The Mystery Girl

. Oftener than not there were guests, but tonight there w

ogi, the second and less experienced man, was trying his best to

od and commented volubly on the ca

orbed in the training of the Japanese, and the

odd looking?" Helen a

w. I didn't notice her especially. She s

od. "What about the lecture tomorrow night

or I'm busy with that book revision. However, I'll look

Mrs. Peyton. "You were never

k," Waring added, as h

erience made him aware of what books his chief would ne

mful of volumes Lockwood placed on the de

Aurelius, too, pl

touch," Loc

material," Waring admitted, good-naturedly. "T

m pretty busy with the reports, and, too,

eciate it. Very well, then, don't bo

e room and closed the

; altogether a comfortable and useful nook, frequently occupied by Gordon Lockwood. The window looked out on the beautiful lake view

ome. A perfect secretary he had proved himself to be, for his prescience amounted almost to clairvoyance, an

, lest a chance caller should come

ismiss from his mind a certain mysterious little face, whose meaning eluded him. For once, Gordon Lockwood, rea

e mouth of Miss Mystery. And because of this indubitable element in her

upercilious young man. And troubles which galled him the more, that they were sordid-money troubles, in fact. His whole nature revolted

on the Japanese tapped at the study door and, in response to the master's bidding, went in with his

e housekeeper having given Nogi strict and definite instructions, whi

night

ng moon, past the full, but still wit

e trees with a coating of ice, and had fringed eaves and fences with icicles, had ce

l scene its rays made no perceptible impression on the co

his yellow teeth chattered as he knocked at Mrs.

d, springing from her

," and the Orienta

appened? Te

e, madam-but,

about Doc

s asleep in

study! Ito, wha

m door ajar. I looked in the study-through f

to-you sai

do not know. And

! Whe

not know. Will ma

s happened! I knew something would h

t, madam. We

Go in and s

r is locked.

ked, and Doctor Waring stil

om window-and I could see hi

-room window! Wh

le inside windo

erefore, the dining-room, previously with a lake view from its windows, was cut off from that

ough from the study side, but one could look through them from the dining-room. The original sashes had been replaced by beautiful stained g

ovable, and were there more as a

covered the presence of Doctor Waring in his study

and his calm demeanor helped to soothe Mrs. Peyton. But as she

not to disturb the girl. Instead, she telephoned to Gordon Loc

sage, and transmitted

ter over there?

ge, 's far's I could judge from her voice

go as soon as I

e beauty of the morning landscape. One of the most beautiful bits

through the crusted snow, and he

or him and Mrs. Peyto

r Waring," she said at once; "he

ou mean?" asked

't been slept in. Also, Ito says he can see him in the st

n't you

y door is

octor Waring s

ust have had a str

asleep. He's overwo

rs. Peyton looked relieved. "You se

hen he tried the door, and then rapped again, very loudly. B

" he asked in surprise, noting t

gh, Lockwood discerned the figure of John Waring. He sat at his desk,

ockwood, but his tone

motion, and in spite of his calm, she was almost certain he

a moment's pause. "Can you get through one

e windows do n

pen? W

ad never before noticed the windows, especially, and was genuin

he mused, aloud; "They

Peyton told him, "and when the stained glass was put in, it w

od, almost impatiently. "How shall

way. Unless, the long

the other side of the study, exactly opposite the u

must go out and

bad snow-" I

ully, and himself dashed out at the front

w, but the secretary bade he

hrough its curtained panes, and impulsively he raised his foot and kicked through the gl

efest glance at the man by the desk he w

and Ito, and the three sto

in a calm, unemotional way. "But not

Peyton cried, her eyes s

said; "go back into the l

gly the gi

t see him, though it will shock you. See, the flow

rom a sense of duty, drew nearer, and as Lockwood ha

l wound was concealed, but the fact was only too apparent that he had bled to death. The blotter on

e, "so I advise that we do not touch the body but send at

stand there like a wooden image, when the best man in the world lies dead before you! And you, Ito!" She tur

oseted with her daughter, who, at least showed agi

ed impassive, stood

er?" inquired the

stared at him. "Why,

s head in dissension, but Lockwood was alr

kwood going to the living room, advised the Peytons to ha

went on. "Brace up, Helen, it's pretty awful

for the kindness, and Lockwood

aid sternly, as he saw Ito

tler straightened up quick

here without permission. Serve brea

gone,

e wh

night he was here. Now h

know anythi

s,

his attention to the bent figure of his late employer, nor even to the desk or its ne

ked at intently. An expression of bewilderment c

im, he passed his hand quickly over the plush back o

y and carefully, and finally sat down in the s

ly to the door to ask h

d, and try to throw off your distress. It will do you no good to brood over it. You can be o

fect his words had on her subsequent behavior. For Helen Peyton was suffering

"Gordon will come after a while. Let us eat our

fteen minutes later tha

ble and as he shook out hi

Waring was stabbed not shot. He says the instrum

" asked Hele

for, as you know, the room was lock

or Waring killing himself!" The

had everything to live for! Just about to be married, just about to be

octor said. And you know yoursel

so. Ito, le

e butler, who was quite evident

say," she observed after

ogi being gone?" ask

he'd stay, he didn't like the duties at all-you know he's just learning to be

t? The faculty must be notified of this tragedy and also, Mrs. Bates

be here to look after the house, and anyway, dear, you can do it wisely

en, dismayed at the thou

elp, don't you Helen? Well, here's one thing you can do that will be of great assistanc

I say? What ca

has happened. And then you will tell her, as gently as you can. Be a true woman, Helen, and remember that though

en, struggling bravely

ow, for ill news flies fast, and rumors

od said, thoughtfully. "Call

i last?" the secretar

th his duties all properly done, and at his post, I went to bed. I found this morning that he had not