Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-06-07
CONTINUED FROM MoNpAYN

When [ had found my way into the
bedroom, and had struck light, l
formed a resolution to act promptly as
soon as morning dawned. drew back
the curtain from the window, and
looked out into the night.
| had thrown myself upon the bed
and soon began to dream that some one
was knocking at the door-a knocking
which seemed to continue for hours,
when suddenly l opened my eyes and
found myself in broad daylight.
AS the knocking still went on, sprang
up and exclaimed: who's there p
"Only me, sir"
1t was the voice of my laundress, Mrs.
Billings.
why, what's the timer"
Struck three, sir, if you'll believe
me"
1 opened the door and glanced
quickly toward the sofa.
Scroggie had vanished !
Where is Mr.. Scroggie?' ~ said I.
Gone, sir, hours ago." said Mrs.
Billings. Says he, sir, Don't disturb
Mr.. Field Them was his words
Says he, sir, Mr.. Field amt WELL And,
says he"
"What time did he go?"
"Mr. Scroggiet" said my laundress,
meditatively. When | comes into the
rooms, sir, he jumps up, and goes out
If you'll believe me-"
DO you know if Mr.. Bowser is in p
Mrs Billings gave me smile through
| the black patches on her red face and
| said
"Lor', sir, Mr.. Bowsor went out
early, too.
now remembered my engagement
to take tea with Miss Pilkington and
Alice Darrell; and it occurred to me as
not improbable that Frank Bowser had
already gone to Guilford street, where
they lived 1t was nearly four o'clock,
SO hastened to make my toilet.
AS l drove to Miss Pilkington's, med.
itating over Bowsers scheme to awaken
guilty conscience with the clink of
gold thought which had hitherto
only taken shadowy form in my mind
now took a shape. became convinced
that Bowser suspected Scroggie and
Scroggie was the man he was hunting
| down.
When his suspicious had been first
evoked it was impossible for me to de-
termine. The men had met frequently
for year or more at my chambers,
and yet it was only within the last few
weeks that Bowser had invented the
plan of clinking his gold; he had never
told me that the scheme had been sug-
gested by Scroggie's remarks or man
ner, and yet this now seemed to be the
only possible explanation. But what
seemed most certain was that he had
been Intentionally concealing these
suspicious from me.
| The necessity for seeing Bowser con-
cerning this strange affair appeared
every moment more urgent. Yet, as
the cab drew up at Miss Pilkington's
door, l felt unnerved and disinclined to
meet him. His conduct required some
explanation. He had not 1 thought,
behaved to me like friend.
Miss Pilzington's house in Guilfo1d
street had an old-fashioned appearance
of comfort which was exceedingly in
viting, Passing through the snug
entrance-hall, where strong inner
door seemed to be holding all
draughts at defiance, and up "A softly
carpeted staircase, was shown into a
room in which the air was as warm
and pleasant as a well-ventilated con-
servatory. and here found Miss Pix
ington, sitting in an armchair, near
the fire, wrapped up as if she were
some rare exotic.
Alice Darrell came forward to welcome
me in that unaffected manner in which
she received all Frank Bowser's friends.
And where is Mr.. BowserP" said
Miss Pilkington.