Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-12-16
CHAPTER Y.
The Meeting on the Tower

NC mSSOiuB Ou buO IOWCTs
1t was on lovely evening toward
the end of July that Emma Penleath
slowly clomb the stairs which brought
her out ON the loaded roof of the old
tower. The last time she assembled
them had been on the morning OF
April rs, date by her never to be
forgotten. Tho door of Roden Bos-
worth's painting on the first
floor and the door OF his bedroom on
the second floor were both locked. as
they had been left by the police after
their perquisition. since which time
no one had set foot inside the rooms.
After the long hot day the air which
played round the roof of the tower
felt deliciously cool and refreshing.
She and Roden had spent many
happy hours on the roof OF
the tower in days gone
by. Sometimes he would carry
up n couple OF camp stools and sheet
of drawing paper and give her lesson
in chalks; sometimes he would read
aloud while she worked; ofttimes they
were content to do nothing but talk.
1t was of him that she was thinking
this evening, not as OF one lost to her
forever. but rather as of one hidden
for little while by a cloud which
would presently lift and vanish
when. to her surprise and. it must be-
confessed. somewhat to her alarm
she heard the sound of footsteps
Someone was climbing the stairs.
Her heart began to beat painfully
Time had passed more quickly than
she had been aware OF; the dusk was
deepening fast She knew what an
uncanny reputation the clock tower
had among the servants at the Croft
aud that none of them would willing
ly go near It after sunset Who.
then could this be whose footsteps
evidently those OF man-were draw
ing nearer stair by stair and what
could be his errand there at that
hour' Ali that she could hope was
that, il he were not already aware OF
her presence she might perhaps. be
able to slip down the staircase unseen
in the dusk. Accordingly, when the
newcomer emerged on to the roof.
Emma. with the bulk of the clock
turret between her and him was in
visible. and when few moments had
passed without his betraying any
consciousness OF her presence heI
courage began to come back TO her.
She felt sure that she heard him sigh.
after which all was so still that she
could have counted her own heart
beats. 1t was very strange. she
thought, and so thinking she ven
tured to peep round one side OF the
turret.
The stranger was standing with hi,
back toward her. leaning forward
with his folded arms resting on tn,
parapet He seemed TO be gazing
straight before him at the Croft
which fronted the spot where he wa.
standing. There was something il
his attitude something 1t may be il
the pose OF his head which sent 1
momentary thrill through Emma Blu
oven to dream OF such a thing wa.
preposterous The close cropped
hair. the low-crowned, soft felt ha
and the long clerical coat were tn,
outward and visible signs OF
stranger. But although he was {,
all seeming a gentleman. she had M
desire 10 be found there by him. Ev
identity. II she wished TO get ava,
unseen. she could not have better
opportunity than the present one
Drawing her skirts about her, sh,
stole round the turret on tiptoe in tn,
direction OF the stairs but Ito sudber
passage Of bat within few inche
OF her face caused tremulous .Ohp
90 break from her lips At the ex
c.amation the stranger turned and tn
Two confronted each other Emma
eyes opened TO their widest extent
and she drew in her breath at gasp
She had recognized Roden on the In
stans. After ell love is your mos
infallible detective and clever In