Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-01-22

the photograph and took ND the letter
for 8 third perusal. ~I wonder the Col
onel can trust such countenapce as
that so Implicitly I'd as soon trust
hungry dog with my dinnerl"
His comments were interrupted by the
sound Of wheels on the drive near the
house. and he FASTENED to look cautiously
from the nearest window.
"6freat Scottl there's the thug nowl"
he cried, in irrepressible amazement.
@Alone, tool Here's a state of thingsi"
He fastened to steady his nerves with
half pint Of Yquem, with lively ap-
prehension that another touch Of the
tremens was threatened, and then he
took his way to the front door which he
threw wide open just as a carriage from
the station rolled up to the steps.
~This is Mrs. MOreland's, SIR" an
nounced the driver, as he slipped from
his box and opened the door Of the We
hicle- Evidently, sir, you are ex-
pectedi"
There could be no mistake about the
identity OF the passenger, after another
glance at him, as he sprang lightly out
Of the garbage.
He was the original of the photograph
inclOsed in the COlonePs letter from Cal
cutta.
A single instant only Radd hesitated,
assuring himself what was his best line
Of conduct in this emergency, and then
he advanced rapidly to meet the new
conner, extending his hand and forcing a
smile to his features.
Il am sorry, Mr.. Ellington" he said,
shat Mrs. MOreland and her daughter
are not here at the moment to welcome
you in person, but take great pleasure
in receiving you in their stead. I am
Radd Moreland, Mrs. Morelaud's brother
in-law, and Miss Jessie's uncle"
Mr.. Hillington smiled his thanks,
showing a double row of faultless teeth,
as he shook the hand offered him, but did
not speak until he had dismissed the
carriage and Radd had assisted him in
carrying into the wide hall of The Elms
several pieces of baggage, which in
cln6ed couple of handsome Uncovered
trunks.
'fYor surprised me, Mr.. Moreland, by
calling me by name at sight," then said
the newcomer, as Radd closed the door;
sand am curious to know how you were
aware of my Identity"
"Wary as thug, too" thought Radd,
sand also as suspicious"
But he fastened to reply:
"Oh, we have the Colonel's letters, Mr..
Hillington, and we also have your photo
graph, which the Colonel inclosed for
my niece"
"Ah, that's it, returned Hfllington,
with barely perceptible accent of relief,
as he followed Radd to the sitting-room.
"And so the ladies are absent?"
"For few days-yes, sir!"
Hillington looked relieved at the intel
ligence. He even sighed audibly, as if
dismissing some grave preoccupation
caused by the thought or expectation Of
meeting the mother and daughter.
"The Colonel's letter has only just
reached me, added Radd, motioning the
newcomer to a chair, sand consequently
my niece and her mother are not yet ad-
vised of his proposed advent. They have
gone to a summer retreat we have down
the lake, but I can readily reach them
by mail or telegraph, or I can take you
to them"
%All in due time, Mr.. Moreland, re-
turned HillingtOn, with another involun-
tary sigh of relief. "For the moment I
am not sorry that the ladies are absent,
now that you are, sir, to receive me in
their stead, as it will be much easier for
me to make known my bad business to
you than it would be to break the same
to theml"
"Ahl there are bad news, then?" ex-
claimed Radd with a sudden flush Of in
terest and expectancy. 81 suspected as
much, Mr.. Hillington, from the moment
set eyes on you, for the simple reason
that you arrived here alone. The Col
Onel-"
"Yes, the Colonel is in trouble" de-
clared Hillington, in a barely audible
tone, and with wary glances around.
"By the way, Mr.. Moreland, are we
quite alone here?"
"Quite, sir, quite" replied Radd, al
though it cost him something to admit
the fact, so sinister was the impression
the confidential bookkeeper had already
made upon him. "Even the chamber
maid and housekeeper are absent, as
they have preceded the ladies to our
island retreatl"
''Then may come to the facts with
out the least hesitation or circumlocu-
tion," declared HillingtOn, looking re-
lieved at the information impaired to
him. AIN a word, Mr.. MOreland, the
Colonel is deadl"
The announcement not only startled
Radd, but he could not help showing his
agitation as he thought of the far-reach-
ing consequences such fact must neces-
sarily have upon even his own fortunes
and relations.
"And not only dead, but wickedly and
barbarously murdered" added Killing
ton, with on air which might have been
modelled upon that of parrot repeating
a lesson, and which certainly lacked
! every element of sympathy and sorrow.
$50 suddenly and strangely murdered
that we did not even have the satisfac-
ton of securing his body for BURIAL"
1t is doubtful If Radd Moreland, in all
his strange and varying experiences, had
ever received such a shock as was given
! him by these revelations.
He dropped into chair with barely
| life enough to motion the visitor anew to
/ do likewise, and sat staring at his
| "thug" as wildly as he had so recently
| stared at Tippoo and the Bengalese wo-
man and their mysterious master.
! al suppose those terrible outcasts
| of Calcutta are the murderers of the
| Colonel?" he cried, after gasping for
| breath
GWhat outcasts?" returned Agnus
| Hillington quickly, with a glance as