The Mission of Poubalov — page 41: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CLARA’S SEARCH BEGINS. 37 before, and left word at the house for Ralph and Paul, should they come in her absence, to go to Ivan’s room. Mrs> White had seen Clara on the few occasions when Mr. Strobel had served afternoon tea to his intended and other friends, ard she fell into a great flurry of agitation wher she peece nied her at the door. ‘“Come in,’? she stammered as she led the way; ‘‘of course I am glad to see you, for I am certain you cannot believe it.”’ Louise tried to check the landlady from making the in- evitable revelation, but Clara laid one hand on her cousin’s arm and asked: ‘*Believe what, Mrs. White?’’’ Wekanh what’s in the papsr,’’ replied the landlady; ‘‘~ou’ve read the papers, I suppose? I nantsh that was why you came.’ ‘‘I read the papers,’’ said Clara, ‘‘and I came - to inquire about Ivan. Do you refer to the suggested irregularities in his accounts? Of course I do not believe anything of that kind.”’ ‘*Dear, no! I didn’t suppose you did. I meant about my daughter Lizzie.”’ *““Your daughter!’’ exclaimed Clara in a low voice, while Louiss hid her face in her hands ‘‘What do you mean? Let me see the paper.”’ — More agitated than ever, Mrs. White produced a copy of the paper that Mr. Pembroke had withheld from his niece. ‘*I must have overlooked this,’’ said Clara, ee aasinaiel as she saw that the account differed in style from those she had read. ‘Lhe reporter of his paper, sharper than his rivals, had somehow discovere@ that Lizzie White hac left her home, anc he set forth the circumstances with every delicate turn that language would allow to suggest a con- nection between her flight and Ivan’s disappearance. ‘‘It is shrewdly suspected by the friends of Strobel,”’ the story ran, ‘‘that as the time of his marriage . n> proached, he found his fancy for Miss White stronger t