The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1884-09-27

CHAPTER Is,
h week more went By, a week Of
comparative quiet The "oiicc room
was kept locked all the tine now, anl
Mr.. Mont ord had lost the key which
he had to it. lhrto had always been
two KEYS. one for hiTsuli and one fr
his private secretary. Eat since The
evening mentioned IN the lat chapter
i was not to he found Mr. Moltlorl
distinctly remembered having let Il in
his drcssng.gown p ckot wien he went
down 10 supper. He had not thought
Of il agiin until some time the nest day,
and then il was not ~ lc found.
"What object could any of us hayo
for TAX ny the key to thai musty Old
place. Victor asked, rs his father ct.
ted and slormcd over it, anl declared.
some one had stolen the missing mtclc
"Sure enough what ob,ccts' De
Nrics responded. in u careless tone,
Just lifting his eyes ~ Stella lilnkcs
face, and dropping them again hastily,
as II the glance had been inyDlm AIRY,
aud he was sorry for il.
1t had the result u fixing every other
pair OF eyes in the room on her, Us he
possibly might have intend H. for he
still watched her irpm under his low
cred lids. and saw ~ dist nelly as the
Others the vivid red lame IN her checks.
"Alfrcd. Miss Mon,iord snd, lourh-
Ing his arm as he was going mt, wat
n moment, | want tn speak with YOU
There wa no one but Fannie left in tho
room beside them. and So Althca began
ut once.
81 want YOU to speak TO papa about
this girl am rs SURE she took that key
rs il Jaw her do It, aud !. for one, do
not feel safe TO have such Il person in
the house
"Why. Allhca." %intcrpo'cd Fannie,
"what have We to fear, Cvcn II She has
taken tho kcy2 We Vr no skeleton
locked IN there that I'm aware Of.
always thought il u piece Of careful
/, folly locking the doors at all. What u
, there among those old family record.
; that il priyalcP'
r ncVrics looked up stcalthily. Thor,
/, was q look on Althcas face Wh.rl
startled him. Was II possible that ii,
knew or suspected ANYTHING? Hu
r Fannie. nj least. did not. She oul,
/ looked family surprised, and pcrhap
/ just a little annoyed.
Miss Fannie lurgcts that MI h..
/, fathers valuable papers arr there. u
Z well rs the old records sh, mentions
he sa.d. politely.
But wha. object could she have II
0 holding the key 10 them Evcn ii IN
/ purloincd them she could not nrgotiat
r them; what uso would they boz" sh
i persisted.
a III YOU wish strin .crs 10 lay IL
I vandal hands on u ancestral relics an
ancient records. do not" Alihca said
firmly; "und You " II lu me q favor u,
; to interposc lour Ridiculous charity /
- the matters Mt all. Mr.. l'eNr'cs.
n think perhaps this would be q goo
time To $ cak 10 rap. | think h
!. mighty faith was shikcn q little hy thu
guilty 10 that dtcl her face | vi
leave Il to YOU = man &c.
+. Thank You for your confidence. b,
Il Is not a pleasant task. whatever m
h own convictions may be rs tn IL a,
visibility. Howe ct, | will du the be.
Is | cam and taking his hat from II
u table he went out, looking q little r.
1t grctful. MS II his tender heart WI
Il. pleading against his storm sense NJ dul
n TO the interests ~ his friends. III
. once outside a sud irn change llashC
Y over his face. a faint. cNuliant smi
ii nickcrcd rhd died ON his lip. anil
he curious yellow CLEAN hamcd eve
ut Mr. Moutfurd was IN his smnkit
or room when the dcor orcncd and i
ht private SECRETARY snuutcrrd careless
rs IN. giving q little start Of surprise
ns inding him there. NJ much. In fact, as
he he hal not watched for hall an hour
- see him 90 in thcrc.
I'm rather cad | have stumble
nj upon YOU, Monttord." he said. tasii
hn ont his cigar ease. There's a iii
10 matter ! thought pcrhapsit was my du
4. 10 mention To YOU. rs the lids faih'
he | don't suppose you have nuticcd i7'
or Noticed whatp | W sh. nuNri,
10 when you talk to me you would cond
sccnd to say what sou mran," he a
he swercd. impaiicntly There Is moth
=. 10 be- made out o. me hy putting ou A
RI aud | don't see why YOU should DO Il