THE HUNT BALL MYSTERY BY SIR WILLIAM MAGNAY, Bt. Author of "A Prince of Lovers," "The Mystery of the Unicorn," etc., etc. 1918 Contents Chap I THE INTRUDER II THE STAINED FLOWERS III THE STREAK ON THE CUFF IV THE MISSING GUEST V THE LOCKED ROOM VI THE MYSTERY OF CLEMENT HENSHAW VII THE INCREDULITY OF GERVASE HENSHAW VIII KELSON'S PERPLEXITY IX THE CLOAK OF NIGHT X AN ALARMING DISCOVERY XI GIFFORD'S COMMISSION XII HAD HENSHAW A CLUE? XIII WHAT GIFFORD SAW IN THE WOOD XIV GIFFORD'S PERPLEXITY XV ANOTHER DISCOVERY XVI AN EXPLANATION XVII WHAT A GIRL SAW XVIII THE LOST BROOCH XIX IN THE CHURCHYARD XX AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER XXI GIFFORD CONTINUES HIS STORY XXII HOW GIFFORD ESCAPED XXIII EDITH MORRISTON'S STORY XXIV HOW THE STORY ENDED XXV DEFIANCE XXVI ISSUE JOINED XXVII GIFFORD'S REWARD CHAPTER I THE INTRUDER "I'm afraid it must have gone on in the van, sir." "Gone on!" Hugh Gifford exclaimed angrily. "But you had no business to send the train on till all the luggage was put out." "The guard told me that all the luggage for Branchester was out," the porter protested deprecatingly. "You see, sir, the train was nearly twenty minutes late, and in his hurry to get off he must have overlooked your suit-case." "The very thing I wanted most," the owner returned. "I say, Kelson," he went on, addressing a tall, soldierly man who strolled up, "a nice thing has happened; the train has gone off with my evening clothes." Kelson whistled. "Are you sure?" "Quite." Gifford appealed to the porter, who regretfully confirmed the statement. "That's awkward to-night," Kelson commented with a short laugh of annoyance. "Look here, we'd better interview the station-master, and have your case wired for to the next stop. I am sorry, old fellow, I kept you talking instead of letting you look after your rattle-traps, but I was so glad to see you again after all this long time." "Thanks, my dear Harry, you've nothing to blame yourself about. It was my own fault being so casual. The nuisance is that if I don't get the suit-case back in time I shan't be able to go with you to-night." "No," his friend responded; "that would be a blow. And it's going to be a ripping dance. Dick Morriston, who hunts the hounds, is doing the thing top-hole. Now let's see what the worthy and obliging Prior can do for us."