Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-05-11
A WEIRD MYSTERY
Tracing a Dark Crime.
BY ALEXANDER ROBINSON, NJ. D.
CHAPTER Y.

lunlIN. i lOOk ~ OuJ VI NY pCOhOO'
The inclosure was speedily in my
hands
was surprised at what | found.
Theodore Parker;
/ positively and for the last time refuse
20 grant You the interview you 50 impu-
Comfy demand. The past has not been
Dlotted from my mind. l am inexorable-
the same yesterday, to-day, and to-mOr-
row. Never dare address me again in any
shape. ] lcok upon you as one dead
ABRAHAM SEABURY.
That was all.
The two policemen had seen fit tT
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
tcnce: 81 lock upon you as one dead"
This coupled with the picture turned
with its face to the we'll, gave me an
'dea which, however, could not as yet
iully seize upon.
~, a thought came to me!
Way not see Leonore 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 | desired to learn this
lest she take the alarm and close her
mouth to a ] utterances with respect to
him.
Again I made for the manse set in the
cd park
1t was we'll on to 10 o'clock whom
reached the pace.
Tho policemen still stood It the gate,
and by this time quite crowd had col
lected around the outside.
Crime Of all kinds has fascination for
the morbidly curious, and always
draws" much better than gospel meet
ing.
/ know this as fact, much as de-
precated it.
The officer at the gate regarded my
magic mention of Mr.. Ketcham's name
Just as his comrade had Gone, and
allowed me to pass by without trouble.
An old woman answered the summons.
Her eyes were red with weeping, and
knew this was Ursula.
mentioned that l had been in the
louise before that morning with the gem
Neman who had told her the sad news,
and that l wished to see Miss Leonore.
"Pease give her my card. will wait
in the library" l said.
"Miss Leonore is in there herself
"Ah then never mind the card. / will
entered unannOunced."
I stood for a moment before the partly
opened door of the library.
Looking through l saw a sight that
would not soon leave my mind.
Leonore sat beside the table, upon
which both her elbows rested. Hel
hands clasped her throbbing temples
Upon that beautiful face was an express
sion of misery such as | never hope tC
.ook upon again. 1t was the stony stare
Of one who looks upon cold world fol
the first time, or peering back sees ter
rible something that must haunt her for
ever more.
Such an expression on a face, young
.or old, was indeed terrible.
I knocked upon the door
Leonore stood up and turned her eye;
upon me.
"May come IMP"
She caught her breath
"Ah! it is you, DR.. Burton? Enter.
From her manner it seemed as though
she were relieved to see me.
- did not know whether to take it as
compliment or not to have my company
preferred to ghosts
Without waiting for further invita-
ton, however, went in.
Again | was in the presence Of thu
young girl against whom circumstance;
had arisen to accuse her of hideou'
crime.
Again felt within myself that shC
was Innocent beyond all doubt, and re
solved to prove her so to the satisfaction
of the sold 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 wher
engaged upon duty.
/ had come here with distinct pur'
pose in view. This was to find out, or al
least endcavor to DO so, who Theodore
was, and what connection he bore tC
both Leonore and the dead poison Doc
tor
! meant to approach the subject gen
tly, striving to read what her face nigh
betray while l spoke.
So | began speaking of the novel stu
alton in which she now found herself
and inquired of whom she should seel
protection, now that her guardian wa
dead.
She shook her head sadly.
"AIas! | hardly know what to do
Doctor. ! might get a companion ant
live on here. 1t all depends upon guardy'
will"
Ali I had never thought of the will
It must be i'm the hands OF some law
yer. and very possibly would explain
things to a 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 th'
oDrortunity for which | had waited wa!
now athand.
r. AssumipFa careless manner, l said il
calm tones:
@Can you not4ook to Theodore now?'
had not imagined one-half the resul
that followed my words.
She.turncd upon mo like flash. Int
her eyes there leaped quick CLEAN tha
was instantly followed by a wondering
look.
could see her hands open and shu
in her great emotion.
OF one thing l had already been as
suredrshe knew who Theodore was
Though her lips might refuse to speal
of him, her face had betrayed this Sc
crct. /;
"Ok no, no! A thousand times no! DE-
net mention him, please. l cannot beal
10 heal hisSTame."
ais it, then, so hateful to you?"