CHAPTER XI.--A REBUFF.
Schuyler Cluett waited patiently for the time allowed his wife, in whichto write to him, to pass, and no letter came.
What could it mean? Had she lost his address? Did she intend to defyhim?
These questions chased each other through his mind over and over again,and he could find no answer.
But he waited another day beyond the allotted time, and then determinedto solve the mystery.
To do this he would go to the house of Colonel Ivey.
He first sought the residence of the colonel in the city, and found itclosed up.
This proved that the family had not returned to town.
So he started for the country, and in due time reached the station nearSoldier's Rest, as the home of the colonel was called.
He took a hack and started for the villa, leaving the vehicle at thegate, while he advanced on foot, having told the driver to wait for him.
It was a lordly place, a grand mansion, surrounded by spacious,ornamental grounds on one side, flower gardens in the rear, a lawn inthe front, and a park upon the other side.
The grounds sloped down to the walk, and there were pleasure boats toinvite to a sail or a row.
The view from the piazzas was beautiful in the extreme, and altogether amore charming country home could not be found than was Soldier's Rest.
"A place for a gentleman of my taste to live, this," said SchuylerCluett, as he walked up the grand path to the mansion.
"By jove! a bright idea strikes me, and I hope I am not too late tocarry it out.
"Let me see: if I should keep in the back-ground, that is, out of sight,and get rid of this gallant colonel, that is, let him meet with someaccident to cause his death, why my wife would be his heiress, ofcourse.
"Then I could come in, and after half a year's mourning I could forceher to marry me, for appearances' sake, and I'd have all.
"I was a trifle too fast in appearing as I did, and not thinking of thislittle game before.
"Now it may be too late, she may have told the colonel about me, as shehas not appeared, and he may simply back her up in getting a divorcefrom me, which she can do.
"Well, here I am, and _there he is_.
"Now I must put a bold face upon the matter and survey the fort to seeif I can take it."
He had dressed himself up in his best style, and Colonel Ivey, seeing awell-dressed stranger approaching, arose to meet him.
The colonel had that noon returned from the city, where he could find noclue to the where abouts of Ruby and her children; but he had set thebest detectives on the track and was hopeful of soon discovering them.
Bowing to the visitor, the colonel advanced to meet him.
Schuyler Cluett bowed politely and asked:
"Is this the home of Colonel Ivey?"
"It is, sir, and I am Richard Ivey, at your service.
"Be seated, pray, or will you enter the house?"
"Thank you, sir; my name is Cluett, sir, and I am an old friend of yourwife, and have called to see her, being in the neighbourhood."
"Indeed, sir; I am really glad to meet you, Mr. Cluett, so be seated,pray, for it is pleasanter here than indoors."
Schuyler Cluett sat down. But he hardly knew what to say.
It seemed evident, from the colonel's manner, he thought, that his wifehad kept her secret, for he did not appear to be known.
"I hope Mrs. Ivey is well, sir?" he volunteered.
"Well, sir, as to that I cannot just say, as she is not at home; but Ihope so."
"Indeed! she is absent then?"
"Yes, sir, she has gone far away, she and her children, and, as you arean old friend of hers, I do not mind telling you that it is on accountof a grand scamp whom she once married."
"No!"
"Yes, Mr. Cluett; she was infatuated in her girlhood by some wretch whomshe ran off with and married, and soon found him out to be a worthlessvagabond, a gambler and all that was bad.
"He robbed her, deserted her, and sent her word, through a confederatein guilt, that he had been killed, and so believing him to be dead, shemarried me.
"But he turned up during my absence West, tried to get her to rob me, topay him off from telling the secret of his still being alive, and she,too noble to do so, fled from my home, from me, and has gone far away,while I am left alone."
"But you can find her, sir?" eagerly asked Cluett.
"Yes, I hope to do so, for, I'll tell you a secret."
"Yes, Colonel Ivey."
"I have the detectives at work, tracking down this rascally husband, andI have found out enough about him already, to give her a divorce, bysending him to State's Prison."
"Oh, sir, can you do this?" and Schuyler Cluett turned deadly pale.
"Oh yes, I hope to; and more, for I don't mind telling you, my dear Mr.Cluett, as you are my wife's friend, but you must keep the secret, thatthere was a mysterious murder some time ago, for the murderer cannot befound.
"But this husband--I do wish I could recall his name--"
"Raymond, sir."
"Yes, Raymond, that's the name, thank you.
"Well, he was in the vicinity when this murder was committed and I thinkmen can be bribed to swear that he was guilty, you know and I'll give afortune to buy a jury up, so that he can be hanged, and--but why do yourise, sir, for surely you are not going?" and the colonel looked up withsurprise, as Cluett arose as though to depart.
"Yes, sir, I must go, for I just recall an important case I have to try,as I am a lawyer, colonel, and your story of your wife's former husbandrecalled it to my memory."
"But you will remain my guest, sir, for the night at least, and I'll goup to the city with you in the morning, as I will have this rascalarrested at once, and I think the law will make short work of him."
"It should, sir, it should, and I have no doubt it will; but good-by,Colonel Ivey, good-by, sir," and Schuyler Cluett hastened away from themansion, reached his waiting hack, and taking out his watch said:
"Driver you have just twenty minutes to catch the Express up to thecity, and if you do it I'll give you a ten-dollar bill extra."
"I'll do it, sir," replied the driver, and the horses were sent alongthe highway at a pace that surprised them, as their usual gait was ajog.
And looking after the rapidly disappearing vehicle, Colonel Iveymuttered to himself, as his face wore a grim smile:
"Well, I think I frightened him so that he'll hunt a hiding-place in thefar West, and I only wish I did know that he was deserving of thepenitentiary; but I'll telegraph the detective chief to have men at thestation to meet him and see just where he goes, and what he does, so asto be prepared for him should he remain in New York," and entering hislibrary Colonel Ivey wrote a long dispatch to the chief of the detectiveservice, telling him to have men on the watch for Schuyler Cluett,giving a full description of the man, and by what train to expect him.
This message was then sent post-haste to the station-agent to rushthrough with all dispatch, and Colonel Ivey felt relieved at having, ashe believed, got rid of Ruby's rascally husband, from whom she could noweasily get a divorce, under the plea of desertion and non-support foryears.
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