Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-07

| to reassure the girl. "Do not be distressed
Miss Carter; place confidence in me- Can
| you not-for your fathers sakeP He needs
| q friend"
The girl fixed her eyes earnestly on West
| colts face. 1t was handsome and sympa-
thetic face. Why was his manner so mys-
terious and perplexing? But his appear
ance pleased her and there was genuine
ring in his voice. She quickly decided:
She put away all suspicion, and answered
him: 'T am listening Pray, do not hesi-
tate to speak"
The young man gave Marian a grateful
glance. IT have come to England" said
| be, after moments pause, ION an affair
| which deeply concerns your father-an affair
| of the utmost Importance. have come to
| do what is in my power to save the old
house of Girdlestone & Go. from
ruin. Much that Mr.. Carter told me had
already reached nv ears-through what
medium, and how strange one, you Will
hardly guess" :
about this old house in Fishers Folly-and
of the quaint figure of Mr.. Girdlestone, who
had lived here so many years-were still
fresh in her memory; even while child,
her mind had been busy puzzling out the
meaning of these mysteries, But she was
more puzzled now; and as these thoughts
came rushing upon her-thoughts which
Westcott's words had recalled-something
of her strange mood seemed to enter into
her expression while she played.
Westcott presently resumed. "You re-
member that Indian servant of Mr.. Girdle-
stone's?" he said. "Well-I have seen him;
and he has told me every secret he knew
about my uncle"
This was, indeed, startling news for
Marian. She looked up at Westcott with
eager eyes and half-parted lips. She even
ceased, in her excitement, to move her
fingers over the keys; and for a mo-
meht there was dead silence. But she
quickly recovered herself, and fell into
PLAYING soft and dreamy music while listen
ing to all that now followed from West
cott
'gThe secrets which this man has told me,
as hope, viii enable me to restore credit to
the house But nothing is sure; and for
this reason hesitate to tell your father.
Can the house be saved? Before Mr.. Car
ter wakes, let us try to settle the question"
"Is it possible?" whispered Marian.
eyes. I sincerely believe so," said West
colt in earnest tone. During the many
wears that this Indian lived here, Miss Car
ter, he kept his eyes wide open. But he
was shrewd enough not to betray any signs
of curiosity. He was discreet and honest.
Indeed, nv uncle, am inclined to think,
could scarcely have chosen a better servant.
But he developed, owing to the circumstances
which surrounded him, into panic-stricken
man. All that he had found out about his
masters affairs, and the strange incident
that followed, struck terror to his heart. He
confded all this to me on his death-bed. 1t
was quite pitiable."
Marian, with wondering look in her
ewes, whispered; "What strange Incident"
'"One which was the cause of this sudden
fight. This is what he told me. Years ago,
when he first became my unele's servant, he
discovered that his master was q hoarder of
gold. With that lantern in his hand, which
you call the Golden Lamp, Mr.. Girdlestone
would walk about the house long after mid
night He naturally supposed that his
servant was asleep in his garrett Bnt the
man was following him like shadow
from floor to floor. 1t became fascination
"a sort of mania. It was like following
some uneasy spirits about these old rooms
and staircases And SO near did he creep
along behind him, with naked feet
and sometimes on his hands, that he could
at any moment have touched his master;
and although Mr.. Girdlestone sometimes
flashed the lantern round him with sus-
picion. the native was too agile in his move
ments to be detected. A particular panel
became known to him-one that led to
secret strong-room. That panel IS IN this
room: it is within few feet, Miss Carter,
of where you are seated.
The startled look came back into Marian's
face. What strange story was this? She
had heard nothing so weird about Fishers