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DARLISTON.

CHAP. XLVII.

18 SHORT, BUT MAKES ONE PERSON HAPPY,

Restlessly I wandered up and down the staircase. Sarah, the dairymaid, had posted herself at an upper window, to listen, not to see, for the night was dark. Sooner than I could expect the police, she called to me that something was coming from Marsham.

"It sounds very like the gig," she presently announced, and ran down to open the hall door. Mr. Ainslie had met Dick Wilcox on the way and been made acquainted with the evil news. He listened to the details of what I had done and those attending the circumstances of Helen's disappearance, and presently questioned: "How could he have taken her by force out of the house without the servants hearing anything?"

Mr. Ainslie requested me to take one of them into Miss Dalziel's room to demonstrate that she had made no preparation for flight. Her watch and chain were in a little basket on the table, with a ring which had been her mother's and one or two other trinkets. All her out-door apparel was there. Her writing case lay open on a chest of drawers, with a note commenced to Miss Ainslie giving account of her grand

father's illness.

Inspector Kean followed with two more men. They had been searching the ruined huts. Two of the farm labourers came also, having been roused by the inquiries of the police. The news had spread through Dingleton, and Mr. Grey arrived with the chief constable of the village.

Next appeared two gentlemen from Marsham, strangers to me. One, a Mr. West, had to say that he had been roused up by Mr. Grant Wainwright knocking at his door and "I cannot account for it. The lad Dick Wil- requesting he would send the police to Darcox says Grant had his horse saddled and wait-liston Hall. He had a handkerchief bound ing in the lane for an hour before he left. Helen had to give him a prescription; Dick heard her charge him not to lose it. Who can say how he may have beguiled her out of the hall ?"

"I am glad your impression is so positive that she did not go willingly," Mr. Ainslie said. Oh, how could you think it possible!" I cried impatiently; "and with Mr. Wainwright in a dying state! She was full of distress for him; in the most unlikely mood even if she had been free from all engagement."

"I am quite convinced she could not have premeditated such an act; but there is such a thing as giving way to a gentle compulsion. If in her heart she regretted her ties and gave preference to her cousin, the very fact of Mr. Wainwright's impending death, implying that Mr. Mainwaring would immediately claim her, might tend to the result."

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No, no, Mr. Ainslie,” I said; "because you had much hand in bringing about Helen's marriage, you are more nervous than you need be concerning it. Two strong objections stand in the way of such a probability. Helen hates disloyalty, and she loves Mr. Mainwaring."

Lance arrived; two of the police arrived.

about his face and said he had been thrown by the black mare while in pursuit of some ruffians. The gentleman had spoken to him from an upper window, and had rather a confused impression of what he had heard. Mr. Grant Wainwright, he said, was evidently in haste to be gone, and said something about having a clue which he must follow up.

It was impossible where each one in the house was under painful excitement, and so many were coming and going, to keep the quiet that seemed desirable on account of old Mr. Wainwright's critical condition.

Nanny Cargill sat in his room and closed the door, but she could not resist the temptation to open it and listen. I went up to give her this report concerning Grant, and she said "I think now he'll bring her back."

There was a fresh arrival, some fresh intelligence. I ran down in haste and Nanny followed, leaving Peggy in charge.

Some policemen searching with lanterns near the marsh embankment had come upon a part recently trampled. They said men must have landed from a boat before the tide had been at the full, for there were traces of sea-sand on the

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