Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-10-01
CHAPTER Xxx
TuMBLEDowN FARM Is HEMMED IN.

TUMBLEDowN FARM Is HEMMED IN.
Vanity Hardware, with quick, defiant
pace, was thus leading the way to the farm,
when suspicious thought crossed the de-
tective's mind:
aIf you please, Miss Barnitt"- with en-
phasis on aif'--'I shall thank you not to
hurry SO fast
.What theni'
Vanity turned upon him coolly, ready, it
seemed, for anything.
II don't exactly wish you to come in sight
Of the house Just yet. !" The farm was hidden
by the trees.) .Some friends Of mine are
strolling up here,n the officer continued dry
". II think that until all is ready we had
better not come within range Of the windows.
Somebody might be looking out"
every good" Vanity replied, with un-
shaken calmness. II can wait mere" She
stopped at gate, and, turning her back
upon the party, rested her arm on the upper
bar and looked at the landscape
'sYou see, miss, !" the detective said, stag
gered by her manner, and with more respect
than be had yet shown, ''dooty has to be
done.n
YES Vanity answered, without turning
round, "dooty has to be done" -mimickng
his pronunciation s'and blunders have to be
made Otherwise your profession would be
m idle one.
Meanwhile Willie Snow had been hanging
awkwardly in the rear, not decided whether
10 return to Hampton or stay and see the
affair out. He walked few PAGES down hill,
areading Vanity's l,os il she happened to
turn round, and t.. IL once he encountered
Gracious Me. Willie felt as If some gigantic
toad stood face to face with him; but Gra-
cious Me. who had drawn his own conclusions
about the case, thought this was the time to
jncratiate himself with the husband of his
late employer.
.sShe amt much, sir, ? he said, indicating
Vanity with his thumb "and she never ,Cds
much, sir. Your good lady and mes been
instrumental in finding OF her out, sir.
There he stood, with his swollen face and
yellow eyes and greasy attire, touching his
i cap for reward, and looking such model Of
saambling infany that Willie's face turned
crimson with shame.
J ~ ook hereio Willie cried furiously, ..if
you ever dare to speak to me again -
pl-d'ye hearr'
He left something to the imagination Of
Gracious .e, but at the same time advanced
7 toward him In a dangerous way.
Gracious Me male no reply, for, reading
the wrath in Willie Shows couatenance, he
hastily concluded that his Cims was au hand
and dnap 2cared rounl tas corner with re-
markable rapidity, looking more like a toad
than ever.
Now, for the first time, Willie observed
that q stranger was lettering about with ali
air something like his ownas Of man un-
decided whether to go or stay Tnis was q
\ short parsonage with graz lair, smooth
shaven face, and the manner-so Willie
4 Snow fancied- -of shopllan As this man
eyed Willie cnriously, and seemsd anxious to
speak, Willie. who, above all things, wished
to avoid, vnnity, turned about to the
stranger:
v s'Do you know anything Of this extraor-
binary AFFAIR."
sslfy firm has reason to know good deal, 4
the man answered 1--WE have lest property
4 to the value Of five thousand three hundred
pounds in connection with it.
Five thousand thres hundredI' Willie
echoed, aghast Wha5 a sum Of money, to
be sure. 5
Yet, seeing, too, you might carry it away
RI IN your waistcoat pocket continued the
small man--s1if, that is to say, the waistcoat
was large enough why then, you see, the