Richmond planet. [volume], March 21, 1903, Page 3, Image 3

About Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938

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- SYNOPSIS:
CHAPTER I?Nelaon Conway, suspected
?fa- rhlladelphia bank robbery, reaches
Bluing-ton on hia way to the old Nelson
?onie?e?.ee.d, gets Jake llunslcker to drive ,
him to his boyhood home and recognize?
is Jake'? wife Sarah, a servant 18 years 1
before to his grandfather Nc'son.
CHAPTER II?A year previous Conwsy,
paying teller in a Philadelphia saving?
Sank, waa invited to the home of Florence .
Storie/ to a party. Knowing this would '
not allow him to return to bank aa early
next morning as usual he arranges with '
Horace Jackson?a fellow employe?to be !
on hand when the clockwork should release
combination of vault. Returning to bank :
next morning Conway discovers the cash .
re*et*ye of wO.000 missing.
CHAPTER III?Conway is accused of
theft; but Mr. Morley. a trustee, proves an '
?lbl* for him? without however removing
?? general suspicion.*
?I?APTER IV?Perry expresses hie con?
fluence ln Conway. but says officially he
mjast bold him ln doubi. whereupon con?
way ?esigns his position. Mr. Morley also -
believe? in Conw?y'e lnno<*ence, but be?
cause of public distrust exacts a premise J
that friendly relations between Conway
asd Florence Morley be discontinued until
Conwsy proves his innocence. *
CHAPTBR V?Flerence shortly after thi? I
writes te assure Conway of her continued-,
respect and trust. In the old N*eIson home,
so long deserted, Conway hears str?ng? 1
noises: secs a ghostly figure in the moon- '
light, shoots art it, oirlyto find it a redec
Upn ?f himself. Unearthly voices are heard
oven after daylight comte erV*w*cing In als
?ointed unmeaning phrases. Conway learns
rom Sarah ?hat Syrveater Morley and his
daughter have a nimmer residente In near
neighborhood.
CHAPTER VI?Discovery Is made that
totb doorways to one of the cellars have
een walled up. Florence driving by with
tur father see? Conway, but offers no salu?
tation. Jackson has frequently been cofn
irer, from city and soxaetimes calls on th?
ataclcya
CTIAl'l ER VTI?Conway sees Sonrrta?:. ;
his agerrt. He know? nothing of walling up !
cellar doors. Sonntag corwiects mysterious |
ilg*ht? and noises with the sealed doorways. |
"CHAPT?R_yiH?Meeting between Flor
?sTlre" antT<rronwarTt?aiiirs tp pt*?Tnt5? towUTT
ry. Jackson had proposed to her. been re- ?
fused, but upon accusing Conway of rob?
bing a compact had been made that she
would marry Jackson ln case theft could ?
be traced, to Cua-vey.
? ?CHATTER IX?Again mysterious noises
are heard at night, and Conwav snen?1e
in? ny irstirss nours trying in vain to locate ?
?hem. A pistol shot from ttuvroom below ?
e heard, whereupon he decide* to cut
through the floor to gain access to the
barred-up cellar, and In the morning pro- !
eines tu013 fox the curoosc -
CHAPTER X.
I ushered the old lawyer into the
room. After a few commonplace re- !
marks he said: "That walling-up of !
those cellar doorways has made quite I
an impression on me. Suppose we
have a look at them."
I was very willing. Together we de
acended the stairs to the storeroom.
Mr. Sonntag examined the place
where the door had been, minutely,
as though he expected to find in the
atones of the wall some intimation of I
what was ou the inside. He even went
00 far aa to scratch off patches of the |
w i1, ? t ev.T. z\\
"It is rather dark here," he finally
asid, glancing around.
"Perhaps tbe door can be opened," I
auggested.
"1 have the key with me, but maybe
it would be best uot to use It. Give mo
a few matches."
I handed him all I had with me, and
he, by the light afforded, examined
closely the places where he had
acratched off the whitewash.
While watching him, the thought
again occurred to me that I had seen or
met him previous to my arrival at Nel
aonville.
"Do you know it seems as though I
had seen you before?" I said.
"Yea, so you remarked during your
visit to my office yesterday," Sonntag
replied, aa he stepped back to where I
was standing.
"There is no doubt of that being a
?olid wall," he went on; "so if the
Hi?. Sonntae rx*nilnixi Uie pince rnluutely.
room behind it is being used for some
Purpose, entrance is not gnined from
ere. See what pains have been taken
to hide the work. The whole wall has
been newly whitewashed. If that had
not been done, the new mason-work
would be glaringlj' perceptible. Let ue
(?o Into the house cellar and have
ook at the dividing wall there."
It needed but a glance to see that this
wall had not been tampered with. The
whitewash was old, und there was no
spot where it had been renewed.
"I have already examined the out?
side place," the old lawyer remarked,
as we ascended the stairway.
"That was not whitewashed, and, if
I remember rightly, the stones used
looked old and worn like the rest of the
foundation," I said.
"Yes; the stones used in both the
doorways were old ones. But they are
of a different kind of stone," he re
xnarkt-d, with a shrewd smile.
"Different kind? What significance
would that have?"
"All the stone quarrieil about here Is
limestone. You will find the founda?
tions and walls under jour house are
built with this kind. If any other kind
was used it would have to be brought
-from a distance. Sandstone was used
for the two doorways."
"And was therefore brought from a
distance?" I asked.
"Perhaps not in this case."
"But you said there is nothing? but
limestone quarried about here," I sug?
gested.
"And that is true. The stone?? used
in the doorways had been used before,
for they are old and weatherbeaten.
Do you remember a small stone build?
ing up at the mountain, which years
ago was used as u schoolhouse?" my
lawyer asked.
"Oh, yeel It was known as the
Mountain *?chool," I replied.
"Well, it is fast poing to ruin," Sonn?
tag continued; "hoe not been used foi
years, I am told. The point is here:
That old schoolhouse was built of
sandstone. Where tbe builders got the
stone 1, of course, cannot say, but evi?
dently not around here. It is my be?
lief the stones in the two doorways
were taken from the old tumble-down
schoolhouse."
"And supposing your surmise is ?
correct one, does it furnish you with a
clew to the person or persons who did
the Job?" I asked.
"Perhaps," he replied, shortly.
As he raised his head to answer, rec?
ollection flashed upon me. "Ahi" I
exclaimed. "I have been cudgeling my
brain in the endeavor to remember
where I had seen you before."
He quickly turned toward me with a
half-smile on his face, but offered no
reply.
"I have seen you in Philadelphia,'* I
continued.
"Possibly. I used to live there before
coming to Twineburgh," be remarked,
L*?l??tf?j&i2j.
"You have been in Twineburgh but
six months," I went on.
"Yes."
"And I saw you for the first time
about a year ago. 1 almost knocked
you over as I was coming out of the
president's office in the Safety security
bank. You were just going in, and I
ran into you."
"Ah, possibly. I have had business
dealings with that concern," the old
lawyer replied.
"And you knew Mr. Perry, the presi?
dent?"
"Yes, slightly.??
"Then why did you ask me at the
time if 1 was the prcsiilent?" I asked.
Sonntag gave a twitch of the shoul?
der, and his shrewd tdiurp eyes
twinkled.
"Did I ask you that?" he queried.
"Do you not remember?"
"Can't say that I do," he replied.
"It seems strange you should leave
the city to engage In the practice of
law in a small town like Twineburgh,"
1 said, musingly.
"Why strange?" was his curt ques?
tion.
"Oh, well, you are quite advanced in
years, and, with your long experience,
ought to have commanded a larger and
more lucrative practice in a large place
like Philadelphia than in a small coun?
try town."
Ile did not reply for a few moments,
but stood with a whimsical look on his
face with his eyes turned toward the
floor.
"I became tired of city life," he finally
said. "I have no family depending upon
me, and so am at liberty to follow out
any whim which happens to take pos?
session of me. There is enough business
here to enable a single man to live well,
besides allowing him more leisure. I
was looking for such a business, and?
and found it in Twineburgh.'*
"Well, you certainly are an odd fel?
low, if you will excuse me for saying
so,** I remarked, with a laugh.
"Yes, I am rather odd."
When we reentcred my bedroom.
Sonn tug's quick eye caught sight of the
tools under my bed.
"Going to cut through the floor?" he
asked.
"That is what I intended to do. Tm
going to know what is down there," I
replied, decidedly.
Then I told him about the noises I
h;ul heard which had seemed to come
from beneath, the slamming of the
door, and the pistol shot. I also told
of the voices I had heard both in the
attic and in my room, and all I had ob?
served regarding them.
The old lawyer listened intently, and
when I had finished walked to the win?
dow.
**Do you suppose that the sound of the
voices could in some way have come
from tho telephone wire?" I finally
asked.
"Not being an electrical expert, lean
not say," Sonntag answered, turning
from the window.
"It seems impossible the voicea could
be heard without the aid of a receiver,**
I remarked.
"Perhaps there is a receiver both in
your room and upstairs?not like the
ones we are accustomed to, of course,
but one formed by nature. Certainly
there are possibilities In electric force
which we have not yet discovered. You
?ay the sounds occurred only when a
wind was blowing which caused the
wire to swing against the lightning
rod?"
"That was surmise, for I have had no
opportunity to watch when the wind
blew. But it seemed the most natural
explanation of the rappings."
"And you had no way of ascertaining
whether the sounds in your room here
and in the attic were produced by the
same voice and at the same time, or
whether there wer^ two voices inde?
pendent of each other?"
"Why. you know It was impossible for
me to be In the attic and in my room
too." I answered._ _
""Perhaps we may be ?riven an oppor?
tunity to t?nti out something about the
voices." Sonntag said, with a gesture to- .
?ani the window.
"How ilo you incnn?" I anked.
"There is a thumlerstorm coming up.
It will undoubtedly be preceded by a
wind," the old lawyer said.
"Yes. yes! How fortunate it is that
you are here!" I exclaimed, excitedly,
for I comprehended his meaning. !
"Now you remain here, and I will go up
to the attic," I went on. "Each of us
must note the exact time the sound is
heard. We had better compare watches,
so that there shall be no difference in
each one's estimate of the time."
I pulled out my watch and approached
Sonntag. His hand went up to his vest
pocket and he was about to follow my
example, when upon our hearing came
that small, soft, high-pitched voice. {
We stood gazing into each other's .
eyes for a moment, then I made a rush
for the door.
The lawyer detained me, and in great
impatience I waited.
"Take paper and pencil with you," he
esid. "Jot down the words and indicate '
the raps in the exact order that they
come. I will do the same with the
words and pauses. Now go."
I went up the two stairways on the
jump. The wind was coming up strong,
and the heavy thunder rolled in the dis?
tance. Near the small window, where
I had heard the voice, I took my stand.
Tho raps from above were louder now,
and besides, in the daytime, lost a great
deal of the uncanninese which the
gloom and solitude C? night had given j
them.
The voice was sounding, though not
as distinctly as before, which was prob?
ably on account of the loud moaning
and whistling of the high wind.
My paper and pencil were ready, and
I listened with strained attention to
catch the words.
This ie what my paper showed:
"Never will (rap, rap, rap) consent
under existing (rap, rap?a grating
noise, probably caused by the wire be
ing held against the lightning rod by
the force of the wind) the property re?
moved (raps) place to bring you (raps)
hid where (raps) never find (raps) teilt
wisdom I shall (raps) night and take
(raps) dollar will you ever?"
Right here the garret was flooded by
a blinding glare, and immediately fol?
lowed crash on crash close above me.
Stunned by the noise and too dazed
for the moment to realize that the
threatening storm had burst,' I feebly
tottered toward the stairs and sank
down upon the top etep.
The rain was coming down in tor?
rents and the roar on the roof seemed '
but an echo of the thund*er. I was soon
able to arouse myself from my dazed
conddtion, and, remembering the ob?
ject of my errand, wqnt back to the
spot where I had stood to recover the
paper and pencil, which had fallen
from my hands. There was no desire to
continue investigations while the storm
lasted; so, picking up the paper,? I
hastened downstairs to my room.
I noticed a strange odor as I went
through the doorway, and saw Sonntag
standing in the middle of the room in
a ?trange attitude. The pencil he hnd
used was still In his hand, but the paper
had fluttered to the floor.
The old lawyer not eeemlng to notice
my approach, I tapped him on the arm.
He gazed around at me with wide, star?
ing eyes, then drew a long breath.
"What was it that happene?!?" he
finally asked,
"Oh, did you catch it, too? Nothing
but a little demonstration of electrical
force," I replied. "It was quite close
tous. The house must have been struck
by the bolt; or perhaps the lightning
rod saved it."
"It was awful!" the old fellow ex?
claimed. "There was a stream of fire
reached half way aerose the room. It
came from the wall there, right near
the chimney. Well, it's over, and neith?
er of us hurt." The old fellow shook
himself together. "After this, no more
experimenting In electricity for me, es?
pecially during) a thunderstorm. G11
stick to?to the law," he esid, with a
flash of his bright eyes whdeh told me
he had recovered from the effects of
the shock.
"Then you dSd not take any note of
the voice?" I remarked.
"Yes, yes. Here it is; and you??ah,
that's good. Now let us compare."
Tbe two slips of paper were laid on
the table. "The first words taken note of
on my paper," Son n ta g begun, "are, you
have my?then a pause, and your* are:
Never will. Ah!" he exclaimed, in deep
satisfaction, "they seem to run along
well together. Now you begin and read,
and where the raps are Indicated pause,
and I will put In my words. Lets see if
we can get any sense out of it?*?
This is what we ree ?I:
"Never will?- ..^
"you have my?? ""
"consent under existing1?"*
"circumstance* you have broken
faith with me in every?"
"way why was?" -J??^
"the property removed?** Xm
"from the original?" mtV^^
"place to bring you?**
"to time what did you do with it
safely?"
"hid where?** ? *
"you can?" SK
"never find?" ?
"it unless you??
"talk wisdom I shall?"
"go for it this very?m
"night and take?"
"it away and not one?**
"dollar will you ever?**
"Right here is where the shock
came," I said, after reading the last
phrase. "Of course I took no more
notes after that. Have you any more?"
"No. The flame came, and I got no
further," Sonntag answered. "This
certainly is curious. There seems to be
a complete circuit formed somehow, or,
more properly, two circuits; when one
is closed the other is opened by that
closing, and vice versa."
While making the foregoing remark
the old fellow was leaning over the
table, intently scanning the two papers.
"You say a flame snot out into the
room?" I asked.
"Yes."
"From where?"
"Between the window and chimney, it
seemed to be," he replied, without lift?
ing his head.
I stepped over to the place indicated.
There was a large nail sticking ln the
brail, which hnd been covered with
whitewash. A flannel coat which I had
hung on the nail the night before was
now lyinjc on the floor, u charred ruin.
? r/e ??ttt ROCtV vr-rs orr.cKcuea, ?pt?
was quite hot. as contact with my
Angers told me.
"Greut lieavensl" I exclaimed, start?
ing back, "this is the strangest phenom?
enon. What a wonder the house is not
ablaze!"
I went on expressing amazement, un?
til I discovered that Sonntag did not
seem to hear me, so Intent was he over
the words the voice had uttered.
??Pshaw! what's the use bothering
over that, Mr. Sonntag?" I said. "There
isn't much sense to be made out of it,
anyhow."
"Yes, there is, too. It is conversa?
tion, and not a mere jumble of words,"
the old lawyer ?said, with "an air of tri?
umph. "Just hear what I make out of
it now."
Divided up, the following was Sonn?
tag'? version:
Wbara I bad beard the ?role? I took my aland, j
First Tarty?"Never will you have my
consent under existing circumstances, j
You have broken faith with me in every
way. Why was the property removed
from the original place?"
Second Party?"To bring you to
time." I
First Party?"What did you do with
it?"
Sor-onrt fe??*?* "SaXili ??i?I, niicicjOit
can never find it unies? you talk wis?
dom." I shall go for it this very night
and take R away, aud not one dollar
will you ever?"
"There, that's a pretty sensible talk,
I take it," said my lawyer, when he bad ,
finished. '
"Oh, well, porhapa It is sensible '
enough, but what good will it do you, j
now that you have made a conversation
out of it?" I remarked, in some Im- "
patience, for Sonntag'a satisfaction ]
seemed to be out of all proportion to the
importance of ? few chance remarks
caught in some mysterious fashion
from ? telephone wire. i
The old lawyer smiled In a kind of j
pitying way, and regarded mc with a J
whimsical expression. I
"Who knows?" I , ai. on, gayly; J
"perhaps my arrival in Nelson ville may
be tbe cause of a complete revolution in '
matters regarding the telephone. I
muat send for an electrical expert and
have him investigate the myetery. Al- j
ready there are visions of an immense '
fortune floating through my head."
"Suppose we go to the old school- j
house from which the stones used in the j
two doorways were evidently taken."
Sonntag suggested, breaking in upon
my imaginings. |
"What possible difference can it make
if the stones were taken from there?"
I remarked. "That will notateli us why
the job wu done." e
"Well, It would be pleasant for you to
meet on old friend. Horace Jackson's
hunting lodge is quite near the school
house. ? Perhaps we may find him at
his place," my lawyer aaid, insinuat?
ingly.
"Yes, I know. The fellow Hunter, the
agent at Sidington, told me Jackson
comes up here occasionally to hunt and
fish. But as for Jackson being a friend
of mine, heaven save me from such
friend?!"
Noting Sonntag'? surprise at my
word??, I explained the reaaon of my
outburst?bow Jackson had of late
changed his opinion of my innocence,
and how Florence had made a compact
with him, and the certainty he seemed
to feel that she would be compelled to
redeem her promise.
The lawyer was all attention now,
keeping his sharp eyes constantly on
my face, while I poured out my opin?
ion of Jackson and his underhand meth?
ods. I was a lover, and Jackson a sort
of rival, so naturally my remarks were
somewhat stronger, perhaps, than nec?
essary.
"Why did you call the station-agent
Hunter?" asked Sonntag.
"Because he told me that waa his
name," I replied.
"Indeed I What could he have told
you that for, I wonder? ??? name is
not Hunter; it'e Skinner."
"It is? Wejl, that's odd. Why should
he wish to conceal his real name from
"H'm! can't say, I'm sure," replied
Sonntag, dryly. "But I am delighted
beyond measure to hear what you have
told me concerning Jackson," he ex?
claimed, with more enthusiasm than
he had ever displayed.
"Oh, indeed! It does not delight
me; the bare suspicion has been enough
for me to endure. I do not know that
I would care very much for a seeming
proof of guilt to be found against me.
You do actually seem pleased," I re?
marked with disgust.
"Pleased is not the w-ord. I am more
than pleased. What 3-011 have told me
is a most important bit of news," Sonn?
tag said, taking up his hat.
"Why Is it important, and to whom?"
I asked.
"Very important to me, but more to
yourself."
"No; stay and explain," I called to
him as he went out the door; "what
do you mean?"
"Haven't a moment's time. Must go.
I mean that most probably the cloud
which has enveloped ?our name will be
lif teil shortly. Do not cut into the cel?
lar to-day. Wait until to-morrew."
Saying this, my lawyer departed.
(?????? XI.
I stood for some time gazing at the
door through which Mr. Sonntag ha?? ?
gone. Amazement held possession of !
me. A thousand and one questions
whirled through my head.
But my lawyer h;i?l departed. I final- |
ly strode to the window in the hope of ?
finding him within bailing distance. I
He was fur down the Twineburgh '
roail, too far to<*all him.
I saw him pull up his horse and lean <
forwar?! and address a man who had
approached him from the opposite di?
rection.
The conversali jii lasted buta minute,
and then hrrseman and pedestrian each
went on their several ways.
I When the |>e?1?'striau drew nearer I
isaw it was Hunter, the station agent eft
Sidiugton. or. as Sonntag had informed
me. Skinner. It seemed very odd that
he should have assumed another nan?*.
Then my eye enught the glimpse of a
horsewoman coming down the roail I
from the direction of the Mortey resi?
dence. It nee?led but tlia. glimpse to
tell me that it was Florence. She was
coming toward the house, perhaps to
Bee me.
When she reached the cross-road lead?
ing to Sidiugton and Twineburgh, up
which the man Hunter was approach?
ing, she reined up her horse.
When the fellow came up to Florence,
I was surprised to see him stop and en?
gage her in a conversation which last?
ed some minutes and appeared to be
rather earnest, judging by the way
Florence leaned down toward htm.
Finally the young woman turned her
horse's head and galloped back In th?.
direction she had come.
The station agent watched her re?
treating form, then alowly begin to re?
trace his steps. He had gone but a
short distance when be stopped and
looked toward my house, then again
turned and came back.
I watched him from behind the cur?
tains. As he approached near I saw
his clothing was wet and bedraggled,
which plainly showed that he had been
out in the recent shower.
He came up to the house in a hesitat?
ing way, glancing all around furtively,
and was about to pass up into the yard,
when I leaned from the window and
hailed him.
"Halloo, there! what's up? What do
you want?" I demanded. .
Glancing up at me with his stupid
stare, he spoke. "When you want to
send anything away by freight, have it
at the station before nine o'clock in the
morning," he said, in the deliberating
way of one who is compelled to manu
Ilecture a speech on the spur of tiie
moment
"Is that all you wish to say to me?
? You did not come all the way from Sid
ington to tell me that?" I inquired,
caustically.
"Why, no," he began, glancing all
around, as though seeking for hh*
words in the surrounding objects. *T
?I thought perhaps you didn't k nova?
that?that?a?are yoi? having a good
timer*
"A most enjoyable time indeed," I ex?
claimed, enthusiastically, if somewhat
sarcastically. "Just such a time as
I needed?restful, quiet, and perfect
pence."
Just a trace of a smile seemed to flit
across his face at my words.
"Oh! then there Is nbthing the maO
ter with the place?" he asked, cu?
riously.
I was considerably surprised at this
question. "I should sny not. What
should be the matter with it?" I asked.
"Some folks say it's kind o' queer
like. Some say dead people use the
house at nights for meetings," he re?
plied, sinking his voice down low, and
glancing around nervously.
"Ta that so? Well, let them. As
long as the dead ones don't disturb me,
(I am sure I have no objection. What
part of the house nre the spirits sup?
posed to frequent?" I asked, a thought
of the walled cellar coming to me.
The fellow seemed a trille flustered,
I thought, by my sudden question. He
gave vent to a nervous laugh, and at
the same time darted a sharp glance
at me, which, momentary as it was,
nevertheless was so different from his
'usual half-wondering stare that I was
impressed by it.
i "Oh, I don't know what part of the
house is used by the spirita How
should I know?"
There had been something irritating
to me in the fellow, and, as there wa*
a hint of insolence in his last words,
I gave way to my impatience.
"See here; you have given me some
strange hints about my bouse," I be?
gan sternly; "now, then, you'll please
explain more fully what you mean,
Mr. Hunter, or perhaps, I should aay,
Mr. Skinner.**
j I do not know what impelled me to
add the name which Sonntag said was
the correct one, but the effect on the
fellow startled me considerably.
His eyes grew staring, and a terrified,
hunted expression came over his face.
Glancing furtively around and draw?
ing back a step or two, his hand went
to his hip-pocket.
Aa the glint of a shining object
caught my eye, I drew suddenly back to
one side of the window, and the next
instant a pistol report sounded out.
I ertood still a moment, duinfounded
by the attack, then dropped on my
hands and knees and crept past the win?
dow to the table, in the drawer of which
I had placed my pistol. Hastily grasp?
ing the weapon and noting that it was
ready for use, I arose and approached
the window, holding the pistol before
me in readiness.
"Two can play at your geme, Mr. ?
But I got no further. The man wan no?
where to be seen.
I hastened from the house and ran
around, searching for him, but no trace
could I discover. He had vanished com- j
pletely. His sudden disappearance
puzzled me.
I soon gave up the search, put the pis?
tol in my pocket, and started briskly up
the road toward the Morley place.
If the station agent was such a des?
perate fellow as to draw and shoot at a
word, what could Florence have to do
with him ?
It was strange that Sonntag should
know the fellow's right name and not
know the danger attendant on calling
him by it. My lawyer had seemed sur?
prised when I stated that the fellow
had told me his name was nunter. In
all probability Sonntag had addressed
him by the name of Skinner many
time?, and the fellow had not resented
it, or the lawyer would have mentioned
the fact. Why, then, should he resent
in so fierce ami ?*??.????.\ a m.-nmcr my use
??f his right numi?'.'
IVihnps Ploreno ?? eonal t?-n ane some?
thing about Mr. Hunter, ?ir Skinner. At
lOOOs ?t ?mis rijj-lit 1 should warn her
against liiui.
With these thoughts flitting across
my minti, I soon arrived at th?? Morley
home. and. entering the gat?*, went up
the long grav?>lt-?l walk. Itefore nn op?
portunity hub allowed n;e to ascend
the steps leading to the pia/za. my name
was called.
"Why. Mr. Conway!"
It was n?>rcn<*e "ho called, and who
on my turning toward her got out of
a hammock. She was still dressed in her
riding-habit, and as I approached I no?
ticed her horse tied to a post near bv.
"Are you going ruling again?" I
asked. "In that case, pardon my In?
trusion."
'Tapa and I usually ride at this
time. I am wniting for him." she said,
with a touch of surprise; for I had
ppoken in rather formal tones.
"Then I will defer my errand. Some
other time will answer just as well, per?
haps. Will you kindly tell me when I
may have the pleasure of seeing you?*'
"What Is it. Nelson? What can be
the matter?" she asked, her brown
eyes staring in astonishment. "Will
j-ou not speak now?"
"Why, 1 can certainly. It is not very
important, perhaps. I wish to ask you
what you know about the station agent
at Sulington. I have seen you talking
with him on several occasions. What
eon one like you have to talk about with
such a desperate villain!"
Florence's face turne?l white. "Des?
perate villain?" she repeated, in a fear?
some whisper. "Why. Nelson!"
Then I told of my recent talk with
the scoundrel and his dastardly at?
tempt to shoot me.
Florence hearkened. with hands
clasped across her bosom, her eyes
staring in terrified amazement.
"Oh, do not be alarmed," I added. "He
did not hit me. ? miss is as good os a
mile, you know."
But ?she still stood gazing at me.
doubt and fear upon her face, too dum
founded to s{>eak. Finally, she burst
into tears, and, in a most pathetic way.
held out her hniults nppealingly to me.
Stirred to the heart's core by her
grief, I caught the dear form in my
arms. Wonilcring what couhl bo the
cause of the siuldon anil overwhelming
expression of sorrow, and heartily
ashamed of myself for having ad?
dressed her in col?!, formal tones, I
sought with many endearing terms to
What is it, ray love, that so distresses
you? Tell me aboat It. You do not
"Dotpara?? ?UUlIbP" ?be repeated.
know how happy it would make me to
be allowed to share your troubles."
"I am troubled, Nelson, deeply
troubled," she replied, raising her tesr
st;iin?'d face. "There are so many in
exphcalile things going on about me,
bo much mystery. Mich forebodings of
dreadful huppenings, in my heart, that
if it were not for your love existence
would be misery. Ami now jour own
dear life is threatened, and all my
fault, too. I cannot understand it at all.
Why should anyone want to kill you?
Oh,. Nelson!"
She laid her head against me, and I
gently stroke?? the soit tresses which
fell back behind her ear in such beau?
tiful waves. For a few moment? I could
not answer. Her words startled me be?
yond expressinon. What, i ? God's name,
was there about this back-country
place? Had its uncanny mysteries even
entered my darling's sweet life to taint
its happiness?
"Do not give way to an unreasonable
terror, dear heart," I finally said.
'What possible harm can reach you?'
"It is not for mj'self that I nin fear?
ful, and I suppose it is unreasonable;
but think, Nelson, if he hnd shot you!"
She shudderecl, and then with an ef?
fort became calmer.
"Do not worry about me. Be sure I
am able to take core of myself; and
forewarned is forearmed. What else
is there? Tell me. You know you may
count on my help and sympathy."
"Yes, yes, I know that. Nelson. And
I do need your help. It seems as though
I were walking blindfolded on the edge
of a precipice." The loved form
nestled closer to me. It made me fool?
ishly happy to hold her in my arms and
know they were as a haven of refuge to
her.
"Then, too," Florence went on, "I
am so worried about father."
"So you said yesterday. ?a?? you
any reason to be?"
"Maybe not; at least I know of none,
except that he is so changed of late.
But a woman's instinct often divines
causes for w orry when none are per?
ceptible."
"You cannot mean that he is changed
toward you?"
"Oh, no, no! Not in his love for me.
Indeed, there seems to be an augment?
ed tenderness townr?l me. And it
makes me feel as though, somehow, I
was partly the cause of the trouble.
Why, I know there is something wor?
rying poor father. He is even chang?
ing in appearance, and Is becoming so
haggard. There is some secret sorrow
ha ia ensuring* I spoke to him about
it only the other day."
"What answer did he give you?" ?
isked.
"Just laughed, and said I was gifte?!
with ? vivid imagination."
"There, you see, it must be only
?usine-s worry. If it were anything
legarding yourself, he would not make
light of it."
Florence was partly comforted by
ny assurance. She glanced up Into
ny face and smiled. But the troubled
nd p?T|dexed look came back when
lie answered:
"Perhaps it is as you say. But I can?
't get it out of my head that Mr. Jack
on ia somehow connected with it a??/*
"Jackson ? How could he affect your
father's life so seriously?" I exclaimed.
*'l do not know. He used to com?
hom frequently until lately. An?! after
every visit father seemed to be ao
troubled and worried."
Being satisfieil in my own mind that
the diff?rence between Mr. Morley and
Jackson had arisen over business af?
fairs, I sought to lead Florence away
from a subject which seemed to cause
her distress.
"And what can you tell me about the
station ngent at Sidington?" I asked.
"Oh, Nelson! how puzzled I am over
whut you have told me! You say Le
tried to shoot you?"
"Yes; but do not agitate yourself
over that. He did not hit nie, you
know," I answered.
"But why should he want to shoot
you?" she exclaimed.
"That is as much a im stery to me as
to you. Who is the fellow, anyhow ?
Whore did he come from? His real
neme. I understand. Is Skinner."
"Yes, that is his real name," was
Florence's answer.
"Why, what reason could he have hod"
for telling me his name was HunterT
Tell me what you know about him, my
dear," I demanded, lor I thought she
really appeared somewhat reluctant to
give me the desired information.
"Florence, who is he?"
"He is a detective," she answered.
"A detective! He! What is he do?
ing about here?" I asked, in astonish?
ment.
"Promise me you will not breathe a?
word," Florence said, earnestly, hold?
ing up her forefinger In emphasis.
"I promise solemnly."
"And promise you will not think ma>
a very foolish girl?"
"Never!"
"Well, then, after the bank robbery
I used to reail all the papers to ascer
?,.??? ti ...V. luuUMO 1ICH.J WCtrU UlOWICl ????
The time went by, and you, poor boy,
were still under the crael suspicion.
Why, Nelson, nearly all ot your old
friends believe you had a hand in the
affair."
"Oh, I know that!" I answer?^
gloomily. "And I was foolish to give
up the trust and love and confidence at
the only true friend 1 seemed to have
at that time," kissing the faithful girl's
forehead.
"Indeed you were foolish, and cruel?
too,** Florence murmured. "Six month?
went by, and you went to Europe?.
Nothing was discover???! regarding the?
robbery; and, what was worse, noth?
ing seemed to be done} in the matter.
Every one seemed to have forgotten aH
about it, except that you were the
guilty one; that was not forgotten.
Oh, Nelson, I felt so sorry- for you! I
knew how honorable you were, and"
how heavy your heart must have been
So I nunle up my mind to do somethinsr
myself."
"You ! ?
"Too. It was foolish, I know, but
I could not rest until I determined to
try and clear you."
For a few moments my heart was too?
full for spenda, "And what did your
do?" I asked, gently.
"I di?l not want father to know, so
I asked Mr. Jackson to send the best de?
tective he kn?.-w of to me. Mr. Jackson
seemcQ very ?indly ?lisposed toward*,
you at that time; he did as I requested",
and asked me no questions about my
intentions."
"So you hired a detective to trace the
robbers?"
"Yes."
"And that fellow Skinner?is he the
one?"
"Yes. I suppose it was a foolish
thing to do, for nothing seems to have
come of it, although Mr. Skinner keeps
telling me he is on the right track now,
and will soon have them."
"Foolish, was it? Oh, my darling!?"
I exclaimed, as I caught her hands in
mine and gazed down into the sweet
face. I could say no more then, choke?
as I was Toy my emotion. The noble.
true-hearted girl! Impelle?! by herlov??
for me and her absolute faith in my
Integrity, undertaking alone to estab?
lish my innocence, while all the world
remained indifferent! I saw the noble?
ness, the willingness to make sacrifies,
for her love, back of it all, and tears*
came into my eyes and a great thank?
fulness into my heart. What a for?
tunate fellow I was, after all, to be per?
mitted to inspire such devotion!
"But if Skinner is ln your employ auA
therefore working in my interest, why
should he endeavor to shoot me?" I
finally remarked.
"Oh, Nelson, I don't know. I cannot
understand it," she replied, as deeply
perplexed ?is I was.
"How does it happen that he is sta?
tion ngent at Sidington? Why does ho
remain here at all?"
"Father procured the position for
him at my request. The detective said
it was the best place to watch the rob?
bers from, for absolute secrecy was
necessary, aiul no one would suspect
the station ngent at a retired place like
Sidington of being a detective. Of
course I did not tell father that the
man for whom I desired the position
was a detective."
I made no reply to her last words. In
deed, I could not. Mv mind was In a
whirl.
"It is nil so mysterious, and now
your dear life Is threutened !" Florence
exclaimed, the tears ago'a coming to
her eyes ami falling down her cheeks.
While again endeavoring to calm her
the sound of approaching footsteps
reached us.
(To Be Continued.)
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