, t

n't worry, Mrs. Jones. It's a mistake and it will

e knows but me, sir. Fortunately, I answered the door mys

there will be nothing t

do I'm sure--" The door closed

made of his examination, and one or two unimportant letters. As far as he could remember that was all, with the exception of th

tter from his poc

RLI

s just possible that I may go away for a little holiday, as I have been feeling rather seedy, lately, and the management say that if I give them a doctor's certificate I can take a rest. So d

ays

UB

they'll die before you see them, but they are my t

n slowly and deliberately he tore it up, threw the pieces on to the fire and watched them burn. Drawing a cha

Crichton's cheque. Their suspicions must have been pretty strong. They mus

s arrest. He smiled grimly. But sudden

ched Devonshire it would break his f

ind Sir Reginald. The clock struck the hour-eleven. It was too late to see

ts of which he did not know. Rece

suspect her. He threw his hat asi

the day of the race. Yet the blotting-pad must have contained evidence of some sort or the poli

. He dropped back into the chai

it was useless. He reasoned with himself, he argued with himself. B

ade for him at all. She had

e money which, she told him, they had won, and wit

e obtained

but he dared not listen. He put his hands over

was doing. She must have been mad at the time.... As mad as he when he had

rise before he slept. For sleep only came when he had made up his min