Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1889-09-19
CHAPTER XVI
DEVELOPMENTS


II mean Eunice, and no one else nsaid T
| Task you again, who would be SO much in
terested as she in blackening the reputation
OF MISS Dlgby, especially in your eyes?"
True, true!" muttered Doc, deeply af.
fected. "Poor Marion! how we have
wronged her"
Her Ignorant enemy, tho girl Eunice
herself, may have also been more sinned
against than sinful, at least In the begin
ming, said /, sternly. Doc, that beauti-
full, self-willed and ill-goyerned creature
loves you to madness. 1t is painfully ap-
parent. believe she would hesitate at nc
'sacrlhce; perhaps at no crime, to gain your
own undivided love in return"
The young man turned away his head,
and made no answer.
want you to assure me once more" ]
continued, earnestly, to assure me. on
your word OF honor, that you have never
deceived her with false hopes or promises. Z"
by Heaven, swear that / have not.
Plercer!" exclaimed Doc, Selling my hand
with flankness whose genuineness there
was no doubling. "Of course as bow and
girl together We were intimate in the ex
IRENE, but, i'll spite of her beauty, there
was ever strangeness about her that re-
PEELED me, and always rather feared than
liked her, Do you fancy me such a cox
comb as to rejoice at this passionate, cring
ing attachment for me which you say is SO
painfully apparent? Believe me, it an.
noys. distresses. and even alarms me. ]
can only love one being in the world
Marion Digby-and love her TO idoliza-
toni"
Your words are both a pleasure and
relief to me, Doc said I. you love wor-
thl'y, and am sure you will be worthily
loved in return"
This conversation was the only interrup-
ton in my narrative, which was thereafter
continued to its close without being fur
Their commented upon by my listener. who
nevertheless drank in every word with
breathless interest.
What conclusions do you draw from it
all?" he exclaimed. when I had finished.
Several, / replied; "and they are these:
First, the tramp and De Marchmont are no
longer to be thoughtof as the same person.
Ho nodded.
Second, Mr.. Jocelyn is no longer to be
taken into our confidence"
BY no means! 1t is evident that he has
been treacherous, Or at least insincere, from
the beginning"
Third, we must not let him know that
we suspect him."
Another nod.
My immediate plans are these" I con-
unued. Tomorrow you and / will meet
my friend Dresser at the Stock Exchange,
.'ad look out for developments. The mys-
terlous tramp will keep till some other
time, since it is morally certain that he is
not the chief game we are running down.
We shall also have to relegate the affair of
MISS Lulu's disappearance to few DAYS
hence, when it may be explained by some
communication from her.
Another sign Of assent
In the meantime, resumed, IF it is
not TOO late at night, do you return to your
room, when l shall rouse the house bv
regular summons at the front door. de-.
manding to see both you and Jocelyn al
once on important business. Do Won think
he Is still in the library?"
am sure of it, said Doc. an fact. il
seems to be wakeful night at The AS
pens. l saw light under Miss Dieby's
door, as though she were sitting up. read
ing or sewing. Poor Marion! When shall
we right the wrongs we have done herr"
Sooner than she expects, perhaps. said
l. Did you chance to hear any one re-en-
tering the house rather stealthily a little
arter le time was assaulted in the sunk
en- iots-say three-qnarteis of an hour apo?"
les, by Heaven! now remember that
did, exclaimed Doc. There was an
opening and shutting Of lower doors. fol-
lowea py Footsteps on the servants stair.
winch thought nothing of at the time
Could II have been" '''''o'
Let the next half-hou revelations de-
lermine, interrupted, $50 back to
FOUR room now, as advised. "
Doc at once re- entered the house. With.
'ut being perceived, just MS / arranged.
Ten minutes laler, after first assu,.;no
nyself that there was still light in the
lp5aiy window, as well as in Miss Digl,y's
"a N garrett window that suppo sed |
s'onged 10 Eunice Behman's room, / rang |