Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-08-11

Instant possession, so that ne VIII 10
near us"
"But what does he say about your
uncle?"
Jessie's glances ran rapidly on to the
conclusion.
aHe says Uncle Barton may be looked
for from one day to another" she then
announced "Hc even adds that uncle
should have been here before now"
The Joy this assurance gave Mrs.
Morcland could have been read on her
features.
"You sec, now, what a glorious uncle
you have got, my dear child, she mur-
INJURED. aNot only is he coming home to
spend the remainder of his days with us
but his kindly heart seeks to relieve us
of the great shadow under which we
were born. He has even a thought for
your future, as is indicated by this refer
ence to Agnus Hilington, his book
keeper, whose photograph he has in
closed. You have not yet given it a
glance"
The photograph in question now came
in for an earnest examination, and such
was the impression it made upon Jessie
that she shrank from expressing it, pre-
ferring to get her mothers opinion be-
fore making known her own.
swell, / don't like it," avowed Mrs.
Moreland, frankly, with an air OF pain
and disappointment, in response to Jes-
sie'B inquiring glance. "How unlike
this dark, mask-like countenancc is to
the sunnv, noble face Of Vance WYE"
vile. What do you think about it?"
at certainly seems to represent
strange type of man," replied Jessie.
"But we must not condemn him lightly,
the more especially as uncle's idea OF
any sort of relation between the man
and me is entirely out of the question.
I'm not at all taken with him. The i'm"
preston the photograph makes on me is
a disagreeable one"
Nodding approvingiy, Mrs. Moreland
pnssed third letter to Jessie, with the
remark,
~This also seems to be from stranger.
What can it be?"
Jessie hastened to break the seal and
glance at the signature.
"Why, it's from Mr.. Hillington him
self,s she ANNOUNCED, with a sudden
change of countenance. ale has ar
rived! He has been to The Elms to find
us gone. He has bad news for US and
will be here by the morning train from
Milwaukee,"
"And nothing about my brother-his
friend and employer" cried Mrs. More
land, as the blood receded from her face.
"Not a word, mamma-not word'"
The couple stared few moments at
each other, with a vague but terrible
sense Of evil.
something is wrongl' then said the
mother, with agonized mien. "Why
should this man come here alone, or even
arrive alone? And why does he speak SO
vaguely9 Why isn't he more explicit?
Why not give us some idea Of his bad
hews' at once?"
II can only suppose" replied Jessie,
turning deathly pale, "that he cannot
trust his ncws to paper-what he has to
reveal is so terrible"
eyes, that's it," cried Mrs. Moreland
"I-I fear the worst. Your uncle must
have died on the homeward voyage"
"Or been murdered for his money,
mamma" faltered Jessie. "Oh, what a
frightful mystery"
AS was only too natural, the couple
broke down completely with the flood OF
fears and anxieties that came surging
over them.
For several minutes they could neither
restrain their grief nor muster their
thoughts coherently, and during this
time the two letters remaining in the
mothers lap were forgotten; but at
length they caught the eye of Jessie,
who seized them with mien like that
with which drowning man clutches at
any object floating near him.
zone of them is evidently from DR..
Robinett," she said, with forced calm
ness, glancing at the addresses, "and the
other appears to be from Mr.. Wyeville.
Perhaps we shall soon know the worst" "
She opened one of the letters, her
hands shaking with anxiety, and read a
few words with rapidly swelling eye.
"Yes, it is from the Doctor" she an
nounced with sigh of intense relief.
"But what strange communications
Listcn."
And she read as follows:
Mrs. Moreland;
DEAR MADAM beg to add few words to
my communication Of this date. A certain
Agnus Hillington, who has been several
years In the employ Of your brother, as con-
Gdential bookkeeper, IS likely to call upon
YOU within a day or two with some very
startling declarations. You will please hear
patiently, with your daughter, all this man
has to say, but you need not believe wsrd
he says, and you had better be as much on
your guard against him as If you knew him
to be knave or madman. To the contrary
of anything the said Hillington may tell
you, Col. Barton Ridley Is in the best OF
health and not far distant, but reserves his
personal advent for the moment when he
shall have fully investigated and turned to
naught an infamous conspiracy Of which he
has been the victim. Begging ycu, there
fore, not to be at all dismayed by the lies OF
this daring criminal, and promising to see
you in person soon, in accordance with your
brothers command Of recent date, remain
faithfully yours, GEO. RoBINETT.
The brief silence that followed the
reading of this letter was as profound as
that of the grave.
"Read that again." then came in q
husky whisper from Mrs. Moreland.
The daughter complied.
"Thank heaven for its mercieS." COM
mented Mrs. Moreland, with sigh Of
relief. 81 comprehend it ALL My broth
er has been in some dreadful peril at the
hands of this Hillington. He may even
have been robbed of his yacht and his
two millions. But he is still alive and
well-and near us. He's working in
secret to unearth an infamous conspira-
cy' and bring daring criminal to JUS
ticc. He is busy in his own way for the
detection and confounding of his enc
mics, but he's safe"
She opened her arms to Jessie, who
threw herself, sobbing, upon her breast,
o,1 for fou minimize fbov min Olo1