The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-12-24
PRICE FIVE CENTS

sonal t. himself. He recalled the singular
Significance of her questions. Then it is
war! He recalled her strange aliusion to
his wife; was it merely the outcome of her
own foolish confession on their first inter
NleW' or was il concealed ironical tauEt?
HavirS satisfied himself That she was not
hKely 10 imperil his public duty in any
way. he was angry with himself for spec
ulatinS further. But although he still felt
toward her the same antagonism she had
at first provoked. ne was conscious thai
she was beginning to exercise a strange
fascination on him.
DismissinS her at last with an effort he
finished his work ana then rose and IN
locking a closet took out small dispafch
box TO which he intended TO intrlIst a few
more important orders and memoranda
As he opened it with a key on his watch
chain he was struck with d faint perfume
that seemed to come from it-a perfume
that he remembered. Was il the smell Of
the flower that Miss Faulkner carried-or
the scent Of the handkerchief with which
she had wiped his checker a mingling %
both! or he under some diahoIicaI
spell Of that wretchod gIri-aud her witch
Ike flower? He leaned on the box ana sud
denly started. Upon the outer covering
or a dispatch was a singular blood-red
streak. lie examined it closely; it was the
powdery stain of the lily pollen, exactly
as he had seen it on her handkerchief.
There could be TO mistake. He passed
his finger over the Stain-hc could still feel
the slippery, iE,palpable powder of the
pollen. Ii was not there when he had
closed The box that morning. Il was i'm
possible that it should be there unless the
box had been opened in his absence. tie
re-examined the contents of the box. The
papers were ali there. More than that
they were papers Of no Importance except
to him personally; contained no plans nor
key to any military secret He had been
far too wise TO intTust any to the accidents
of this alien house. The prving intruder
whoever il was. had gained nothingl But
there was Enthusiastically the attempt, Ana
the existence OF a v.ould-oe spy withir- the
purlieus r the mouse was equally clear
lie called an Officer from the next room
Has any one been here since my alb
sence?'
No. general"
Has any one passed through the han?''
lie had fully anticipated me answer, as
the subaltern replied: Only the woman
servants"
lie re-entered mis- room. Closing the door,
ne again carefully examined the box. his
table. the papers upon it, the chair be-
fore it, ard even the Chinese mating ON the
hoof, for any further Indication of the
pollen. II hardly seemed possible that
any one could have entered the room with
the flower IN his or nor hand without seat-
- v siss too large mower me
breast or n hair- Again. one ~Sootd
have iinsser there long s,iafs'hfSh 70
tIrr-,rt - ttiu next room dHC ser
wants passing. The box had been removed
and the examination made elsewhere!
An idea Ized him. Hiss Faulkner was
stiH absept-the mUlatto had apparently
gone home. lie quickly led the stair
case. but. instead Of entering his room,
turned suddenly aside into the wing which
had been reserved. The first door yielded
as he turned the knob gently, and he enter
ell room which ne at once recognized as
the ''yoGug l3dy's boulcir." But the dusty
and d-apeI furniture had been arranged
ana uncovered. and the apartment had eve
~ sign of present dse. Yet. although there
was every evidence OF its being used by
person Of taste and refinement he was sur,
prlsed 70 sec that tho garments hanging in
the open press were such as w5re used b.
negro servants, and that gaudy handker-
chief such as housemaids used tor turbans
was lying on the pretty silken COVerlet. he
did not linger over these details but cast
rapid glance round the room. Then his
eyes became fixed on fanciful writing
desk which stood by the window For in
handsome vase placed on its level top and
dropping on a portfolio below hung cluster
of the strange flowers Miss Faulkner had
carried.