The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-30

which Msss Grant had seen the burial
party disappear. What ] found was very
simple. but 60 my rsnd OF eufdc!ent I'M
porTance for ne 20 form plan OF action
Calling 60 q group OF small chuoren
who had perssssently followed me ever
since entered the woods. ] cried out.
Ten cents for the boy who brsngs me q
apade" And when this 10 cents was
earned. added within hearing OF them al.
Now don't any Of you run and Sell MSS
knollys ttsas / am roing 20 dig up TINS
crossed szsck you see here She might
give you another 10 cents and stop me
But what are you going 20 dig II up
for hawled out one
Because It's keepinx down spook.
Now run of and tell Miss knoliEs rhas
ard get your 70 cents"
With a shout they cirrled into knot
and vanished. Bus one little figure
cid away in the direction of the big
gray walls I could family discern IN
the distance. and judging thai my some
what hazardous suggestion had taken
effect. took OF my coat and inserted
my spade into the mo.se earth Then L
waited ali ] heard the eound OF hurry
ing feet behind me. when dug up a large
piece of earth and flung II TO one side.
gasp Of irrepressible cismay uttered
almost In my ear warned me 10 desist. ana
standing not five feet away, with wide
staring eyes, and hands clutched over their
breasts that painted with something more
than the effort of running.
One spoke as looked up.
What are you doing here7" she cried.
"You have no right 10 dig in our woods
I FASTENED to apologize. II am a sur
veyor," said I. 81 meant no harm, assure
you. merely want to drive a stake here"
put hu bar
"Is there no place In ali these woods that
you should plant your spade in-in---
"A grave" / demanded. dropping my
spade and advancing determinediy. What
was that you meant to sayg IL So
I had struck the truth. saw IL In the
instant collapse which took place not only
In their bodies but in the spirit which in
formed them, and while felt the natural
satisfaction OF the successful detective, /
was also conscious OF a deep shrinking
from the task imposed upon me. for these
young women We're no common women.
and Lucetta especially Tor she whom l
had fixed upon as LucettaD was exceeding
ly lovely. SO lovely indeed that / wondered
how Miss Grant could have mentioned her
name without saying how beautiful she
was.
who are your" gasped Miss Knollys.
catching hold OF her sisters hand partly
both so evidently needed. Because there
is crossed stick planted here. do you
think our woods a cemetery
II think this spot grave" / answered,
and my thought is important. Mss
Knollys because while am not ready 10
say that / lied I'm declaring myself sur
veyor. do feel II incumbent upon me TO
inform you that | am also a detective,
sent here TO ferret out the crimes which
l. T. IL FL 10 0 -
sixteen months"
ssCrimesl' murmured both the sisters,
falling with an impulsive movement TO
their knees.
What are you saying?" shrieked Luz
cefta.
1--WE know nothing about crimes" cried
the other.
yet crimes have been committed not
two hundred yards from this place."
went on. Persons have come into this
lane who have never gone out of II. and
IL there is one grave in this tangled forest.
why should there not be more. Ladies, I
am going TO dig"
dig then: but first let me tell you what
you will find. Six feet below that turf
you will strike a coffin. 1t is rude one,
for we made il ourselves. and on the lid
you will see scrawled upon a piece of
common tin these words: 'Althea Ann
Knollys. Born February first. eighteen
hundred and thirty-six. Died December
twenty-second, eighteen hundred and
ninety-three' I, is our mothers grave.
sir"
She spoke the truth. / saw It in the clear
regard of Miss KnolIys' eye IN the steady
frmness OF Lucetta's bearing and her un-
conscious air OF disnifed reproach. Bow
ing profoundly, waited for the explana-
ton they could not help giving.
tt was Lucetta's voice which first broke
the silence, and as she spoke noted again
her clear brow with it's line OF trouble,
and the delicate sensitiveness of her whole
expression which made her the mostsspirit-
ual-iooking being ! had ever seen.
or do not know you" were her first
words, ''but you say you are detective
and that your errand here is to ferret out
crime. You have come TO the wrong place.
sir. and II we consulted our pride alone
we would turn our backs upon you and
let you desecrate our mothers grave and
ascertain the truth at your own cost. But
we have other qualities than pride. We two
desoiate orphan girls. and so I will deign
20 tell you what I hope your sense OF
Justice will prevent you from repeating.
Years ago our mother left us. She had
done a wrong, or what you win better
understand, committed a criminal act
against one of our neighbors. the penalty
OF which-is states prison"
with difficulty the words came out,
with difficulty she kept down the flush of
shame which threatened 20 overwheln
her. and did overwhelm her less restrained
sister. But her self-control was great and
she went brayeiy on, the palest the most
delicate and the most resolved OF women
IL had ever been my lot TO face.
at was forgery" said she. Though
A cherished wife and beloved mother.
she longed for many things my father
could not give her. and in an evil hour she
initiated the name of a rich man here and