Bolton with another curtsey. "My boy Sid told me as much, afore
he went to them furren parts."
"Have you seen him since he returned?" questioned Lucy, while
Braddock and Cockatoo strained at the lid, now nearly off.
"Why, I ain't set eyes on him," moaned the widow dismally, "and
summat tells me as I never will."
"Don't talk rubbish, woman," said Archie tartly, for he did not
wish Lucy to be upset again by this ancient ghoul.
"Woman indeed, sir. I'd have you know,--oh!" the widow jumped
and quavered as the lid of the packing case fell on the floor
with a bang. "Oh lor, sir, the start you did give me!"
But Braddock had no eyes for her, and no ears for anyone. He
pulled lustily at the straw packing, and soon the floor was
littered with rubbish. But no green case appeared, and no mummy.
Suddenly Widow Anne shrieked again.
"There's my Sid--dead--oh, my son, dead! dead!"
She spoke truly. The body of Sidney Bolton was before them.
CHAPTER V
MYSTERY
After that one cry of agony from Widow Anne, there was silence
for quite one minute. The terrible contents of the packing case
startled and terrified all present. Faint and white, Lucy clung
to the arm of her lover to keep herself from sinking to the
ground, as Mrs.
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