The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1885-08-19
.andwleno. and coId appIo pIe uneeas:

nervous; he had tallCn into fre luent
gloomy reveries; bis face had indicated
the most acute mental suffering; and his
strange conduct had east a gloom over
the party.
He had driven homo at frenEied speed,
his face grown positively haggard.
They found the house In an uproar.
Mr. Dawson was pacing tho front
walk and looking agitated; Mrs. Kirby,
with an ious face, stood on tho porch;
and MrS Wilson rushed to tho gate With
her apron to her eyes.
II don't know nothing what's become
Of your pa, Polly" she gasped; he
haint ben around all the afternoon!
I'm nigh craryw
I've have searched everywhere, said
Mr. Dawson. ut is a strange dlSap.
pearance."
NotOdy noticed, In the excitement
that Dayo had, with a rather ghastly
smile, leaped from the buggy, and was
fastening towards tho back yard.
There ain / but ono thing could a
happened TO him" sObbed Mn. Wilson;
''hb ben Naylaid and murdered, Polly
my goodness"
Her eyes had fixed upon Dawes ad.
vanCing form-Daye, with Mr.. Wilson's
arm graspcd in one strong land.
"He was in the corn.hOuSe,n said the
young man, rather family. 81 must a
locked him in there myself, not mot
knowing" Aud he led Billy to tho
barn.
With a slow smile, Mr.. Wilson looked
around at the group. Then he repeated
the operation, bestOwing particular at.
tentiOn upon the boarders. His smile
broadened into q grin, and ended in u
ChugEle.
Mr.. Dawson looked alarmed.
lie has not lost his reasonP he sug
gested, audibly.
Mr.. Wilson regarded tho speaker for
several moments, with amusing interest.
Then he took OIL his hat and wiped his
forehead.
! IN powerful hungry" he observed.
There were occasions, during tho fol.
lowing week, when Mr.. DawSon's sus.
piCion seemed likely to provo correct.
For Mr.. Wilson once the calmost of per.
sons had suddenly develop a startling
fund Of ecccntricites. They appeared,
oddly enough, to be in some way di.
reCtly connected with the boarders. The
sight Of Mr.. CrotTut assisting Folly with
the Churning seemed 10 strike him as
exquisitelr humorous; Mr.. Dawson sort.
ing his dried grasses, or Mrs. Kirby
quietly crocheting, produced strange
spasms Of merriment even Miss Kirby
and Dave, in pleasant conversation on
the pRrlar sofa, called fortha series Of
explosive chuCkles.
1t was not to he supposed that such
conduct could pass unnoticed. Nobody
was in the least surprised when Mrs
Kirby, having endured Mr.. Wilson 5
poculiaritiCs with polite patience for q
week, signilied her intention, at break.
fast one morning, Of returning to the
city tho next day; nor whom Mr.. Daw
son, with a gentle cough, observed that
he had been contemplating the same
course; nor when Mr.. Croifut, with a
tendCrly rogrCtful glance at Polly, said
1t was really time ho was back in his
studiO-the sole effect OF all which upon
Mr. Wilson was to send him oil into an
uncomfortable fit Of laughter.
u don't know what to think Of your
pN, said poor Mrs. Wilson, wiping her
eyes over tho dishpan, an hour later.
ITS all his doing; they wOuldnt a
thought of going 50 soon il he hadn I
acted so crazy.liko, And to think Of
the wa hO took it-latTed! do believe
he Is losing his senses"
Polly was sOberly silent. Everything
seemed hopeless muddle
I'D got It all reekoned up." Mrs.
Wilson went on, tearfully III they d
a Staid tAree weeks longer, I'd "a had
enough to get new carpet and rock.
ing chair, andnew paper for the sitting.
room. "
There was a sound Of hurried foot.
steps and strange VoicespEocOOdiug from
the parloE
whats thatf" said Mrs. Wilson,
sharply; ut don't seem as though
could stand much more"
She wiped her hands YEARLY, and
FASTENED inside, followed by Polly.
The scene which tho open parlor door
framed was altogether the most remark
able they had ever beheld Mr..
Dawson, with heated face and with tho
signs of recent struggle in his ripped
coat sleeves and disarranged collar,
with hlN hands fastened Lehind him in
iron bands, stood glaring before them,
Mr., Croflut, rather more conn osod -
meeting PollyS gaze, in fact with sar.
CastiCally alGctonate smilC-but with
his hands in the same position from a
like cause, lOunged against the mantel.
Mrs, Kirby, with white lips and bla ing
eyes, was pouring forth strange, wild
threats and lamentations Miss Kirby
was Weeping Historically on the sofa.
Two men in citizens dress, but with
neat little badges on their at.lronts,
faced the four stsrnly. Mr.. Wilson,
Cheerfully composed, and Dave, with
staring eyes and parted lips, was look
ing on.
"WhRt is IT." cried Polly. in voice
faint with horror, while Mrs. Wilson
elung to the door.
They're shOplifters and thieves,
miss, one Of the officers responded
cycling bis prisoners wrathiully, and ar
resting Mrs, kirby's shrill harranguC
with wave Of his hand. "iyer heal
Of the Shelley LribO-a young couple
and an old ono, always %orkihg 10
getherl These arc em-an old gang.
Mr.. Wilson smiled broadly.
PA" cried Polly, fixing her eye
upon him severely, as a sudden, start
ling suspicion entered hor mind, 'yol
knew III"
"Jcst since t'othCr day, Polly" sail
Mr. Wilson, in a voice shaken by sup.
pressed mirth. "iou don't happen to
remember locking me up in that there
house, do you, IayO"
Dave grew somewhat rodder.
"Wal, Mt. Wilson proceeded, steady.
ing his voice with dil.Culty, there
was, kicked and | pounded and
hollOrCd but nobody come. Wal, c8t
as got to feeling pretty blue, and con.
siderable mad, ! heard some BODY talk.
Ing, and | pOeped through crack and
saw them lie indicated the elder
couple. "llO la some clover and stuff
ho d ben a,picking, aud she had her
crOchuting.'