Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-05-29

ly up the stairs to the entry above. Here
she crouched down upon the floor, the
lamp beside her, and fixed her glitter
ing eyes with almost cat-like intensity
upon the two men below her Upon the
stairs.
Mr.. Marsh could scarcely withdraw
his gaze from her. Could this be the
bright, happy Kitty Marble whom be
had known since her infancy? But a
noise in the office warned him that his
services as a spy were needed. The de-
tective seemed glued to the wall and he
applied his own eye to the gimlet hole
before him. He could hardly suppress
an exclamation of disappointment. 1t
was not Allen Gray who stood at the
mailing table sorting letters, but Major
Wynne. All their contriving had been
in vain-when suddenly his heart leaped
to his throat and ne seemed suffocating.
Major Wynne had actually taken up
letter and deliberately opened the en-
velope, putting it into one pocket and
the contents in another. And this
act was quickly followed by similar
one.
Honest Enoch Marsh had never in all
his lifetime before witnessed transgres-
sion of the law of any magnitude, and to
be thus brought into close proximity with
so heinous crime as downright robbery
deprived him of nearly all his strength.
A cold perspiration broke out upon him
as he drew back and turned his CHASTITY
face toward the quiet, watchful girl only
a few feet away. His eyes glared back
at her bright orbs, which had lost none
of their intensity, but she shook her head
frowned, and once more he peered in up
on the culprit, while the officer never
moved muscle.
Several times he saw the man whom
the community would have trusted with
their lives, abstract money from letters,
of them as he had the first,
and then the detective turned and whis-
pered:
Lets slip out and go around and en-
ter the office and arrest him with the
proofs of his guilt upon him."
Poor Major Wynne-his bland smile
was sadly wanted as the two men burst
in upon him. He made no remonstrance
against being searched, shaking his head
and moaning, MY poor babies, my poor
babies"
1t was the greatest shock Unionville
had ever received, and hundreds came IN
the early morning to see the pitiful, brok-
en-down man in his narrow quarters in
the Jail. His wife sat with pallid face
beside bin, and his three little children
clung to his knees, scarcely realizing their
fathers misfortune, though with a vague,
frightened look in their little faces. a
great deal of sympathy was expressed for
the Major and his children, though the
mother shared it in less measure, for to
her we'll known extravaganza the Majors
downfall was attributed. Toward noon
the detective and local officer, armed
with a search arrant, visited the Ma
jor's house, holding a conference with
Kitty Marble shortly afterward.
That afternoon an out of town friend
brought Allan Gray home, still in ignor-
ance of the developments of the night
before. He looked so pale and feeble
that his mother feared to break the news
to him, and she looked relieved when
Kitty Marble came lightly up the steps
and greeted Allan. warmly. Her eyes
sparkled and her CHEEKS glowed as she
said:
"Oh, Allan the mystery is solved and
you are free from all suspicion. Major
Wynne was the thief"
His eyes frightened at once. Her
cheerfulness was contagious. But the
money and the stamps he faltered, 81
was sure l put them in the safe." AND
his sudden cheerfulness seemed fading
away.
"And so you did," she cried impulsive'
ly, clasping his thin hand, "and tha
horrid Major Wynne stole them out, anc
then lied about it. They found the books
and part of the stamps hidden in the
house this forenoon" and she went or
rather incoherently to tell him of her par
in the plot in capturing the thief, Mrs
Gray leaving the room.
When Kitty had finished she was al
| of tremble, for strange look had come
over the pinched face before her. Altar
Gray rose to his feet, as one gifted will
sudden strength, and looked manfull.
into the black eyes, which suddenl!
dropped. ;.
kitty" he demanded, "why die
you take such an active part in this mat
ter "
Their eyes met. The black eyes anC
the blue eyes asked and answered ques
tons with lightning-like rapidity:
/ ~