Madeline Payne, the Detective's Daughter

  CHAPTER XVII.

  GATHERING CLUES.

  Claire had been absent all the morning, had gone to make some call; atleast she had said to Olive, at breakfast, "I think I will take theponies, Olive, and drive into the city this morning. It is nice out ofdoors, and I have made no calls since I came here."

  Olive Girard sat alone in her cosy drawing-room. She had been reading,but the book was somehow not in tune with her mind or mood. She hadallowed it to fall at her feet, where it lay, half opened, while shedrifted away from the present in sorrowful reverie. Lifting her eyes,she saw a cab drive away from the villa gate, and a form hurryingalong the marble pathway. Springing up, Olive herself threw open thedoor, and clasped her arms about--Miss Arthur's French maid! whoreturned the caress with much enthusiasm.

  "Madeline, my dear child, how glad I am to see you!"

  "Even in this disguise?" laughed the girl.

  "Even in blue glasses, and that horrid jacket," smiled Olive. "What anugly thing it is. Come and take it off, _ma belle_; do," leading theway up the stairs.

  "I come, autocrat, and I shall much enjoy getting out of thishead-gear," shaking her bewigged head. Then abruptly, "Where'sClaire?"

  "Out for a drive and some calls," without looking back. "How surprisedand glad she will be to see you. Now, come in and make a lady ofyourself once more." She led the way into Madeline's room. "Are youtired, dear?"

  "Not at all."

  "Then come into my boudoir when you are dressed, and we will have acosy chat while waiting for Claire."

  "I won't be long," responded the girl. "I have a good many things tosay to you, which had better be said before Claire comes."

  "Very well; I await your ladyship," and Olive closed the door, leavingMiss Arthur's maid alone.

  "I thought so," muttered she, tearing off the blue glasses; "she hasgone to meet Edward Percy. Poor dupe! it is indeed time to act."

  She discarded the ill-fitting jacket, flung away the ugly black wig,and, in a very few moments, stood arrayed in a pretty, neatly fittinggown, glowing and lovely,--Madeline Payne once more.

  "I wonder if I shall see or hear of _him_," she whispered to herselfas she crossed to Olive's boudoir. "Oh, if I could! It would be oneray of sunlight only to clasp his hand!"

  Olive had been informed of all that Madeline herself knew, of thedoings at Bellair, at the time when the girl went down, disguised asCeline Leroque. Now, therefore, Madeline lost no time in making Oliveacquainted with, at least a part of, the events that had transpiredduring her sojourn in the Oakley mansion, in the capacity of maid. OfEdward Percy she said not a word, for reasons of her own, wishing tokeep all knowledge of him from Olive for the present.

  "You see, I was just in time, Olive," she supplemented, when Mrs.Girard had expressed her astonishment at the startling revelations ofthe past four weeks. "I had not an hour to lose in setting my snarefor these plotters. They little dream what is in store for them. PoorKitty! I feel like a wretch when I think of the advantage I took ofher, by making her poor dead body a weapon, as one might say, againsta villain whom she would never have lifted a finger to injure in herlife. But I could see no other way. Do you know, Olive, they are goingto erect a stone over her, bearing my name?"

  Olive looked up in surprise. "No! is it possible?"

  "Yes, quite. I fancy John Arthur thinks he will feel more thoroughlyassured of my demise, when he can see my name on a marble slab."

  "Now, tell me what especial purpose brought you up to town to-day."

  Madeline moved restlessly in her chair. "A medley," she said, laughinguneasily. "A woman's reason; things being quiet, I wanted recreation,and to tell you of my success thus far. Then, a detective's reason; toget from you some information bearing upon your own affairs, asconnected with Lucian Davlin. Then I want to see Dr. Vaughan, in hisprofessional capacity. But mind, Olive, not a word to him of mydiscoveries just yet."

  "Certainly not, if you do not wish it."

  And this was all the mention made by either of Clarence Vaughan.

  "You see," began Madeline, after a brief silence, "Mrs. John Arthurand her quondam brother, hold occasional private interviews. As theygenerally prove interesting, I make it a point to be present wheneverpossible. Now, from some chance words dropped at different times, Ihave been led to think that if I were more fully informed in regard tothis Percy, I might find the missing link. Indeed, I may tell you Ihave found a clue, just the shadow of something that, if I coulddevelop it, might prove of wonderful value to both of us."

  "Oh! if you could find out anything that would throw light upon thisdark wrong they have done Philip, these men--"

  "Well, Olive, I think we may hope. Now, may I begin to cross-questionyou?"

  Olive smiled sadly. "Go on, my little lawyer."

  "First, then, were you personally acquainted with this Percy?"

  "No."

  "You have seen him?"

  "At the trial; yes."

  "Describe him."

  "A blonde man, handsome, some would call him, with a soft, languidvoice. I did not observe further."

  "Would you know him if you saw him again?"

  "Certainly. His was a rather uncommon face, and then theassociation--"

  "Just so," interrupting her; "and would he know you?"

  "I think not. I was heavily veiled, by Philip's order."

  "Now, try to recall all that Philip has told you of this man."

  "They were college students together. Philip said that Percy wasindolent and vain, and too fond of female society of any sort orgrade. He made wonderful progress in such studies as he chose to applyhimself to, and, had he been less of a sybarite, might have obtainedhigh rank as a scholar. But he was erratic, full of queer conceits,and never made himself popular with either professors or students."

  "Social standing not good, eh? Now, as to his finances."

  Olive looked somewhat surprised at this question, but replied: "Hisparents were not well to do, but he was a favorite with a rich olduncle, who paid his college expenses and made him a liberal allowance.However, he fell into disgrace just before his class graduated, andhis uncle cast him off. He never took his degree."

  "What was the occasion of his disgrace?"

  "Some scandalous affair with a mechanic's daughter; the particulars Idid not learn."

  "Of course not. They are of no consequence. This happened how longago?"

  Olive mused. "Philip is now thirty-three; this was twelve years ago."

  "Good! Did he hear of Mr. Percy after that?"

  "Yes; in less than a year, he married a wealthy woman, ten years hissenior, and a widow, so it was reported. Percy, it is said, deniedthis marriage, and continued to live and go and come, like a bachelor.If the marriage ever occurred, it was kept, for some reason, very muchunder the rose. Be this as it may, Percy was always provided withmoney from some source. He used to gamble sometimes, but was not anhabitual gamester. Philip said he was too much of a sybarite andladies' man to be wedded to such sports."

  "Yet he played with Lucian Davlin, and lost heavily?"

  "True."

  "Well, is this all you have to tell of Mr. Percy?"

  "Not quite. About a year before the catastrophe of the hunting party,the uncle who had cared for him during his college career, died. Percyinherited his wealth, the old man, after all, making his will in favorof his graceless nephew." Olive paused for a moment, then added, "Ibelieve that is all I can tell you of this man. I have not seen orheard of him since poor Philip was sent to prison."

  Madeline sat gazing abstractedly into the grate fire, her handsclasped in her lap, working restlessly, as was their habit, when shewas thinking deeply. Suddenly a sharp exclamation broke from her lips,and Olive turned towards her a look of surprised inquiry. But Madelinewas clasping and unclasping her hands nervously, with eyelasheslowered, and brow knitted in a frown.

  "Olive," she said, after a long cogitation, "you have put into myhands another thread, a very valuable one. Don't ask me any questio
nsnow; I want to get my ideas in shape."

  Olive's face wore an anxious look, but she had learned the lesson ofpatient waiting, so she quietly acquiesced, and then a long silencefell between them.

  Madeline resumed the conversation, or rather recommenced it. She madeno further mention of that part of the subject nearest the heart ofOlive Girard. She made inquiries as to affairs and recent events atthe village, talked of Claire, and finally said:

  "Olive, I want you to go out with me during the day, and perhaps wehad better go early. I must return to Bellair by to-morrow morning'strain, you know."

  "Yes; and I am sorry that you stay with us such a very short time.Where do you intend going, Madeline?"

  "To a detective,--that is, if you will repeat your generous offer,which I so cavalierly declined not long ago, to be my banker for anindefinite time."

  "Gladly, dear child; now you are beginning to be sensible. But thedetective,--may I venture to inquire?" with assumed hesitation.

  "You may," laughed Madeline. "And don't give me credit for all theingenuity. True, I have racked my poor feminine brain and feminineinstinct, coupled with the knowledge obtained by some keen experiencewith Treachery, Despair, and Hate. These grim but very efficientinstructors have aided me materially, simple, inexperienced girl as Iwas so recently--or so long ago, as it seems to me. And good old AuntHagar, who has been in this woful world many years--years full ofvicissitudes and sharp life-lessons--is my counsellor and adviser. Sheaids me greatly with her shrewdness, and knowledge of the world andthe folk in it. So we have discussed this point together and concludedthat, in order to leave no loopholes open in our nice little net, wehad better have the movements of Mr. Lucian Davlin closely watchedwhile he is in the city."

  "To discover--"

  "Who he calls upon, and what manner of man he will choose to assumethe _role_ of 'physician from Europe,' etc. Without putting the fullfacts of the case into the hands of the officer, we will arrange toknow all about the man who will help Davlin carry out their lastscheme. No train shall leave the city on which he would, by anypossibility, set out for Bellair accompanied by this sham physician,without the knowledge of our man, or men, of skill. All discoveriesmade are to be reported, through you, to Mademoiselle Celine Leroque,who will receive said reports in _propria persone_, at the Bellairpost-office. Then I must proffer a request, that Doctor Vaughan willhold himself in readiness to come to Oakley, should I find itnecessary to summon him, accompanied by another physician, or not, asshall be hereafter decided."

  "I don't just see how all this is to end, but these two steps appearto me to be in the right direction. I am ready to undertake yourcommissions, and to act as your banker to the fullest extent of yourneeds."

  After a few more words they decided that, as Claire did not return,and time was precious, they would order a carriage immediately afterluncheon, and pay a visit to the detective forthwith. Accordingly,half an hour earlier than usual, a light repast was served, andsparingly partaken of. Then having left a message for Miss Keith, whowas momentarily expected, the two friends drove into the city.