Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1889-08-22

anu VI wndt snOulu De the nrSt move OH
Doc and me in our scheme of hunting down.
the murderer. The first knotty point thaO
suggested itself was as to whether or nH
Mr.. Jocelyn should be taken unreservediy
into our confidence, as he evidently much
desired to DO.
Miss Lulu was in favor Of II. as was
likewise, for, besides being pretty well
convinced Of the stewards good intentions,
/ could not, in view Of the increased Inn
portance of his relations with the heirs,
zee how he cottld be very well relegated to
q supernumerary consideration in the case.
Doc was in doubt as to the best policy to
be pursued, his old and still strong dislike
of the steward being somewhat counter
acted by the reluctantly acknowledged re.
spect that would be due to him In the fu-
ture by the terms of the will. Miss Digby.
whose good sense and force of character
had been pressed into our service, in spite
of her own hesitation, from the first was
persistently and decidedly opposed to the
slightest participation of Jocelyr in our
plans, being at first entirely unsupported
in her opposition, but afterward, as mat
ter of course, warmly seconded by Doc.
My intuitions and impressions have set
me strongly against him from the first dis
covery of the tragedy said Miss Digby,
the mystery that exists, and he has been
suggestively mixed up with it all along.
Witness his haste in trumping up the false
charge against Doc at the outset. Witness
his tardy withdrawal of the charge when
proved to be founded on absurdity. Wit
ness his willful Eyes, l say willfuD misin-
depreciation of those tell-tale footprints in
the snow. Witness his strange power over
Eunice at the inquest, or his collision with
her, you can't tell which, for there's some
thing about that girls outlandish pretti-
ness, coquetry, and"
And the parrot" hastily interposed Doc
little confusedly. Didn't he fear the
poor birds gift of imitation? AT any rate,
I'd almost swear he pushed Mrs. Miggles
| over when the cage was fattened out.
laugh-the first had ever heard from her,
and how sweet and silvery it was!
And then the manner in which YOU gen.
tlemen encountered Mr.. Jocelyn that even
ing-sound asleep, and with the hunted
man slipping away right under his nose!"
continued Miss Digby, energetically.
What! nothing suspicious in that?"
Very little, if any, after the explana-
| tions he made" l thought, with Miss
Dixon upon my side, and Doc beginning to
go over to the beautiful enemy more and
more, gun and baggage.
And SO we went on disputing, arguing, and
differing with very little definite result for
some time. At last Miss Digby became
suddenly silent and reflective, after which
she arose easily and glided noiselessly to-
ward the closed door that gave entrance
into the hall directly across from the
broad, cheerful fireplace around which we
were sitting.
But, upon reaching the door, she sud-
denly opened it with swift, abrupt move
ment, and at once cried out in sharp,
angry voice: "Ha! eavesdropping, as sus-
pected! What were you doing at this key
hole, Miss Impertinent?"
Miss Impertinent back to you. ma'am!"
holly retorted Eunice, whom we all turned
to perceive revealed just outside the door,
and as though just Strengthened up out Of
a somewhat compromising attitude, to say
the least! II wasn't housekeeping, no
such thing, and never do eavesdrop, and
was just coming to see il the fire needed
mending, when you must snatch me up like
was thief"
2You should have knocked at the door,
Eunice, said Miss Dixon, gently, but still
in unmistakable reproof and dismissal.
When you are wanted here. the bell will
summon you.
But Eunice proved somewhat mutinous,
and remained for an instant. glaring at her
accuser. who returned the glare with cool
disdain. The outward distinctions of lady
and servant were preserved, but there was
at least suggested tacit acknowledgment.
on either side, of the leveling influence Of
rivalry in love.
Doc was confused, and even sheepish,
while Miss Dixon colored deeply and bit
her lip.
III my suspicion wronged you, I regret
it, said Miss Digby, but with contemp-
tuous incisiveness of tone that belied her
words. But nothing now prevents you
returning to your work. or, perhaps, to your
French novel"
There's no more harm in French novels
than in making appointments with strange
men through newspaper advertisements,
should say, was the waiting maids part
ing shaft, as she turned and rushed away:
but, vague as was its direction to the rest
of us, Miss Digby evidently felt the secret
venom of its barb, for she caught her
manner that seemed to indicate ranking
wound.
What can the creature mean?" was her
only gasping response to Docs swift glance
of troubled inquiry, and Miss Dixon also
But at this moment there was timely
interruption from another and unexpected
source.
Pray, do not go into the parlor, Mr..
Jocelyn!" cried the excited voice Of the
housekeeper from the stairway at tho other
extremity Of the hall. ut is evident that
they don't want your advice; have some
pride about you'll"
Shall duty give way to pride. then, Mrs.
Miggles2" exclaimed the voice of Jocelyn,
mingled with other sounds indicative of an
alteration. Il tell you they must and shall
hear me when they learn this intelligence.
If they don't follow up this clew, will,
that is all. Don't stop me! Not another
word! won't listen!"
Then the speaker, Jocelyn himself. con-
siderably excited, came running along the
hall.
He made an apology upon seeing the
drawing room door standing open, aud
seemed naturaIlya little shamefaced at his
rather undignified alteration on the stair
case having been overheard. but at once
hurried in among us. exclaiming:
Il know you will pardon my interruption
when you are informed of its purport. i
have clew to the tramp who slept in the
wash house on the night Of the murder.
Read thislS
CHAPTER M