The Missing Link

rom room to room in one of the huge, city buildings where

ed two or three books in his left hand, pressed against his heart with a sort of caress, an affection very common with gentlemen of the clot

ly, entered, closed the door very gently behind him, placed his crippled belltopper (rim uppermost) on the small count

Good-day my d

plied the severe

ions for the widow and family of the late William John Elphinston, a worthy member of my congregation, and a most es

siness hours," said the gentleman, and is severity was somet

intruder suavely. "You will find upon it the na

said the sev

sir, that the smallest contribu

to close the

all in good time. Sha

nice sum. No? A

eing left in peace to the pursuit of my affairs. Here

ch." said the Rev. Andrew Rowb

snapped the severe ge

aid the Rev. Andrew, and he smiled and b

ments and stubbornly resist each plea, but the majority of the men were glad to buy the eloquent clergyman off with a small contribution. Sometimes office boys were impertinent, and an occasional business man was insolent

her larger than an alderman's coffin, and obtained threepence in coppers for the widow and family of the late lamented William John Elphinston. He passed along a dim pass

t that he had heard a movement in the room Andrew knocked again. Still on answer. The Rev Andrew Rowbot

ith a tender benevolence, a moment later it was stark and white, drawn with horr

ung to the table's edge; her eyes, large, dark, and instinct with mortal terror, were fixed upon the stranger in the doorway. At her feet was the body of a man, a stout man of perhaps for

yes rose to the face of the woman again. Her dry tongue passed over her parched lips, s

nto the room, the door c

oman. She was his Mary

he remembered in th

te the two stared at eac

him!" whis

n, made an effort to speak, and her voic

Go

woman. "Why don't you call out?" There was a wil

the police?" he said. "No, I am not on

, you won't betray

id Nicho

she laid hands upon him,

but I am a murderess, and you won't-" Her han

ell, listen, there are five thousand pounds' worth of diamonds in a little leather bag in

!" he gasped.

opened the door and slipped out. The lock