The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-11-05
CHAPTER XIV,


own thoughts. till we entered the plantation Of
frs which lei TO the quieksand. There he rous-
ell himself, like man whose mind was made
up, and spoke to me again.
'Mr. Bettercdge, he said, 'as you have hon.
ored me by taking an oar in my boat, and as
you may, think, be Of some assistance to me
before the evening Is out, see no use in our
mystifying one another any longer, and pro-
pose TO set you an example Of plain-speaking on
my side. You are determined 10 give me no
information TO the prejudice Of Rosanna Spear
man, because she has been a good girl to you
and because you pity her heartily. Those hu-
mane considerations do you world Of credit,
but they happen in this instance to be humane
considerations clean thrown away. Rosanna
Spearman is not in the slightest danger Of get
ting into trouble-no, not IL fix her with being
concernd in the disappearance Of the Diamond,
on evidence which is as plain as the nose on
your thoe!
DO you mean tha; my lady won't prosecute p
asked.
Il mean that your lady cant prosecute said
the Sergeant. 'Rosanna Spearman is simply an
instrument in the hands Of another person, and
Rosanna SPearman will be held harmless for
that other persons sake
lie spoke like a man in earnest-there was
no denying thar. Still, I felt something stirring
uneasily against him in my mind. Can't you
give that other person q namer l said.
'Can't you, Mr.. Bettercdge''
NO
Sergeant Cuff stood stock-still, and surveyed
me with loSk Of melancholy interest.
'lt's always a pleasure to me to be more ten
der toward human inhrmity,' he said. feel
particularly tender at the present moment, Mr..
Betterelge, toward you. And you, with the
same excellent motive, feel particularly tender
toward Rosanna Spearman, don't your Do
you happen to know whether she has had new
outfit OF linen latelyi'
What he meant by slipping in this extraordi-
nary question unswarcs was at n total loss To
imagine. Seeing no possible injury to Rosanna
II I owned the truth, 1 answered that the girl
hal come to US rather sparely provided with
linen, and that my lady. in recompense for her
good conduct Q laid a stress on her good con-
duct), had given her new outfit not fort
night since.
This is 4 miserable world says the Ser
gent Human life, Mr.. Betteredge, Is a sort
Of target-misiortune is slways firing at IL, and
always hitting the mark. But for that outfit
we should have discovered a new night-gown or
pettieoat among Roanna's things, and have
nailed her in that way. You'rc not at less 10
follow me, are your You have examined the
servants yourself, AMI you know what discoy-
cries two Of them made outside Rosanns's door.
Surely you know waht the girl was about yes
tcrday, after she WAS taken ilft You can't
guess! Oh, dear me, it's as plain as that strip
Of light there at the eud Of the trees. At elev-
en-, on THURSDAY morning, Superintendent See
graye(who Is mass Of human infrmity points
out 10 all the women servants the smear on the
door. Rosanns has her own reasons for sus-
pccting her own things she takes the first op-
portunity Of getting to her room. finds the paint
stain on her night-gown, or pctticoat. or what
no', shsms III, and slips away to the town, gets
the materials for making a new petticoat or
night-gown. making il alone in her room on the
Thursday night, lights tire(not to destroy II {;
two Of her fellow-seryants are prying outside
her door. and she knows better than to make q
smell Of burning. and to have lot Of tinder to
get rid of)-lights n Are, say, to dry and iron
the substitute dress after wringing il out, keeps
the stained dress hidden (probably on her), and
is at this moment occupied in making away
with IL, in some convenient place. on that lone
ly bit Of beach ahead Of us. have traced her
this evening TO your fishing village, and to one
particular cottage which we may possibly have
TO visit before we 20 back. She stopped in the
cottage for some time, and she came out with
(as | bclleye)somcthing hidden under her
cloak. A cloak ION a wOman's back) IS an enn-
blem Of charity-it covers multitude Of sins.
saw her set of northwsrd along the coast, af-
ter leaving tho cottage. Is your sca-shore here
considered a fine specimen Of marine landscape,
Mr.. Betterclger
Ianswercd. 'Yes,' as shortly rs might be.
Tastes differ says Sergeant Cuff Look
ing at il from my point Of view, never saw a
marine landscape thar admired less. IL you
happen to be following another person along
the sen-cOast, and II that person happens to look
round. there isn't scrap Of cover to hide you
any where. had to choose between taking Ro-
sanna in custody on suspicion. or leaving her,
for the time being, with her little game In her
own hands. For reasons, which won't trouble
you with, decided on making any sacrifice
rather than give the alarm as soon as tonight
to certain person who shall be nameless be-
tween US. Icame back 10 the house to ask you
10 take me 10 the north end Of the beach by an
other way. Sand-in its printing of peoples
f6otsteps-is one Of the best detective officers
know. II we don't meet ROsanna Spcarman by
coming round on her this way, the sand may
lasts long enough. Here Is the sand. If you
will excuse my suggesting it-supposc ytu hold
your tongue, and let me go frst,,'
If there is such a thing known at the Doctors
shop asa detsctire-f fsrsr. that disease hal now
got fast hold Of your humble servant. Sergeant
Cuf went on between the hillocks Of sand,
down TO the beach. followed him with my
heart in my mouth) and waited at little dis
tance for what was to happen next.
As IL turned out, found myself standing
nearly in the same place where Rosanns Spear
man and had been talking together when Mr..
Franklin suddenly appeared before US, on ar
irving at our house from London. While my
eyes were watching the Sergeant my mind wan
dered away in spite Of me to what had passed.
on that former occasion between Rssanns and
me. declare almost felt the poor thing slip
her hand again into mine. and give il n little
grateful squeeze 10 thank me Tor speaking kind
" to her. declare almost heard her voice
telling me again that the Shiyering Sand seemed
to draw her to Il, against her own will. when
ever she went out-almost saw her face brighten
again, as Il Frightened when she first set eyes
upon Mr.. Franklin coming briskly out on US
from among the hillccks. My spirits fell lower
and lover as thought Of these things-and the
view Of the lonesome little bay, when looked
about TO rouse myself, only served to make me
feel more uneasy still.
The last Of the evening light wss fsiing
away and over all the dcsolstc place there
hung still and awful calm. The hesve Oft
main ocean ON the great sAnd-bank out in the
bay, was heave that made no sound. The in
ner sea lay lost and dim, without breath Of
wind 10 stir il. Patches Of nasty ooze hoated,
yellOw-white. ON the dead surface Of the water.
scum and slime shone faintly in certain places,
where the last Of the light still caught them on
the two great spits Of rock jutting out, north
and south, into the seA. II was now the time Of
the turn OF the tide and even As stood there
waiting, the broad brown face ofthe quicksand
began 10 dlmp'e and quiver-the only moving
thing in All the horrid nlaee