The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-01-18
WEIRD MYSTERY
Tracing a Dark Crime.
BY ALEXANDER ROBINSON, M. D.
CHAPTER X.

line lQClOSure was SpceuIy III AJ
hands.
was surpassed at what I found.
Theodore Parker:
positively and for the last time refuse
20 grant you the interview you 80 impu-
IDENTITY demand. The past has not been
blotted from my mind. / am inexorable-
the same yesterday, to-day, and to-mor-
row. Never dare address me again In any
shape. look upon you as one dead.
ABRAHAM SEABURY.
That was all.
The two policemen had seen fit to
weave a romance about this young man,
believing that he was in love with Leo
more and disliked By the old Doctor.
In all but one particular the letter bore
out this view of the case.
This exception was in the lest SEN
tence: II look upon you as one dead"
This, coupled with the picture turned
with its face to the wall, gave me an
idea which, however, could not as yet
fully seize upon.
All, thought came to me!
Why not see Leopore again? She
might be able to tell me who Theodore
was, and even where he was to be found.
OF course would not breathe whis.
per Of the reason I desired to learn this
lest she take the alarm and close hel
mouth to all utterances with respect to
him.
Again made for the manse set in the
old park.
It was well on to 10 o'clock when
reached the place.
The policemen still stood at the gate,
and by this time quite crowd had COL
lected around the outside.
Crime of all kinds has fascination Tor
the morbidly curious, and always
sdraws" much better than gospel meet
ing.
knew this as fact, much as de.
precated it.
The officer at the gate regarded my
magic mention Of Mr.. ketcham's name
Just rs his comrade had done, and
allowed me to pass by without trouble.
An old woman answered the summons.
Her eyes were red with weeping, and
I knew this was Ursula
mentioned that I had been in the
house before that morning with the gen.
tleman who had told her the sad news,
and that I wished to see Miss Leonore.
~PIease give her my card. ! will wait
I'm the library" said.
.Miss Leonore Is in there herself. /"
~Ah! then never mind the card. will
entered unannounced."
stood for q moment before the partly
opened door Of the library.
Looking through saw sight that
would not soon leave my mind.
Leonore sat beside the table, upon
which both her elbows. rested. Her
hands clasped her throbbing temples.
Upon that beautiful face was an express
SION Of misery such as never hope to
look upon again. It was the stony stare
OF one who looks upon cold world for
the first time, or peering back sees ter
sible something that must haunt her for
ever more.
Such an expression on o face, young
or old, was indeed terrible.
! knocked upon the door.
Leonore stood up and turned her eyes
upon me.
MAY I come IMP"
She caught her breath.
~Ah! it is you, DR.. Burton? Enter"
From her manner 1t seemed as though
she were relieved to see me.
! did not know whether to take 1t as q
compliment or not to have my company
preferred to ghosts.
Without waiting for further invita-
ton, however, I went in.
Again I was in the presence OF the
young girl against whom circumstances
had arisen to accuse her Of q hideous
crime.
Again I felt within myself that she
vas innocent beyond all doubt, and re-
lo- % @ha fscfo
of the old detective who seemed deter
mined upon running down his quarry re-
gardless Of sex or condition.
To him justice was above all.
He could even fail to be human when
engaged upon duty.
I had come here with q distinct pur-
pose In view. This was to find out, Or at
least endeavor to do so, who Theodore
was, and what connection he bore to
both Leonore and the dead poison Doc
tor.
I meant to approach the subject gen.
tly, striving to read what her face might
betray while I spoke.
So began speaking Of the novel situ-
alton in which she now found herself,
and inquired Of whom she should seek
protection, now that her guardian was
dead.
She shook her head sadly.
"Alas! l hardly know what to do,
Doctor. might get q companion and
live on here. 1t all depends upon guardy's
will"
All! I had never thought of the will.
It must be in the hands of some law
yer, and very possibly would explain
things to o considerable extent.
made up my mind to appeal to Mr..
Ketcham about it at the first opportu-
nifty.
He would know what to do.
In the meantime, ! realized that the
opportunity for which I had waited was
now at hand.
Assuming careless manner, said in
calm tones:
"Can you not look to Theodore now?"
had not imagined one-half the result
that followed my words.
She turned upon me like flash. Into
tcr eyes there leaped Quick CLEAN that
was Instantly followed BY wondering
look.
could SEQ her hands open and shut
in her great emotion.
OF one thing I. had already been as
sured-she knew who Theodore was.
Though her lips might refuse to speak
of him, her face had betrayed this So
cret.
~Oh, no, no! A THOUSAND times no! Dc
not mention him, please. l cannot bear
10 hear his name!"
ais it,. then, so hateful to you?"
SThe connection it bears with the past
Is far from pleasant to me. Besides, ne,
my guardian, would be displeased II