Ruby's Reward — page 335: what you’re looking at

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

knew much more more than any one else of this mys- -terious matter. He appeared greatly surprised, however, when the facts were stated to him, and related in turn that he had parted from Ruby soon after Mr. Ruggles had left, as hé had urgent business in town; and that he had been somewhat surprised to learn from his coachman, upon his return, that she had changed | Es mind at the last moment and gone to Harris- burg. “Who took the message to Mrs. Ruggles v’ asked Mrs. Gordon. ‘homes. 555 _ “What was her reason for changing her mind?’ “That it seemed too bad to deserf you when you were in trouble, and she thought she might be of some help and comfort if she should go to you.” This was like Ruby and sounded reasonable, and yet Mrs. Gordon was not satistied. She knew how deter- mined Edmund had been to win Ruby, while, remeim- bering his strange manner and his eager questions regarding the broken desk, it suddenly ‘flashed upol her that that might have had something to do with this inexplicable : affair, “And you have not seen her since ?” she asked, re- garding him earnestly. “No, [have not seen her since that day.” the man answered, and truthfully, for Ruby’s precautions against intruders had been successful, and the mo- ment she heard his step outside her ‘door she had taken refuge in her chamber and locked herself in. Walter had drawn near during the conversation; he was s0 anxious he could not wait patiently, and hig face was absolutely colorless as he listened, while in his heart he was confident that Edmund Carpenter had been guilty of foul play in Ey, § disappearance, “T believe you know the truth,” he cried, turning npon him with blazing eyes: “put if any.evi g fallen Miss Gordon you shall answer for® fils di