The Irish standard., 1888-04-07
."Certainly / did it," testify. ST have

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Quite unaware of his nephew's bitter
thoughts, Uncle Amos concluded, cheer
fully:
eyes, they seemed quite Impressed, and
though Of course they couldn't feel justified
to put the job wholly in your hands, know
from remark Of the superintendent they'll
be glad to have you at work on it. Your
nephew shall have abundant opportunity
for proving your good opinion Of him, Mr..
Bergman'-those were his very words. 1
shall not be at all surprised if our mystery
is solved through him yet So you see,
Norris, how much depends ON the efforts
you make.n
II do see very clearly, Uncle Amos, and
shouldn't wonder if you were to drive mo
into playing the part OF detective yet"
CHAPTER ~.
4 TElL-TALE SCAR.
Carol Childer was going to ball--her
first ball-so it is not strange that her little
head was almost turned with delight.
Of course sha dressed hours before time,
, and ran down to the square front pallor 10
survey herself in the tall mirror there, with
the chandelier all lighted, and what the
mirror gave back was a slim, girlish shape
robed in glistening. palest pink, the fair
face flushed and glowing with anticipation,
smiles dimpllng, bright eyes dancing, white
arms wreathed above her head as she looked
at herself and murmured half aloud:
III wonder if you will do, Miss Ctilders
| You look pretty well now, but how will it
/! be when you get into room filed with love
| ~ laaies? Can you ever hold your own
with Miss Althea Everleigh, for instance2
All, but am afraid you will look Like pale
| little bud beside that queen rose beauty.
Lyman admires her, know he does. and
that fancy is the reason she has invited
80 she can not be cold and hard-hearted.
as some great beauties are.'
| Flashing around in little dance: Carols
eyes fell on a mans figure in the semi-ct,-
security Of the hall where the gas was
turned low SO as to leave her own illumina-
tion more effective. He was further sEad-
owed by the portiere, and seemed to have
paused in passing to look in upon that lit
tie scene of charming girlsh vanity. Carol
stood still to take breath, and then made c.
reckless dash at him,
sLy,nan, is that yous Did you catch ME
admirlng myselfa Now, don't stop TO
| laugh but hurry, hurry, hurry, ana get
! yourself up in killing style; but first tell me
how look Here, let me hrlbe you with a
dozen kisses to say that Z am one-half as
pretty as Miss Althea Everleign."
| The two impulsive white arms were
around his neck, the fresh arched mo1lth
! was put up almost Il, his. when suddenly,
with % gasp, Carol saw that this was not
her brother. Another second, antl she had
caught her glisteriug robes around her and
fed up the darkened staircase, hot witls
/ shame and grief, hali-laughing and half
crying, while her heart beat like 3 fright
ened birds.
| And the young man in the case simply
turned and let himself out a5 the door
which the servant had left unlocked while
she went in search OF Lyman Childer. He
would not for worlds have staid there to
abash the young creature who had given
, him that mistaken caress; but he was
thrilled by it, lifted up to heaven of bliss
so slight are the conditions necessary to
such heaven for {. lover VINO scarcely yet
! realizes that ne is in love.
/ Gould Carol have known how reyerently
he thought Of her, some OF her own hurt
constituencies must Rave been soothed
away.
II shall always be a friend Of theils," he
thought. s'A true friend, fer her sake. to
her brother.''
Now, to explain how Norris came to be
there, for Norris it was. That interview
with his uncle had had the effect Of sending
him. in Il5e's company, to take another look
at the express Car when The empty train
stood il the sheds between trips. it was
nearly midnight, and The Light OF the brake
mans lantern flashed hither and thithcr
through the gloom. Some freight trains
were being shifted out in the yard, but here,
the empty coaches occupying the tracks
seemed quite deserted.
Norris took the light and crept under the
express car, lseelly examining every inch
Of frame and beam and axle which lay near
the spot where The aperture had been cut
through the floor. Ike took u lively inter
est from his place between the wheels,
where he stood bent nearly double, with his
hands b2aced on mis- knees, while, his pale
blue eyes followed the others movements.
ssDon't reckon you'll find much that got
away from the detectives," he observed.
zone OF then, went so far as to Try a rideo
the truck, but tell you he was sick Of his
job. They've 1nended the floor; you can see
where the boards JONI
Eyes, said Norris, looking at the spot.
lie was recalling tine exact appearance of
the cut as he carried it in his pind-the
keen saw strokes Of skilled hand, and the
piece perfectly fitted in its iolace-and it was
not until his eyes had rested upon it for q.
moment Or TWO, that he was attracted by a.
nail which protruded from the flooring, the
el0 OF which SeSLltu cOEeTel ny a. GiA1ck
red rust.
He put up his finger to touch it, then felt
for his knife, while he called Ike to hold the
lantern.
i SCOT something's" asked the brakeman,
curiously.
SIT looks like & bit Of hair matted with
dried blood. A man, oramped UP under
here, could easily throw up his head and
give it an ugly scrape against that nail. I'll
put this under a microscope and see what
can make Of it,"
He carefully folded the scrapings he had
made in bit Of paper torn from biz note
book, and put the little package into pock-
ct of the same.
AS the two scrambled out of their uncom-
Portable quarters, Norris fancied he heard
footsteps receding, and there seemed to be
movement among the shadows near the
end Of the shed.
"Who is thatz'' he asked, quickly. ssNot
} one of the hands; there is nothing to bring
them here at this time"
'More likely a tramp in search Of nights
lodging" suggested Ike.
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