The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-07-27


that tine injured man was neither dead nor
diving, although severely perhaps, fatally
wounded.
- He was carried to his bed-chamber, where
he was attended by DIR. Storms, the family
physician, who excluded from the room
every one except the nurse
Debarred from her fathers bedside, Miss
Svington paced her apartment IN irenzy OF
ear and hor or. What was the meaning OF
TINS strange, unIOoked-for interruption TO
her contemplated marriage? What if it
should now be delayed long enough to give
her enemies q chance to produce the missing
letters? And, in the event Of the death OF
her father, what would she doq Oh, how
maddening were the thoughts of the beanti-
full woman! The bare thought of the miss
ing letters coming to light was now suff-
Gent to drive away every attempt to rest.
She had passed weary, sleepless night, and,
with restless eageFness, had counted every
stroke of the buhl clock upon the mantel
opposite her bed, This addition to her per-
tuTbation came like thunderbolt
So soon as the excitement was somewhat
allayed and quiet was restored, Maud Owing
ton bade her waiting-maid send William
The man entered her presence rather re.
luctantly.
"You told me last night that you had
letter for me, }" said Miss Ovington, in low
tone.
ayes, madam"
''Why, then, have you not brought it to
me?"
because I have lost if, madam"
t'Lost itp' exclaimed Miss OVington.
"Where and howl"
"In my own room, last night. tainted
away from fall, and, when l revived, dis
covered that the letter had been stolen from
me-"
"By whom?"
''I suspect one Of my fellow-servants, but
am not certain that it was he who stole it.
HDid the letter reveal anythingf"
"Very little"
civilian Gorton," said Maud OVingtop,
fixing her large blue eyes upon the man, elf
you wish to become rich serve me and serve
me well, but beware how you betray me!
You should know me well enough to remem-
Der that 1 do not fail to revenge myself upon
those who injure me-"
81 remember everything, madam"
"And You are resolved to serve me?"
az am"
''You will do wisely. I will give you a
thousand dollars for each of those missing
letters, and see that your wages are more
than doubled as soon so am married.
"You are very generous, madam"
The opaohman bowed.
Short as this interview had been, it had
the hall, close to the door. James Dalton
bad overheard every word.
At nine o'clock General CRANKY Dumont
arrived at the Ovington mansion,
After time, curbing her impatience, Miss
.Ovington descended to the drawing-room,
where the General soon joined her.
"How is he, CRANKY? Do tell mep plead
ed Maud; "they will not allow me to see
himp
':He is asleep now" answered CRANKY
Dumont, gently. "You can see him when
he wakes"
''Do they know who the-the coward that
struck the blow is?''
''No; your father does not seem able to
give any definite idea as to who struck him"
"And he cannot identify his assailant2"
''He did not see him-the blow was dealt
from behind his back"
Ma4d's eyes cleaned almost spitefully
for moment, and then changed to milder
expression as they met the Generals.
maud, dearest" said he, 81 sypnpathize
deeply with you in this af1liction. You have
good, kind father, and, if he were taken
from you
t'Do not speak of it, CRANKY" she plead
ed, tearfully, and her lips quivered. ''Do
not, beseech you, anticipate such an event!
I should, indeed, be an orphan then-no
mother, no father, no one" She heSitated
a moment, and then threw herself upon tho
Generals breast, weeping unrestralnedly.
81 shall have no one but you, Granby-no
one but you"
sDare her enemies call her false-a muir
deressP" CRANKY Dumont thought, drawing
her close to him. sAnd I, my darling, will
see that your path is strewn with roses" he
said. '.But cheer up-don't be downcasti
Father is not going to die. The physician
has every hope of his recovery"
Maud Ovington looked up into his face,
the tears glistening on her cheeks.
''But how is the doctor to tell at this stage
of the caseP' she asked.
'Not very easily, it is true; but we must
not worry. We shall be forced to defer our
marriage, dearest, but let us hope not for
any length of time. Meanwhile we can be
happy in each others society and in minis
tering to the wants of your dear father"
Not word did the noble-hearted soldier
mention of that scene in the church, He !
had come to the Ovington residence with a
deathly feeling at his heart that there might |
be some truth in the accusation of that
spirit form, but one look into the tear |
stained, pallid face of his betrothed dispelled |
all doubts. Nor would he add to her sor-
row by telling her of the last effort of her |
enemies.
Plans of the library of Mr.. Ovington were
taken, and the position of every article was
noted by the officers and detectives who un-
dertook to ferret out the mystery of the pre-
vious night. The paper-weight, bloody, and |
with hair from the victims head clinging to
it, was marked and set aside, to be used in
evidence. 1t was clearly the weapon with
which the deed was done. The open win
dow showed how the man or men had es-
scaped.
After the officers had finished their work
on the premises MIR. James Dalton, who had
called to get an umbrella which he had pur-
posely left behind the night before, was al
lowed To autar the lihrarv
Mr.. Dalton looked carelessly about the
room, viewed the stains of blood upon the
rich carpet and glanced over the sides of the
window-frame through which the thief had
escaped. Standing moment by the win
dow, he directed the attention of the detec-
tiveS to q large winter plant which lay on
one side against the fence in the yard below.
''The fellow must have knocked that plant
over in his fight" he said; ''perhaps he
stood on the vase which contains il to facili-
tate his scaling of the fence"
While the attention of the men was taken
up with viewing this unimportant fact, Mr..
James Dalton stopped to brush off some
dirt clinging to the bottom of his trousers
leg, and, unobserved, picked up tiny object,
which he clasped his hand over.
'He is keener" said ono of the men;
she's no botchp
every shrewd, gentlemen" added James
Dalton, unconcernedly; ''but the shrewdest
of them sometimes overstep the mark"
The two detectives nodded acquiescence.
''You are right, sir" said one. Murder
will out"
81 hope so" said Mr.. Dalton, stbut am
inclined to fear you win never see the rascal
behind prison bars" 49ss
Quitting the library, James Dalton, UNI
brella in hand, descended the broad stair
case and crossed the hall to The front of the
house.
As the servant was about to open the door
leading to the street, General CRANKY Du-1
mont tapped him lightly upon the shoulder.
''Mr. Dalton, word with you"
"With pleasure, SIR"
The two men stepped into the drawing
'oom.
"Mr. Dalton, said the General, ''what Ia
your theory of this attack upon our friend
fVA1w n "A -. I