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THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. SATURDAY, JUNE 1,. 1007.
THE GHOST OF LOCHRAIN CASTLE-Continued
untnrj revelation. “I beg your par
don." she raid briskly, "I'm afraid I
stepped on your dress, and pulled you
back. I'm so sorry, I do hope I haven't
broke any stitches."
With a start, Lady Hilary Vane
looked round, and her eyes met Els
peth’*, first with surprise, then recog
nition, then gratitude. The understand
ing of what the stranger had done for
her, and why, was so clear In that
lovely look that the young stenogra
pher felt herself blushing. She also felt
extraordinarily pleasrd that she had
been able to do even so small a thing
for tills girl, and wished she might have
the cliauce to do more, much more.
"I—why, I believe you must have
touched my dress, but It Is nothing at
all,” answered Lady Hilary, quickly re
covering self-control like a brave glrL
"You were trying to pass. How stupid
of me to get in the way. Good morn
ing, Lady Ardclllfe; goad morning,
Countess; I was Just on my way to
send off some letters.”
"She felt sbe couldn't bear to go on
with the conversation, whatever It
was," thought Elspeth, who could not
help wondering what had been said
nbout I .tidy Hilary Vane's friend Cap
tain Oxford, which had mode her start
back as If she would fall.
Now, the two girls were going down
almost side by side, but Klspcth did
not speak, or glance at the other. She
was the Inferior, and It was not her
place to remember that there had been
a meeting before. Lady Hilary, how
ever, chose to remember, and address
ed Elspeth, who was hurrying on
slightly ahead.
"You were In the railway carriage
with us yesterday," she said. In a voice
us sweet as her face.
"Yes," Elspeth answered. And then,
lest the girl of high degree should mis
take her for an equal, and regret con
descension when she knew the truth—
"I have come here to be secretary and
stenographer for the manager, Mr. Me
Oowan.”
"Oh, have you? I think that must be
very Interesting work,” said I<ady Hil
ary, on the same step with Elspeth now.
"You must be very clever to get such a
good engagement, and be Independent,
while you're so young. 1 quite envy
you. I should love to be able to make
my own living.”
Elspeth laughed a little.
"I don't think, if you had to, you
would like It much, really."
"Oh, I would. You don't know.
Isn't as If we were rich. But—there Is
something I want pi say to you, though
It seems rather odd, saying It to a
stranger. You were very kind to me
lust now, end saved me .from—from
great mortification. I understand that
you must have noticed what we were
saying In the train yesterday—quite In
advertently, of course—otherwise you
wouldn't have been so quick and sym
pathetic In coming to my rescue."
"I hardly know what did make me
do It," said Elspeth. "I think It was
just—a kind of Instinct."
"Well, anyway. 1 thank you. 1
wouldn't for a great deal have had Lady
Ardcllffe gossiping about me, and say
ing that I almost fell when 1 heard that
It was Captain Oxford who was hurt
Inst night. She Isn't malicious, but site
gossips about such things, because she's
rather silly uml sentimental; and as for
Countess Itudepolskof, I don't know her
at all. lardy Ardcllffe hud just Intro
iluced me as they were coming up from
their "beuuly baths,” as they call them.
Hut somehow, I don't much mind you
having seen me. for I feel that, if we
were to know each other, I should like
you very much.”
"I should love you,” exclaimed Els-
peth. Impulsively, "and If there should
■ nine a time when 1 really could do
something for you—a big thing I mean
—you don't know how gladly I'd do it.”
"Thank you. I believe you would,"
nnswered the other girt, holding out
her hand. "I would come to you, If I
needed anything you could do—oh, uut
already there's something. You say
you arc Mr. McGowan's secretary. Then
Iierhnp* you know all about this sttungc
affair uf Captuln Oxfortl—whether It's
true, as Lady Ardcllffe would have had
me believe, that he was hurt seriously
last night. At first she told me the
story, and didn't say who was the hero
of It. It was only just as you cqpie
that she said It was Captain Oxford.”
“I don't know anything yet, but I'll
find out, and let you know us quickly
as I can." said Elspeth. “I'm on my
way to Mr. McGowan's room now, to
begin work. I'm not sure If I can
ask him questions, but If 1 see Mr.
Grant, I'm certain he’ll tell me. In
any case. If you can wait in the big
hall for a few minutes, I’ll make some
excuse to come out, even If I've no
news. If I've learned anything I'll
write It on a piece of paper; If I
haven’t I’ll write the one word ‘noth
ing,’ und do better next time. I’ll pass
you and say, 'Here Is the memorandum
you asked for.’"'
By this time, the two girls had ar
rived In the great hall, which was al
most deserted at this hour, except for a
few men reading their letters or morn
ing papers. They separated without
nnother word, but Elspcth's mind was
busy. What gras the "strange affair
of Captain Oxford," which hail oc
curred laat night, but of which ahe
knew nothing? He hod been hurt,
Imdy Hilary said. Could It poaalbly be
that there was any connection between
this event and those which had given
her a night of wakefulness? The
thought seemed absurd, yot Elspeth
could not completely banish It .from
her head. "I do hope, for I-ady Hi
lary's sake, that whatever has hap
pened, It's nothing to briny discredit
upon Captain Oxford," she sold to her
self. "It's certain that he’s come to
Lochrain to be near her. apd there's no
doubt ah, cares for blm, though her
mother Is so anxious to keep them
Elspeth had feared that, owing to
her. delay with Lady Hilary, she might
be late for her appointments with lft,
McGowan, but to her relief neither he
nor Mr. Grant was In the room when
she knocked at the door, which stood
slightly ajAr. As it was empty,
went In. and a moment or two after
Mr. Grant appeared.
”1 hope Mr. McGowan hasn't been
wanting me, and gone away?" she
asked, when they had exchanged
“good-mornings;" Tm live minutes
behind time—"
'No, he has not wanted you. I
know,” Grant reassured her. "He’s
been detained by the doctor, who has
come down from the room of a gen
tleman—Captain Oxford—who had a
queer adventure laat night, and got
hurt. Perhaps you've heard about It
from one of the servants. It’s all over
the house already. You know how
these things go.”
Elspeth replied that she hod heard
nothing, and begged Mr. Grant to tell
her what hod happened.
"Why. no one knows exactly,” said
aront, who was evidently more will
ing to be drawn out concerning this
story than he bad been regarding the
haunted room. "Captain Oxford Is a
young officer on leave. I believe there’s
same old wound of his, got In the
Boer war, that's been bothering him,
and he was recommended to come
here. Anyway, he arrived yesterday
morning, 1 think it was. I don’t know
what he was doing out of the house
after 11 o'clock last night; for every
body goes to bed early here; but be
that os It may, he was out, and was
shot at—In fact, struck by a bullet In
the arm already wounded—the left,
fortunately for him. He says he had a
struggle with a man In the dark and
that, though tbe fellow—a poacher,
suppose hs must have been, and mis
took Captain Oxford for a keeper—got
clear away. The dog which goes ev
erywhere with the captain must have
bitten him, the proof being that when
they came to the house the collie's
mouth was covered with blood.”
Elspeth shuddered a little, remem
bering the wet rubles that had come
drip, dripping through her celling and
find splashed upon her book. It was
nonsense to connect one affair with the
other, she said to herself again, os shq
had said before, but the thought was In
her mind, and she rejoiced more than
before that she had gone through her
strange ordeal In silence.
■ ”I really believe there's a mystery of
some sort,” Grant was rontinulng la
rather a confidential way, and It was
all Elspeth could do to keep back the
words whleh flashed Into her brain: "If
there Is. maybe I shall be the one to
find It out.” But that Idea was non
sense, too, of course, coming only be
cause her nerves were overstrained, and
she hastened to ask Mr. Grant a few
more questions to which the answers
might he of Interest to Lady Hilary.
"What kind of mystery do you
mean?" she Inquired.
"Oh, about Captain Oxford being out
at that time, for he seems to avoid
saying anything about that part of his
adventure, doesn't want it spoken of at
all. He Just managed to get to the
house, and the night porter called our
resident doctor."
"Was the wound serious?” asked Els
peth.
"No. He lost a good deal of blood,
but he will be about again in a day or
two, the doctor says, with his arm In a
sling. The bullet was extracted with
out difficulty; It was only n flesh
wound, but being on the left side It
might easily, If the bullet had entered
the body, have proved fatal.”
"Strange that a poacher should Are
at a .supposed keeper with a bullet,
wasn't It?” remarked Elspeth, thought
fully.
"Yes. That's one of the queer bits of
the business, though It will |>robab1y
turn out to be simple enough at last.
The police are already looking Into It,
but Captain Oxford hasn't helped them
much so far. Mr. McGowan Is exceed
ingly annoyed that such a thing should
have liapi>encd here, but. of course, It
has nothing to do with the hotel, and
Captain Oxford does admit that he
on near the part of the estate which
still belongs to Lord Lochrain."
At this moment the manager himself
came In, but announced that he wanted
a little conversation with Mr. Grant be
fore beginning work with Miss Dean.
This gave Elspeth the chance ahe want
ed. and scribbling on a bit of paper tbe
words, "Not hurt seriously. Will he
well In a few days," she slipped out Into
the hall to find Lady Hilary.
.As ahe had expected, the girl won
there, but two or three people were
talking with her, and If she saw Els
peth she rave no signs of doing so.
It was not good form for an employee
of the house to linger In the great hall
among the guests of the hotel, with no
apparent object and Elspeth would
have -been at a loss bow to keep her
promise to Lady Hilary, hod not Mr.
Trowbridge come up and spoken to
her with an air of marked cordiality.
"I hope you haven't forgotten vour
hour with mer* he said, looking at the
pretty young typewriter, with the same
rather hold air of undisguised odtnlra- ‘
tion she had been half Inclined to re
sent yesterday. But as she answered
politely, a little coolly, the man’s face
changed so suddenly that Elspeth could
not help glancing about In surprise,
seeking for the cause of such a trans
formation. His eyes hod lighted up
with some genuine and powerful emo
tion, very different from the easy gal
lantry of his look when directed at
tbe stenographer.
A second served to enlighten Els
peth. Lady Hilary Vane had turned
away from her friends, and was com
ing toward them. It was the sight of
her unusual and highbred beauty which
hod lit the new light In Sir. Trow
bridge's eyes.
The Sootch girl did not wait for her
to come nearer, but advancing a step
or two, held out the folded bit of pa
per, saying In quite a professional
voice: “Here Is the memorandum you
wished to have.**
Lady Hilary bluahed deliciously,
looking lovelier than ever. "Thank
you so much,” she murmured, and
moved away, burning with anxiety,
Elspeth was sure, to learn the con
tents of the “memorandum.” At the
same Instant, however, Lady Latnbart
came into the hall, her eyes darting a
keen glance at her daughter, and Els
peth could only hope that she had not
been In time to see the paper slipped
from hand to hand.
“Who Is that?" asked Trowbridge In
a low hut eager tone, and In this mo
ment of sincere feeling It seemed to
Elspeth that his accent was different.
"Why. I don’t believe he's an Ameri
can!" she sold to herself In bewilder
ment. “That’s his real way of speak
ing, the other Is put on. But why?
Why should he pretend to be an Amer
ican If he Is not? And Mr. McGowan
says he is a millionaire, so he can't
have any reason to pretend things,
like people who are hard up and un
known." ”
All this flashed through the girl's
head In the fraction of a second, and
she answered, without seeming lies na
tion; "That Is Lady Hilary Vane."
“By Jove! so that is Lady Hilary!”
exclaimed Trowbridge, and Elspeth
knew from the tone that this was not
tbe flrst time he had heard the name.
"She Is a "great beauty.”
"Yes,” assented the typewriter. 'T
think I must go to Mr. McGowan now,
Mr. Trowbridge. I won’t forget—’’
“Walt a minute, please," urged the
other. “Do you know Lady Hilary?"
"Not at nil." Elspeth replied prompt
ly, "except that I was able to do her
a very small favor In the way of my
work."
"All the same, she likes you. Her
eyes showed that," said Trowbridge
reflectively. "You can moke a friend
of the girl If you like, I would bet,"
His accent was strongly American once
more.
Elspeth laughed. "I am afraid that
won't come In the way of my work.
She U the daughter of a countess, and
I—am Mr. McGowan's secretary.** With
this, and a civil nod, which excused
herself from Mr. Trowbridge’s socie
ty, ahe moved away.
Continued in Next Saturday's Georgian.
Cardinal Merry del Val, who came so
prominently to tbe front daring tbe French
church dispute, shows his modernity by
playing an excellent game of golf, as well
as by his ability to send a rifle ballet
throngs. a 10-cent piece at 20 yards.
Presidential Inangural festivities have
Won the rule In South America In the last
fow months. Brasil has Installed a $Wef
executive with due pomp and ceremony,
and tbe two Hwltserlands of South Amcr*
lea—Bolivia and Paraguay-have likewise
provided themselvra with new administra
tive heads.
Jacobs 9 Prescriptions
There is more to the proper filling of a prescription than is appar
ent at first glance. The success of the physician, the health, the very life
of the patient is dependent upon the care and judgment of the com
pounder, and the quality of the material he uses.
Accuracy is everything, and the pharmaceutical chemist must give
his entire mind and thought to this one particular line, if he it to give
the best that is in him. *
Jacobs’ Prescription Department .
ha* prepared for this contingency, and in this department maintain* four
expert pharmacists who devote their entire time to the filling of prescrip-
tionx. They have no other duty and no other thought, and their experi
ence, coupled with the uee of the moet complete laboratory of drugs and
chemicale in the United Statea, supervised by the tame executives whose
care has been the cause of our success, assures both physician and pa
tient
Accurate Service—Fresh Drugs
Reasonable Charges
In building up this unusual establishment we have borne in mind that
the rudiments of the druggist's success is the proper dispensation of drugs.
Our service it prompt We maintain a messenger service that will call
for and deliver, your order.
Jacobs’ Pharmacy
6-8-10 Marietta Street.
23 Whitehall Street.
$11.25 RICHMOND, Yi.aajLfl1.2g
via
Southern Railway
Tickets on sale May 26 to 30th; limited June 11. Extension
of final limit can bo had until July 6, 1907.
TWO TRAINS DAILY.
Lv. Atlanta 18:15 noon 12:15 midnight
Ar. Richmond 6:56 a. m. 8:40 p. m.
Through Pullman Sleeping Cara Atlanta to Richmond.
Phone* 142 and 2199.
Ticket Office, -
Ticket Office, -
• - - No. 1 Peachtree Street
• • • New Terminal Station
Phone 4900.