The Argosy — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

The White Witch. 89 into the carriage too. All intercourse with Sir William was now interesting to him. ‘Have you your detective down yet?” he said to the baronet, during the visit, when they were.standing for a few moments apart. “Ves,” replied Sir William. ‘Curious to say, he came after me to Underwood’s last night. Nothing has been done as yet: but he has the clue, he has the clue; and when his plans are matured, he will act.” “Act?” repeated Godfrey, vaguely. ‘Pounce upon his prey,” explained the baronet. ‘‘ What is the clue you speak of, Sir William ?” “ The first clue,” answered Sir William, after a minute’s hesitation, “T got ina shop at Cheston. I think I have already told you of it. I saw there a face which I knew to be that of a woman who if not the actual murderer of my son, was an accomplice in the murder. It was she who helped the actual murderer to escape. When I saw the face, I seemed for a moment to lose the sight of my eyes. The shop was full of people, and when I recovered—it was only a few seconds—she was gone. A few days later I heard her voice in Croxham Church, as you know, Godfrey, or a voice so miraculously like hers that I thought I could not be mistaken! That was the second clue. ‘Taken in conjunction with that meeting in the shop, it is a proof indisputable that at least one of the guilty parties is in this neighbourhood ; and the detective officer thinks so too.” “You have related all this to him then?” spoke Godfrey. ‘I related it to him last night at Underwood’s ; we walked about together in the garden. He was to have called on me here this morning, but I have had a note from him, saying he is busy at work, and for reasons which he will give me later, he thinks it best not to appear here for a day or two.” ** May I ask what his name is, sir ?” “IT cannot tell it you, Godfrey,” said Sir William quickly. ‘ Of course I know it myself ; but he warned me not to repeat it to others, and not to speak of him at allin any way. You are partly in my confidence, you know, but I have not talked to anybody else.” “ But, Sir William,” resumed Godfrey after a pause, ‘‘ surely you would not track a defenceless woman down, merely for helping the real criminal—perhaps it was a dear friend, or even relative—to escape?” ‘“{ would hunt down the fiends who plotted to kill my boy, and laughed and sang before he had been laid in his grave, were they men or women.” ‘‘ But—supposing you were to find out that one of the people sus- pected had generously incurred the blame of guilt in order to shield another, what then?” said Godfrey, keeping as cool as he could. “‘T should say it was very improbable,” said Sir William, drily. Mr. Mayne drew near them, which put an end to the conversation. Godfrey fell into a fit of musing. What could have caused the Gomichboo “Ss (E()