Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-02-01


each other us they could get.
Detective Simpson could not repress
an exclamation of astonishInent at the
astounding words of the servant, and
yet, it may be said, he was partly pre-
pared for them.
1t was coniirlnatory of the extraordi-
nary theory he had formed days before
when in conversation with Max Manson,
and which he was on the point Of max
ing known to him. When he heard the
football overhead, he suspected it was
the lady that had been reported dead and
buried more than a week before.
"Then Miss Livermore did not die!''
''No, but she came awful near it,"
Martha hastened to say, as though that
fact palliated tho strange deception that
had been used. 81 am afraid, Mr.
What is your name:"
'Mr. Simpson"
II am afraid, Mr.. Simpson, shouldn't
have told you this. DR.. Maidhof will
kill mo if hs finds it out"
"Don't be alarmed, my dear. shall
not tell him, and you can do as you
please about it. But do you know why
she consented to appear as dead per-
son?'
"She couldn't helpit. She was pretty
near dead, so much so that we all be-
lieved it for a long time" s
"Was it given out that she was dead!"
eyes, sir. The doctor had coffin
Sent here on the afternoon train, and
everybody thought Miss Livermore's
dead body was in it-that is, every one
who didn't know it wasn't"
"How was it they got her here without
its being known"
1.-THE doctor brought her in u 4 riage
at night. You know it is not very far"
sBut what was their reason for such
singular course!'
81 am sure I can't tell, but 1t had some
thing to do with that red diamond that
was locked up in the safe, and which has
made nothing but trouble ever since l
can remember"
with DR.. Maidhoff. Can you tell me who
he wasI"
"Wliat kind of n man was he!"
"Quite young and good looking, with
dark hair and mustache. He was well
dressed and rather tall"
"Why, don't you know him? He is
Mr.. Arthur Fairchild, and they do say"
added Martha, dropping her voice to a
confidential whisper, 'that him and Miss
Evelyn will soon be married. guess it
is SO too."
'Well, E,y good girl, am ever SO
much obliged you for your kindness,
and repeat that you shall suffer no
harm through what you have said. Miss
Livermore will doubtless want to know
who it was that called on you and what
my business is. You can say it was the
gentleman who was at the homestead in
Ellenville and inquired of Miss Glider
about the sale of the property"
II will do that since it is true, but
what shall say to Miss Glider if she in
quires of me-oh, there she is nowr'
A light step on the porch was followed
by sharp tinkle of the bell. Detective
Simpson did not want to be caught by
the lady, and it was his purpose to get
away before her return. but it was i'm
possible for him to slip out now, and it
would be embarrassing to explain to her
why it was he was in the parlor talking
to her servant.
But he was man of resources and
rarely lost his self possession.
Don't say anything to her about me-"
he said, rising to his feet. II will step
into the next room and slip out when /
get the chance"
The parlor was of the old fashioned
kind, with sliding doors separating it
from the sitting room beyond. Martha
was so hustered that she could do moth
ing. He stepped softly into the adjoin-
ing apartment, where he hoped to stay
undiscovered until he gained chance
of quietly letting himself out at the
front.
The servant waited until he vanished,
when she hurried through the hall and
opened the door, just as the impatient
young lady gave another pull at the bell.
She admitted not only Miss Glider,
but her escort. Mr.. Arthur Fairchild,
who was laughing and chatting as though
in high good humor.
"Step into the parlor,' said she, "and
wait while run up stairs to see how
auntie is. won't be gone long"
Mind you keep your PROMISE" re.
piled the young man, who entered the
front room and seated himself on the
same chair that was occupied by the
other visitor few minutes before.
=
Simpson heard the light footsteps trip
up stairs, and then came the nurmur Of
voices as tho two ladies engaged in con-
versation, though none of tho words was
distinguishable.
Miss Glider seemed to forget her prom
Use to the young man below, for she was
absent fully 10 minutes, during which
he vented his impatience by hummins
several airs to himself and moving u1-
easily about the room. But he was
pretty good model of a lover, and when
she appeared, radiant and happy, he said
nothing in the way of reproof, but gen
tly inquired:
How is auntie:'
"She couldn't be better. She seems to