Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-09-24
CHAPTER XIV.

NOTE GF WARNING.
 What had Lyman Chlder in common with those two men? How was it that he should be shaking hands with the thief who was caught in the very act of plundering his house but a few weeks before!
 They wero unanswerable questions. The distrust which Norris had felt once before was back again with a new force. He shrank from tho dark speculations which forced themselves into his mind. What ever motives had brought Childer to such an association with those two frequenters of Mike Maloneys establishment, Norris felt that he was not the one to nry into them. Better, even, that Abraham Stone should continue to evade justice, than that | act of hs should disclose unsuspected depths | that would end in sorrow and humiliation to her toward whom his heart yearned in l that moment with wonderful mingling of pity and tenderness-so young, so bright, so innocent, so joyous. Let Lyman Childer beware of his deeds, that the shadow of his 1 evil should not fall upon her.
 "Sort of wondering what could take our straight-laced young partner into that she bang, eh: What would you give me to tell yous I'd ought to be able to strike good bargain seeing the interest you seem to ] take in him.''
 1 Norris faced about with an irrepressible l l Ingot stood at his elbow, his face well l guarded by cap and collar, his shaggy over coat white with the falling snow, his atti- tude one of easy assurance, as he laid his l hand familiarly upon the others arm. 1 II reckon you've been making mount l ain out of -hill," he added, with an amused laugh. Confess now that you've been suspecting our friend Lyman ot 1 something little short of murder or arson. l Say what would he think If he'd seen you come out of the crib over there! I'm not asking your business, but you see it might have an ugly look.'
 "Have you been watching me, sir9'
 "Ill swear I haven't. Never was moro surprised than when saw you dodge over here and go to peel1ing into our friends business. That's the wayit looks to me whether you like it or not''
 Do you know his business therc?" ques toned Norris, sharply. Ingot gave his houlders significant shrug.
 "Think could make a close guess at it But come, if you're done playing spy lei us move on. The officer that belongs to this beat will be along pretty soon, and get il into his head that there's mischief between ass. It's an easy thing to make mistakes O. that sort if one judges by appearances" l At another time Norris would have TO
 
 ionship, but for once tho latter came as relief to his own troubled thoughts.
 II shall be glad if you can explain Chil der's conduct to me,' he exclaimed, i'm pulsivcly. "1t seems scarcely honorable to try to fathom it in this way, but how cal help having my doubts! Did you sec hin shake hands with those two men? Do yol know that one of them was Abraham Stone want to be Lyman Childer's friend Heaven knows, though am afraid he doe not care mucAsfor my friendship; yet hoy can l help suspecting villainy of som | SOrt?"
 l It was a minute or moro before the othe l answered him.
 "You're right. There is vilfsiny, and it. to get to the bottom of it that Lyman ha knuckled down to going hand-in-glove wit two rascals. You think he ought to tur the fellow Stone over for house-breaking but tell you, there is mighty sight big ger game behind tho scenes than thai 'Tain't for mo 10 say what. Lyman hash took me into his confidence, but he ough to-, for I'll swear that we're both on tn same lay. You ain't so sharp-witted as yo ought to be if you don't get the idea IT driving at. y
 "You mean that, knowing Stone to hay been implicated in tho express robbery, h would rather fix that upon him than tn S~a51s1 H5nst et'me so a1viA him rope to hang hin self, don't you see! And there's the res of the gang to be got at through him."
 ''But I don't see why Childer should b on their track" cried Norris, in preplexit. "His own loss was not an important on' He refused to take any steps when tn matter was fresher than it is now"
 "How do you know he dids May be | l Np1x r,.of,, f0 {N o,.lyy on it's likely he had his reasons for it. l da1 say, now, you can't see why l should | after them, either. Say! did you ever f that bit of scalp into it's right places I fe like that scratch on my head was adl when I see that thing mounted under you microscope."
 Norris was taken perfectly aback. E did not know what to make of the man assurance. Was it possible that he hs been mistaken after all and that Ingot W; only the good-natured, meddling busybod