The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-05-13
CHAPTER XL
SEEKING AN EXPLANATION.

CHAPTER xI.
SEEKING AN EXPLANATION.
Stunned or very nearly so, Mr.. Marlowe
left the doors of the safe standing open,
and staggered out Of the little passage,
very much as he had done on the preced.
ing night, after closing them on the mo-
tionless form that had disappeared.
How could that marvel have been ef-
fected? Dead or alive, the body of Jasper
| Marlowe must have been taken away by
| some outside agency. If dead, no one
could have been interested in taking him
away; therefore, it stood to reason that he
had been helped TO escape, and restored to
i life, either before or after. But howP 1t
was comparatively easy to recognize that
the mans Inconsistencies had only been
apparent death-that Marlowe mad been
mistaken in regarding himself as muir
derer, but the manner of such escape,
restoration and disappearance, was SIM
DIV not to be accounted for at ell, at least
by the banker, and for the time being.
He alone possessed key to the safe;
he never permitted it to pass out of his
possession, slept with it under his pillow.
and was satisfied that there Was no dupli-
cate.
He arose from the scat into which he
had dropped at his first bewilderment,
and examined all the fastenings of the
room. Windows and doors, with the ex-
oeption of the door by which he had en-
tered, we're as firmly secured as on his In"
yestigatien before going to bed.
for the unaccountable, thought the
banker, again sinking into chair. who
can have duplicate keys to my bunk and
money-vault? That is the question. Noel
has not, that :is certain. Neither has old
Alworth, at least to the vault-there never
was but one key made for that lock. The
servants are not to be thought of, and, as
for Miss Winford, don't believe the
good Woman Yas ever inside Of this rooE
twice in her life. Yet both Jasper's body,
living or dead, and the paper, for which ]
thought had killed him, have been
spirited away; and they venture to assert
that the day for miracles is passed"
He presently came back to a realization
of his untidy appearance, and started to
90 to his room; but just then there was Q
ring atthe door-bell.
| He ran through the Office, and, lifting
one of the front window curtains, peered
cautiously out.
Good! it's only Croak," he muttered.
Il can we'll afford to take him into my
confidence now."
Mr.. Croak, on being admitted, was be-
ginning to ask if the Alworths had got
back from church, when Mr.. Marlowe's
disordered appearance attracted his sharp
little eyes, and he stopped short.
What, Marlowel" said he, after puz-
zled pause; have you taken to your own
gardening, and on Sunday at that?"
NO." said Marlowe. Come into the
Office"
Croak followed him. Then Marlowe
told him Of everything that had happen
ed since his meeting with his cousin Jas.
per, in as few words as possible. He
even showed him the emptiness OF the
vault, as if that could make the mystery
any clearer; and, after closing and lock-
ing the iron doors once more, he likewise
went further back, and told of his remark.
able interview with Boncourt.
Mr.. Croak had habit of concealing
any amount of surprise on occasions; and
now, after listening attentively, instead
of expressing the anticipated amazement,
his grotesque face took On an injured, re-
proachful look.
What, Gilbert!' said he; you had all
this, or most OF 1t, on your mind wien
meeting me at the foot Of the stairs last
night, without con6ding it to me?"
SAre you fool2" returned the banker.
@Deeming myself amurderer, do you sup
pose I would have shared my secret with
another?"
Croak still pretended to think he had
been misused.
Why don't you help me to solve the
internal mystery of it all, if there is any
! solution to it." said the banker, angrily.
Its no good for you to sit there waqging
Your head, like toy mandarin. That
fellow of yours, Wormer, might help us
to an explanation
Possibly" admitted Croak, drawing
| down the corners of his enormous mouth.
But nv reflections have changed. Gill
| bert. feel struck all of heap. I'm
thinking of how near came being asso-
| eiated with a murderer unawares.
"Tush! I'll wager that You were rather
| wishing your hands as clean as mine.
But hark! some one is at the gate. must
not be seen till I've changed my clothes.
| Come up to my room with me-"
He beat q hasty retreat out of the Office
and up stairs, followed by the lawyer.
AS the latter reached the top of the steps
he cast backward glance down to the
street door, which was then being opened;
after which he followed Marlowe into his
room. heaviug doep sigh.
What is the matter with you now?'
said the banker, at once setting about his
toilet without the least ceremony.
1T is the Alworths who are coming in,
was the rueful reply. But for you and
your cursed entanglements I might be
even now basking in that sweet chlid's
smiles"
Smiles, indeed! Cad do you really
believe that she abideS your presence?"
Il own to q certain reluctance-let me
| COLL it coyness-on her part, though the
old gentleman is already my ally" said
Croak. But it will disappear in time.
jasmine Cottage and competence are
glittering bait, to say nothing of my own
| merits. He, he, he!"
Il should say SO, and have already sec
| onded you, according to my agreement.
| of course the old imbecile told you Of my
having discharged him?"
ITO be sure! And helped him to abuse
you SO earnestly as positively to earn an
approving smile from the girl herself"
| $50. But suppose you now engross
yourself with my affairs, which are of in
! tinitely moro moment"
And far less agreeable?"
But what do you think of them?"
| Il haven't hit on any solution yet. We
J will see what Wormer says. How about
! your housekeeper? Have you thought Of
| herr"
miss Winford2 Not for an instant in
this connection. She's ss faithful az
she is humble and staid. Besides. there's
no possible way of spying or eavesdrop-
ming down there. and / vas absolutely