Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-11-20
Icorr FRIGHT sEcuREp.1
The Heir Of the Mills
CHE Atturuey's fee.
ALFRED B. TOZER,
AUTHOR OFF BOUND HAND AND FoOr,"
"Wuo WAS TO BLAME," ETC, Ere.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE FORGED LETvER.

ing to his Office on his way to the hotel,
he saw Ames standing there waiting for
him.
1--WE H. he said, stopping at his side,
"have you anything new5 Have you seen
your wife,
Come up stairs" sail the other, hoarse-
ly."I want ter see YER
Gray led the way into the front Office,
and after closin, tAt. shutters, produced a
light.
Now what is it = he demanded angrily,
for he saw by the mans face that he had
been drinking heavily. Cant you speak =
he continued. shaking him roughly by the
shoulder. II I've you gone mtd ?"
"P'raps | be mad, said Ames, with a
shudder, but I've got sense enough left to
keep ont of this cussed business Tor good.
A man don't want to see such 4 sight as
that but once.
"Such a sight a. whrt?' demanded
Gray What internal visions has your
drunken brain been col .rlns up now p
Il didn't congcr up noihm',' was tho
dogsed reply. 81 seen the mans ghost
what was Killed i'll that room as plain Us |
see you HOW.
And where did you see this wonderful
ghost1" asked the attorney. nervously.
"ln the secret passage. 1t was darker Il
a pocket there, an all ut once l heard
groans, an II light sprung up, an l seen 1t
by that, with Il Dloor!y cut III It's head an
one lu.nl raised Ike 1t gon to strike
out at me.
And you, like coward, ran away.
SUPPOSE
No, didn't" replied Ames, 81 couldn' t
move. l just tu.nbled down all of u
heAp!"
"And gave up the attempt to see the
housckeeper?' asked the attorney, in a
rage.
NO; when come to l went up to the
door cause yer see 1t was nearer out OF the
internal hole that way, an the door MAS
fastened. So couldn't sit into the house
ia ali. y
The attorney spr; ng to his feet and
walked nervously up and down the tioor.
IL didn't think you was such II fool.
Ames,' he finally said. "You went ther.
drunk, suppose, and had Il mt OF the de-
l,rtum treme's in the passage.
But, mister, there amt another chap in
this town AS knows how ter fIsten that door
from the inside
"Ihen, as consequence. the ghost must
have done it, SAID Gray, with forced
laugh. "Now tell me the truth he con-
tinued, wasn't you drunk when you went
there !h
"Not exactly, but had been takin' nip
or two for the good of my health, but that
brtced me up rather
Seeing how confident the man was that
he had really seen something in the pas
sage, Gray began to Consider the matter in
IL serious light. After all, he had no posi-
tive proof that the blow he had dealt Rol-
and was fatal one. There had been no
medical examination OF the body, and its
sudden disappearance, the mystery which
still enveloped that .isappearance, and the
fact that the young mans most intimate
friends appeared the Least curious about
his fate, were points which Grays active
mind WAS not long in summing up. Be-
sides, no one but Roland-or young Gordon,
as Gray still called hiln-knew OF the
cret passage and the means by which
it could be closed from tue interior Of the
house
He could draw but one inference from
these facts.
III you saw anything in that passage
he said, turning exciteGly to his compIn-
Huz h Gordon himself, alive and we'll. and
as full of mischief and the devil generally
as ever
IL never thought of that" said Ames.
you don't tnink of anything" said
Gray, land never will until you let whiskey
alone Ii you had your senses about
YOU Hugh Gordon would never have trou-
blei us again.
Curse him curse him" calculated
Ames poundin. the table eXcltediy with
his cleuched hist, "when | meet him again
it will he the ent Of him.
you might make it au object to meet
him." suggested Gray, cautiously feeling
his way.
Suppose did-what then?" exclaimed
the villain, greedy glitter creeping into
lis eyes.
1T would be worth ten thousand dollars
to you said the attorney coolly.
Ames started.
"Wlll YER stick ter that?' he demanded.
Yes, yes, WAS the hasty reply. why
do ;ou doubt me? Have | ever deceived
your"
Chen his game is up" cried Ames,
excitedly "BL, | must hmveone thousand
now.
81 haven't that much l'oney here" re-
piled the attorney but you need have no
fears .. Eeing cheated in such job as
this"
II knows that" said the other. "but
must have some tin to use.
"To use!' exclaimed Gray. "you haven't
swallowed thousand dollars since morn
ing, have You
Ames then told the story of the robbery
"You are II fool. Ames.' said Gr,y. cool
ly. care you certain that you didn't tell
this choice friend OF yours any thing that he
ought not to know!"
"Yes; dead sure We didn't talk Of
such things WAS the reply. 'I told him
got my cash wha!in,." he added, with
laugh.
THAT is well; b. careful next time.
Here are one hundred dollars. Not q cent
more will you get until the job is complet-
ed l am getting short of cash myself
But where am to find this coveyV
"How can tell that2 You must hnd
him the best you can
at he's in this town he won't last two
days" said Ames, confidently. as he pre-
pared to take his departure.
Remember" almost Kissed his compan-
ion, "follow him like bloodhound. but do
it quietly. Don't rest an hour by night or
day unt'i he is silenced forever. He has
seen tit to set himself against me, and he
should die if ten thousand lives stood be-
tween nim aud my hate"
| After kmes' departure, Gray, instead of
going directly to the hotel produced