The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-29
CHAPTER NV.
OLD coRkscnEw rocKRrs 4 LETTER.


OLD coRKscREw POCKETS 4 LETTER.
His young friend Ind hardly left the
room, before Daddy Tabart had risen to
his feet, and commenced pacing the little
study.
"Poor fellowr' thought the old man.
What a9sad. discovery. Such: q fine
hearted chap, too! Hes SO generous, so
candid, he hasn't the meanness to suspect
anybody! But, thank goodness. I'm 10
the fore. III find out all about it. !
partly guess who has done it but how
has il been led up TOT" There's the rub!
He'll tell me moro, presently. without slls-
pecting the interest take in his words"
Here Daddy Tabaret stopped staddenly
in his pedestrian tour round and round
the room. ''''
His eyes had agnin alighted on the
packet Of letters which Noel had left be-
hind him on the tabls.
-Ah!" he sighed, eff could only have
one of those letters just for twenty-foui
hours! OF couree. he knows the exact
number, and if asked him for one. it
might lead, in some way, to betrayal Of
my connection with the police"
o. Old Corkscrew took another turn, and
stopped again in front Of the letters.
ayes !; III take one. Out of evil coneth
good. shall now he able to compare the
handwriting Mt my leisure"
Daddy Tabaret had hardly succeeded
IN thrusting one of the letters into his ca
pacious pocket when tho barrister reap
peared. - ~
He was one of thosa men, the hinges Of
whose character, so to speak, have been so
well oiled that they bend but9qleyer break:
He was a complete snasteof his emo
tons, having exercised himself in hiding
his thoughts and feelings from others to
such IN extent TINT dissimulation came to
him rs second nature. In short, he Was
convinced, and perhaps, after Jall, he was
right. that Discrimination is theindispens-
able arInor of An ambitious man. --...-,
Nothing, therefore, in his manner, as he
entered the room, betrayed what had pass
ed between him and bis reputed mother.
His face was calm, his voice steady, and
his whole demeanor as unrufiled as if he
had but Just returned from q common-
place consultation with one of his clients.
"Well," asked Daddy Tabaret, an1iously,
show is shei" =, g.. - .. .l
"Worse" answered Noel-amuch worse!
She is drlirions now, and doesn't know
"uit SIlcTs 10 odSihS.. ouC AOdoe Nie WIN
the most dreadful reproaches. and treats
me as though l were q monster not fttoy
approach her. I'm positive Shea; going
mad!' ..,A ..,...
"Its not to be wondered at!" mnrinured
the old man. "Poor thing-poor thing"
Then he added, II hope you've sent for q.
doctor" !
"Ive just done 80, and expect his ar-
rival each moment"
AS he spoke, he sat down before his
study table, and commenced putting his
letters in order, arranging each according
to its date, and in separate packets, with
out discovering the missing one appro-
priated by Daddy Tn.aret. This done,
he placed them in the secret drawer of
his desk, and, having carefully lockeditr
rose. and began pacing the room. as # by
continual movement he thoughtNto calm
the internal fever that seemed bubbling
in his veins.
AYES, she thought to impose uponEme-.
10 trick me! Al if she could succeed with -
such proofs as I'hold!" pa;h;rg
"She has probably warned TIE Count,
and placed him on hisgaard," said Daddy
Tubarct,. still. pursuing his detective hob
, by. ,sqId y ZoT AZ VI
"Itsryery likely, cbut she can't have
enctebdcd. The 3Coaut is away from
home, and won't return ,i'l tho end OF the
week"
"How do you know thatl'
,0@Bccalre 4 Isished ng seq ny father 70
speak to him!'
"Youl" ~" ',rl = .I''"
-.-.And why -aet4 4-Do. .yon;=tl,ink I'm 60,
ingfogivs up the tight before i has hardly;
commsnccdi 10 YOU think that. robbed,
despoiletl. and betrayed. will not raise
my voice in protest. What d"licacy Of
sentiment should hold Inc backl Why
shouldh't I7spsstklp : 'E'::s''{ 2 Ft 81
"Of coursc!-of course!" assnntad Old
Corkscrew, trying to soothe him down.
ats all right--it's only human nature
no you can't be far out. 30 you called on
the Count, then1" S~ry y
"Yes; after weeks Of firresolution-week
of mental anguish and tortlrc-I drcided
upon seeing my father. Oh, how suf-
fered during that short time! / gave up
work. pretending to my clients that was 8
i'll. In the day took walks OF twenty to-
thirty miles, hoping in this sway to" gain
some rest in the long, weary nj shts; but
in vain! From the time those letters fell
into my hands, l have never slept an
hour Mt time" .... 60. E.. '-. '..
Daddy Tsbaret was getting restless.
From time to time he drew his watch Sc
cretly from his pocket and tidgettel about
in his chair. "Lor'! lori" he. thought;
show these young people do talk7 shall
miss the magistrate; he'll be in bed by
the time get away!" And he suppressed
groan ofimpatience rs. he prepared to
listen for "further particulars" on the
part of his excited friend. :
"At last, one morning." continued Noel,
"after a night Of deep thought and misery,
I made up my mind; son or cab, and
was driven to the Counts house."
The old volunteer detective gave a sigh
of satisfaction and relief. 49,.
At last he was coming to the point.
"When arrived" went on Noel, "a foot
man, in crimson and gold, opened the
door, who, in answer to my demand. in
formed me that the Count Lionel de Val
court was in the country, but that the
Viscount, his son, was ut home. This
rather upset the programme l had laid
down for;myself; but having gone thus
far, l did not feel inclined to recede. /
insisted, in default Of the father upon
seeing the son. After having been passed j.
on to several other servants, l was con:
6ded to the care of n valet, who begged
me to follow him into the presence Of his
master" ~
AT last" murmured Old Corkscrew,
with another sigh of relief, and politely
snppressinga contemplated yawn. 81
ii was now conducted" Noel continued,
"into a small and simply furnished room,
whose only adornment consisted in old
armor and arms Of every kind and sort.
don't think in all my life I've seen such a
variety, Guns, pistols, swords, daggers,
, and foils Of all shapes and qualities were
! scattered about-in short, / should have
thought myself in the arsenal OF afencing
master"