Of course I ought to do what little I
can. Why, what is this? a seal ring?"
She stooped, and picked the article up from the floor, out of a litter
of dead leaves, and held it to the light between her fingers. As she
gazed her cheeks whitened, and when her eyes again met mine they
evidenced fear.
"What is it?" I asked, when she failed to speak. "Do you recognize it?"
She held it out toward me, her hand trembling.
"That--that was Philip Henley's ring," she said gravely. "Family
heirloom; he always wore it."
CHAPTER XVIII
BEGINNING EXPLORATION
This apparently convincing evidence that Henley was not only alive, but
had preceded us to Carrollton, left us staring into each others' faces,
more deeply mystified than ever.
"He must be here," she articulated faintly.
"At least it would seem that he has been. The seal is a peculiar one,
not likely to be duplicated. But I doubt if he is here now, for he
could have no reason for avoiding us, unless--"
"I know what you mean," she replied, as I hesitated, "unless he
intended to repudiate me, to refuse me recognition."
"Is he that kind of a man?"
"No; not when sober. Under the influence of liquor he becomes a brute,
capable of any meanness."
"Perhaps that may be the secret then.
Pages:
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153