Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1881-02-03

ing
will You pardon my asking if !
am right in snpposlng that yo" your
self are the pers'n most deeply con-
cerned In the coutents? asked Hor-
ace.
Yes explained Mrs. lIollins, see
ing that Lucia eyes had filled with
sudden tears; it was an Ordinary Will
without codicil. There We're some
l.eac,,s to servants and friends, and
a beouest of five thousand pounds to
Yourself, Mr.. Trsma,ne The residue
WAS left unreservedly to Lucia. A
perfectly Just and equitable VIII 1t
was, and It's disappearance is quite
lnexpicable to ne, seeing that 'he
onIv person who suffers by it is Lucia.
Nav | look at the cabinet? asked
Horace
oh YES" said Lucia. i will open
I it. The lock is rather peculiar one
40 she spoke he crossed the room TO
he cabinet
1t vas very large one, quite tlJl'ng
NO the recess IN which it stood. Lu-
cia fttel a small. cnrlously shaped
kew into the hole The lock
turned with an odd clicking sound
and the li,l Of the cabinet fell back,
revealing rows Of tiny drawers, pigeon
holes, and queer rrcesses for letters
J, I.ucla drew out a small carved panel
in the centre. Tn nlerne4th WAS \
row Of small ivorv knobs exactly
alike. She pressed one OF these, and
the whole arrangement of drawers
! and pipeon holes gIided 10 one SIDE,
revealing large recess perfectly
empty.
l Horace examined the cabinet mi
nutelv, irving tn secret sprlni the
sIidin. panel, and the lock itself
. looking behinl the drawers and div
iny into the pigeon holes There wa'
2 nothing to be made out Of 1t. Ih'
c surinp worked easily, the lock wa
strong aud good, and the drA"erS am
tigson holes We're a most eup'y,
1T certainly is not there, he sand
j. coming back to the fire i cam"
y understand how any one, not kno"
e ,ng the trek Of the spring, could e.
l. ,rc,.ss tO the secret drawer, and 1h
- complete shsence of motive puzzle
y me |, is absurd to suppose that An
r. ON. would steal the viii from enmi'
u 10 YOU, Miss Dormer, 1t might hav
been taken for the purpose OF eXfor
l2 ;nr money for its restoration, but
hiuk in that case, we would haI
m heard of it beiore now. su2po,
f. the house has been well searched? /
to continued after . few minutes sIienc
Az Every room has been upset, sa
ia Mrs Uollne Not mole or corn
lr but has been thoroughly overhanle'
an and the flooring and vain coating
an this room have been examined. n
'e- the will is certainly nor in the hons
w but how and hv whom it has bet
spirited away is the mystery.
we There was rather long slenc
W. Mr.. Tremaine, in deep thought, gaz
"s straight into the fire. Lucia lea
back in her chair, with somew b
out flushed cheeks aud aa air OF nervo'
sed ness, her restless hands playing WI
is the carved jet beads of her wat
eW chain.
Mr.. Tremaine,' she began timl'
led at last. turning upon him her love
for wisrful ewes, i wished will YOU he
yer kiud--I thought twill you-
RAJ She stopped short, Eesitatl'g a
" ''S' flushing painfully.
WV > Anything can do for YOU N
' Dor,ner said Horace, with gra
kind smile, will he pleasure to
non DO not hesitate to ask wha. you W
Thank yon, returned Lucia gr'
och' fully i wished to ask you It n
ou' Holins and may stay here
weeks longer till we can arrenge I
.ieel 7 mean ill we can tind something
STAY here! interrupted Horace
for don't quite understand you,
how 1t all belongs to yon now
two Lucia timidly. We are here onI.
,inet sutferance.
said Do YOU think, asked Horace
+ face flushing with ioAignation
h a would turn you out? The hons