The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-02-08
CHAPTER XII.
1NrRoDuC1No rnEsII rAcEs.

Webber's first visit was to Scotland
Yard, where he had an interview with
his uperintendent, and afforded all the
information he could give concerning
the escaped convict, Langley.
This done, and saying as little as pos
sible about the Taggart's Inn mystery,
he returned to the Westminster. -
However, he had asked himself whether
he should or should not abandon pro-
ceedings against Mr. Sivory, urging
upon himself that either the man was
too clever to be caught, or that he must
be innocent.
Restrained by self-love, or by senti-
ment of an opposite character, he could
not make up his mind to sever the
relations between himself and Margaret,
and finally he determined to play the
part of the Anglo Roman gentleman for
yet a short time longer. But he became
in few hours only the shadow of the
parsonage he had so well played. His
toilet, which had hitherto been careful,
was now equally careless. When the
hotel servants called him Mr.. Vail, he
would start as though amazed at the
action.
Now and again, the servants would
hear him walking up and down his
room. And if they had listened, they
would at intervals, have heard such
utterances as these: Fool fool why
did you ever leave your peaceful old
garret? Why did you want to try
fashionable life ? See what it has come
to-mark what you have become You
encouraged your heart to beat, and it
took advantage of the permission, and it
does beat Yes, it beats, and beats, and
may be it will beat and break"
Then he would hurriedly leave the
hotel; or, if he happened to be out when
this strange fit was upon him, he would
walk quickly in the direction of Bird
cage Walk.
But he never knocked at the door of
the house where Margaret still kept the
apartments, although the intention with
which they were taken apparently had
ceased to exist.
Reaching the house, he would stop;
and once more he would begin thinking
aloud.
"Why see her? What shall 1 learn
if 1 pass the thresholdp That HE is
near her. l know It'll know only too
well. What can / do9 1 must wait
now-wait in silence, without showing
myself, and not disturb them. This
this is the one means left me of worm
ing out the truth-to wait this is the
plank which saves me from death-a
thin, rotten plank; and L tremble as L
walk on it,"
Upon ope especial day, however, he
did not hesitate. He opened the garden
gate with his private key, unlatched the
door leading to the house, crept up
stairs, slid noiselessly by the landing
window into the conservatory; then,
STOPPING and crawling forward amongst
the plants, he could see into the back
drawing-room, in which he knew she
always sat.
An hour afterwards he crept away as
he came, and no one in the house was
the wiser for his visit.
What did he hear and see Nothing,
assuredly, which pleased him, for, after
this visit he was much broken and
depressed, as they noted at the police
station, where he presented himself
about two hours after he had SUNK from
the house.
Hullo, Webber l'' said an officer, as
he came in; ''you're just the very man
we were wanting. Our people hav,
heard something about that chap Lang
ley. Go in; the governor is talking