"Assist me to carry poor Vic—"
He could go no further, but moved with tear-dimmed eyes toward the dead.
August bent to the work without further speech, and assisted the brother to move the body into the house to the pleasant front bed-room, the especial resort of the poor girl in life. Here they placed her on the low, neatly-covered bed, and then Bordine turned away, leaving brother and sister in solemn, silent companionship.
That was the saddest moment of August Bordine's life.
Not even when his own sister died six years before had he felt the solemn weight of sadness more deeply. Victoria had been his friend. She was not over-bright, yet she was kind and tender of heart. He felt her death deeply, and found himself wondering who could have been so wicked as to murder a pretty girl, who he believed, had not an enemy in the wide world.
There was something of mystery about the affair.
Once outside Bordine examined the ground closely. He saw nothing of the letter, and was about to move away, when a shadow fell athwart the grass giving him a sudden start.
CHAPTER III.
ALL A MYSTERY.
"I beg your pardon, but does Mr. Vane live here?"