The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-07-28
cit could only have been done from the
,side." he said, "and someone has been

none were missing.
"What could he have wanted - He
PUZZLED over the question without finding
an answer.
II will take good care that I shall be
molested no more" he thought, resolving
to have double lock put on the door that
very day. ~,
As the daylight now filled the room, he
mt out his lamp, dressed himself with un-
Usual care, and after locking UP the papers,
took his cane, and sailed forth for walk.
People in factory towns are usually
early risers, and the attorney found the
street by no means deserted, when he
stepped out of his hallway. As he walked
nlong, he could not help observing that
already he was the central object OF inter-
est in the place. ~.
"They want to know who to cringe and
bow to next, suppose" he grumbled, as
he strode along, "and think might tell
them if l would. I wonder what they viii
saw when I tell them there is no will ?" he
added, chuckling softly to himself. "And
I wonder what they will say when, after
al, a will is found?"
After an hours stroll, Gray entered g.
restaurant and ordered breakfast. The
dining-room was on the first floor and
separated from bar-room only by n thin
board partition which did not reach the
ceiling. The table at which Gray was
seated, stood close to this wall, andlle could
therefore hear distinctly, what was going
on around the bar.
Two men, evidently mill hands, were
drinking together and talking Of the all
absorbing topic of the tme-thc death OF
Mr.. Wallingford and the disposition Of his
property, particularly the mills.
You have been here long time. If
am rightly infosu,ed?' - he heard Que Of the
men say to his companion.
"Yes, nigh onto thirty years, was the
reply.
"Yeu remember the strange woman who
came here one night, twenty years ago
then?'
rI remember the occurrence right well,
for it created quite a sensation here, al
though We were all careful not to let Mr..
Wallingford hear that we knew any thing
OF his secret"
aAnd he died, thinking that no ono
knew, except the housekeeper and him.
self?"
"I suppose so.''
"Did YOU see the woman p
"No one in the village, save Mr. WAlling-
ford, the housekeeper, and the widow
Cameron, saw her.
mot the servants in the house?"
"No."
"Nor the village physician ?"
"When the woman gave birth to her
child, strange doctor cared for her. He
was with her night and day for fort
night"
"Was it a boy? p
1--WE always thought So but I hardly
Where is Widow Cameron now?"
"Dead, these twenty years
"What do they call the woman at tie
house?"
"The housckeepcr z
eyes"
Mrs. Amcs."
"Then she is married -
eyes, but her husband was wild like,
and went away, after u terrible quarrel,
about fifteen years ago.
Did he live at the house I" 49,
"Yes, he was man-of-al-work about the
place"
"He was there when this woman came?"
"Yes."
"Haye another glass of beer, and tell
me what sort of u man he was. How did
he looks''
The beer was drawn, and the listening
attorney heard the two MEN drawing chairs
up to table.
81 don't remember much about him.
said the old man, after seating himself,
"except that he was as ill-looking chap
as ever went unhung. 1t was a village
wonder when Sarah Blocker married him,
when she might have chosen almost any
young man in the place, and he turned out
no better than we predicted.
"H.d he blue eyes and light hair -
"No. | think his eyes and hair were
very black. His eyebrows were heavy and
black, and seemed as though they were
irving to hide his eyes, and he had scar
beauty
"Was he tall or short? %
81 hardly remember, think about as
tall us | am
"Do YOU know where he went?'
"Iheard year age that he was In Bos-
ton"
"Thc samo man as when he left here, 1
suppose'"
"a great al worse"
"In Boston Il yclr ago. muttered the
attorney, io,ling the memoranda down in
his note j., Ok. Black hair and eyes,
overharging eyebrows, and scar On hls
nose we will make L note of that, too.
may want to find t!:as ran if his wife it
obstinate"
.Of course he has never been back
herel"
owe have never seen him, but it is said
that he has been on these streets and
through the Wallngford House, on many
O. dark night and forced his wife to give
him money"
"In the habit of frightening the old
lady into giving him money. Probably
very dissipated," wrote the attorney IN his
note hook.
In the honse!" exclaimed the other, in
surprise "Why do they admit hiw ~hen
he comes on such distgreeable errands ?"
"rhat is strange, but it is SAID that ne
gets in"
"Have another glass of beer. You must
get dry answering all of my questions.
But You see, there is nothing better to
talk about. and then | feel interested.
Now. tell me ho,u he gets in"
al don't know"
.'Thc old lady--his wife I mean-opens
the door, or perhaps, window for him,
presume"
"Wcll, don't presume anything of the
kind. wouldn't like to have you tell that
said so, chum, but there be houses that folks
who know how, Gun go in any time they
like. and folks who don't know can't keep
them out"
Va, ,ln,,,+
"I didn't s:,y what [ Thought, because I
don't want to think anything about it,
"A house with secret passages" NUT
tered the attorney, taking out his book
once more. keep on my old friend on the
other side, and l will have romance writ
ten directly"
1T may seem FOOLISH" went on the
young man, &" but would like your opinion
on this matter u" yon think the strange
Woman w;ls really Mr.. Wallingford's wife p
90 VI, -