ascertained had
been bought in the village, and bearing a post-mark which was local, and
signed with the name 'Jeannette.' I confess I did not know just where
these entered into the case at all, but something told me that they were
a big factor. My intuition--policeman's sixth sense--call it what you
will. I looked into the matter, and then discovered, after some probing
through my man Dollops (who, by the way, Mr. Narkom, deserves high
commendation in this case), that they were actually written by James
Tavish's sister, Jeannette, and that--to put it baldly, for which I
trust you will forgive me--that your father had been carrying on a
secret liaison with this girl for some years, upon promise of marriage,
and had, in fact, got her into very unfortunate trouble."

"But he never married her--he married _me_-- I am his legal wife, I
swear that!" struck in Lady Paula, in a high-pitched, terrified voice.
"I knew nothing of this woman at all--everything in our marriage was in
order----"

"Of that there is not the smallest doubt, Lady Paula," returned Cleek
gravely. "I said only 'under _promise_ of marriage.' That is where man
is unfortunately so unfaithful. He merely left her to bear her trouble
alone--after, of course, providing for her and the possible issue of
their unhappy union--and, being a faithful woman, it broke her heart,
and both she and her child died as a consequence of this neglect. When
the wish to live is gone, there is little else to bind one to this earth
at such times, my friends, and so she and her unwanted little one passed
out to a happier realm. Much of this I have gleaned from those same
letters; much I have deduced in the natural course of events. The final
clue was discovered in James Tavish's own room, where this photograph,
bearing the date of her death and that of her child, and having one word
written across the face of it, was discovered in a box on his
dressing-table."

He handed the piece of pictured pasteboard across to each of them in
turn, watching their faces to see the effect of it upon them
individually. Mute astonishment, dull grief showed in Ross and Maud
Duggan's eyes as they looked upon it. It was as though they had
discovered suddenly that their idol had feet of clay. For across the
front of the pictured face was written one word in heavy black scrawl,
and the word was "_Avenged!_"

CHAPTER XXIX

"AS A TALE THAT WAS TOLD"

"My God!" It was Ross Duggan who spoke. "J