Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-12-16
CHAPTER Y.
The Meeting on the Tower.

1t was on II lovely evening toward
tho end OF July that Emma Penieath
slowly clomb the stairs which brought
hnr out ON the loaded roof OF the old
tower The last time she assembled
them had been on the morning OF
April is, "a date by her never 10 be
forgotten. The door OF Roden Bos.
worth's painting room 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 koden had spent many
happy hours on the roof OF
the tower in DAYS gone
by. Sometimes he would carry
up couple Of camp-stoos and sheet
of drawing paper and give her lesson
in chalks; sometimes he would read
aloud while she worked ofttimes they
were content 10 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 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; tho dusk was
deepening fast She knew what an
uncanny reputation the clock tower
had among the servants at the Croft
and that mono 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 wss
that il he were not already aware of
her presence she might perhaps. be-
able 10 slip down the staircase unseen
in the dusk. Accordingly when the
newcomer emerged on 10 the roof
Emma, with the bulk OF the clock
turret between her and him was in
visible, and when a few moments had
passed without his betraying any
consciousness OF her presence her
courage began TO come back 30 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 tho
turret.
The stranger was standing with his
back toward her. leaning forward
with his folded arms resting on tho
parapet He seemed TO be gazing
straight before him at the Croft
W hich fronted the spot where he was
There was something in
his a,titudo something. it may be in
the ycsc OF his head. which sent a
thrill through Emma But
oven to dream OF such q thing WINS
The close cropped
hair the lowcrowned, soft felt hat
and the long clerical coat were the
and visible signs OF a
stranger. But. although no was 10
all seeming a gentleman. she had no
lesire to be found there by him. Fv-
IDENTITY, IL she wished to get away
unseen. she could not have a better ;
opportunity than the present one. I
Drawing her skirts about her, she
stole round the turret on tiptoe in the
direction OF the stairs but tho sudben 4
passage OF bat within few inches
If her face caused "a tremulous .Oh"
% break from her lips At the ex-
the stranger turned and tho
'wo confronted each othor. Enna's
'yes opened TO their widest extent
md she drew in he breath at a gasp.
she had recognized Roden on the in
tant After ell love is your most
nfallible detective and clever In