The Childerbridge Mystery

h rises behind the house to a considerable elevation. The building itself dates back to the reign of Good Queen Bess, and is declared by competent authorities

of a short tunnel. That such a mansion should be provided with a family ghost, goes without saying. Indeed, Childerbridge Manor is reputed to possess a small army of them. Elderly gentlemen who carry their heads under their arms; beautiful women who glide down the corridors, weeping as they go; and last but not least, a deformity, invariably dressed in black, who is much given to sitting on the foot rails of beds, and pointing, with the first finger of his right hand, to the ceiling above. So well authenticated are the legends of these apparitions, that it would be almost an impossibility to induce any man, woman, or c

hilderbridge Manor was offered them by an Agent in London, and after they had spent a considerable portion of their time poring over photographs of the house and grounds, they arrived at the con

e scorched up plains of Australia, the picture was an exceedingly attractive one. The house itself, they could see would require a considerable outlay in repairs, but when that work was accomplished, it would be as

ing of the possibilities of the place, "I think it will suit us. The Society of the neighbourhood, they tell me, is good, while the

not found wanting, the newcomers were voted a decided acquisition to the neighbourhood. William Standerton's wealth soon became proverbial, and mothers, with marriageable sons and daughters, vied with each other in their attentions. James Standerton, as I have already said, was a presentable young man. His height was something ov

f his own home, he became aware of a lady walking along the footpath in front of him. She was accompanied by a mastiff puppy, who gambolled awkwardly beside her. As the dogcart approached them the puppy dashed out into the road, directly in front of the fast-trotting horse. As may be imagined the result was inevitable. The dog was knocked down, and it was only by a miracle that the h

tically to the young lady, when he had carried her pe

ault at all. If my silly dog had not run into the road it

ined his injuries. His bush life had given him a considerable insig

at an end, "his leg is not broken, thoug

nd up the injured limb. The next thing to be decided was how to get the animal home. It

and drive you both home?" Jim asked.

ely at the girl before him, and rea

f she feared this might be considered an ungracious speech, she added: "

at her in s

y name, the

I called upon your sister yesterday. My name is Decie, and I li

, "and I must claim a neighbour's privilege in

the shooting, and Jim learned, among other things, that Miss Decie was fond of riding, but that old Mr. Bursfield would not allow her a horse, that she preferred a country life to that of town, and incidentally that she had been eight years under her guardian's care. Almost before they knew where they were they had reached the cross roads that skirted the edge of the Park, and were approaching the Dower House. It was a curiou

into the house for you," he said, as

e. When they had rung the bell the door was opened to them by an ancient man-servant, whose age could scarcely have bee

erton has very kindly brought him home for me." Then to Jim she added:-

to the loose box in the deserted stables at the back of the house, where he

long the oak-panelled hall. Then, as if to excuse the fact that the other had not paid the usu

er of books the room contained, very little of the oak was visible. There were books on the shelves, books on the tables, and books on the floor. In the centre of the room stood a large writing-table, at which an old m

tered, and his glance reste

ed the venerable gentleman by this title, though she was in no way related to him, "pray

xtended a shr

e rendered Miss Decie. I must apologise for not having paid you and your father the customary visit of courtesy, b

house. Unfortunately, however, we have been able to gather very little of its history

ndred years ago it was the home of my own family. My father sold it, reserving only

the fireplace, as if he had forgotten his vi

e place has prospered. T

swered. "It would be a bad loo

his own front door. His son Peter was found dead in his bed, some say murdered, others that he was frightened to death by something, or someone, he had seen; while his second son, William, was shot in a duel in Paris, the day after the news reached him that he had come into the property. The Shepfields being only too anxious to dispose of it, it was sold to the newly-made Lord Childerbridge, who was eager to acquire it

. "It is very difficult to repair an old mansion like

n drily. "Your modern architect is no res

said James. "My father and sister wil

im for not accompanying him to the door, and then followed Mi

ong the interview, if only for a few moments. "If you would like me to have him for a few

ht here. I feel certain I shall be able to do all that is necessary. Will you give my kind r

en clutching at the hope thus presented to him, he

s Decie, and thereupo

had ever met in his life. He reflected upon the matter as he completed the short distance that separated him from

to the old gentleman she calls grandfather, and if his society

y so. Like her brother she had taken a great liking to the girl, and the

that she is coming to tea wit

that he would make a point of being at home that day. As a m

iss Decie had managed to fall in love with each other was quite certain, and that William Standerton approved of his son's choice was another point that admitted of no doubt. Helen Decie with her pretty face, and charming manners, was a general favourite. At that stage their wooing was a matter-of-fact one in the extreme. Jim had no rival, and at the outset no

. Bursfield and obtain his consent. He is my guardian, you know, an

ncy I can tell you what his answer will be. How could it b

her usual cheerfulness. "Somehow or another grandfather a

at it as we want him to," her lover returned. "I will

lf overjoyed at the thought of having Helen for her sister. In Jim's mind, however, there was the r

rs," he said to himself. "I'll walk back with Helen a

at opened into the grounds of the Dower House. It was a lovely evening, and, as you may suppose, they were as happy a young couple as could ha

tion of the building they were approaching, "and we will find a place somewhere in th

t I have the house and my grandfather to look a

answered. "In the future, however, we'll change all

ook he

," she said, "will