Hugh’s last work had been to close up the “Elmleaf” headquarters, and to direct Bagley, now the head butler at Lakemere, in storing the scattered effects of the unhappy suicide.
For Mrs. Katharine Norreys Vreeland had departed for Europe, and, even the International Trust Company refused to disclose her address or whereabouts.
Her private lawyer, Mr. Abel Hanford, of the company’s legal staff, declined to accept the ownership of the mementoes of the dead adventurer and guarded a grim and sullen silence.
“I am positively ordered not to disturb my client, who is in impaired health, with any references to the late Mr. Vreeland or his affairs. Sell the trash, and turn the money in to me. I will receipt for that!” It was cold comfort.
And no further word would the cool young lawyer utter, even to Horton Wyman, now anxious to legally close up all the affairs of the defunct schemer.
“Turn the whole thing then over to the Public Administrator!” was the counselor’s curt order. “My client will not return to America for many years, if ever.”
In all these strange happenings Miss Sara Conyers was the only one at Lakemere who was really unhappy at heart. She was the sole confidante of Romaine Garland, who now poured out all her secret conclusions upon the bosom of her faithful friend.
Romaine had seized upon Katharine Vreeland’s departure as being the closing scene of the veiled mystery of her unknown father’s life.
But a lucky accident helped the plans of the wise old Judge. “I am to bury the past and all reference to it. There must have been some strange sorrow, and perhaps my co-heiress was in the past a part of some hostile element.”
Completely deceived as to her birth, the young girl divided with Sara Conyers a budding mystery of sweetness and light, which she dared not as yet acknowledge upon her mother’s bosom. For the Queen of the Street was a stately presence, and Romaine’s maidenly heart was shy and gentle.