The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-06-18
CHAPTER XI.
MISS MAXEY TRIES.


Miss MaXey went out Of the house in
Ballavoinc place with no definite pur-
pose in view, She was disappointed,
vcXed, even offended by what she consid-
cred Annetto's misplaced sentiment and
MaZey's want of firmness, but she was
entirely unable to seewhat she could do
to remedy the mischief. She had waited
for Mr.. Dyes coming from the day she
knew Of MaXey's visit to Flood street
with dcspairing impaticnce, and she
had heard from the lips of Annette of his
arrival in the house with an excitement
which rendered her own absence from
the interview with him an almost un-
boarablo hardship. Now at last she felt
the long delayed time had come when
something Of the mystery Of the cruel
affair on the sea road was to bc cleared
away.
Miss MaXey longcd to see the light of
day poured in upon this dark deed. 1t
was longing not born of curiosity
alone. All the sympathios of her broad
and generous nature had been enlisted
in the cause Of tho poor girl whom she
had rescued from namelcSs grave Her
outraged sense Of justice made her aglow
with desire to know that the guilty
had suffered for the wrong inflicted on
helpless girl. The thought that the
porpotrator Of this dastardly crime was
left free to 90 about, unchallenged and
unmaskcd, among his fellow creatures
was at times almost maddening to her.
And to think that after all that had
happened on the very verge, it seemed
to her, Of the most important discov-
erics, the man who undoubtedly held the
key Of the whole matter; the man, in
all probability, who was himself the
criminal for whom they sought, was, in
order to satisfy the scruples of a too SEN
sitive girl, to be allowed to put himself
ont Of their reach forever. This dis
tresscd her almost beyond endurance.
And in spite Of all this she had come
without word of remonstrance or re-
proach. mpulsivc Miss Maxey undoubt-
edly was, but she was quite capable Of
putting bride upon her tongue in u
moment Of anger for the very reason
that she distruSted her own power Of
self control. Not for the world would
she have uttered a syllable that could by
any possibility wound the sensitive spirit
Of Annette, and she did not dare tru
herself to enter into an argument with
her brother in her presence. So she had
como out into the freor atmosphere of
tho street.
1t was cold gloomy afternoon in
January. The sky was dark and threat
cncd snow. Miss Maxey was well wrap
ped up and rather enjoyed the crisp at
mosphere. 1t was certainly an antidote
for the fever within her.
She walked down the few PAGES which
were necessary to take her to the high
picketed fence that separated the street
from the river. For a moment she
looked out over the waste of whitened
Ice, and in that moment an idea came
to her-out Of so little do great things
sometimes arise. If Miss Maxey had
gono her customary way up the street
into the main avenue, she would doubt
less have wandered about tho neigh
borhoOd till she had got the better Of
her emotions and have returned home.
resigned to the inevitable, and so the
part that she was to play in the unravel-
ing Of the sea road mystery would never
have been. But at the moment when she
looked out between the pickcts the idea
came to her that she might, by Iemain-
Ing where she was, get better view Of
;ho somber Mr.. Dye than she had been
lble to obtain in the house through o
1alf opened door. 1t was only this and
40 more All that followed came grad
lally and step by step
Her brother had expressed his inten-
dm Of dismissing Mr. Dye at once. The.
mysterious visitor ought by this time to
DC coming down the stairs and out into
iho street. She drew her veil over her
TACO and turned toward the door. AL
most at the same instant the woebegone
lat the shiny coat and all that apper-
hinod thereto emerged into the open air.
Mr.. Dye did not look about him. His
head did not seem to be capable of hold
ng itself erect His eyes were fixed on
ihe ground. He plunged his hands deep
nto his coat pockets and set out with
low and not exactly steady step toward
iho avenue. Almost involuntarily, GER
ainly Misunderstanding upon what she