The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-17
copyrighted. 1895.
CHAPTER V.

am young man, but hope i have
some OF the virtues of an Older one.
However, confounded by the turn thus
given to my suspicious, did not allow
myself be 10 swerved from the path which
my judgment had laid out for me- Find
ing II TO be not far from the hour when |
had right 30 expect Mr.. Simmons and
correctly judging that he would bring
some such man with him as a constable i
only waited for their coming 10 institute
q rigid search of this place. i had told
the two gentlemen at their first appear
ance that this was done with the owners
permission and even az their entreaty; and
seeing the calmness of Miss Knollys the
etolid indifference OF the brother, who
seemed to take the whole affair as mat
ter OF course, and Lucetta's spirited but
by no means repellant bearing, they ac-
cepted my assurances and went cheer
fully, though not carelessly, about their
work. Mr.. Simmons alone stopped to
whisper once in my ear as we went down
the tunnel-shaped hall through which
Miss Grant had fed on that fatal night:
"But what about the grave in the woods
and the body that was buried thereY"
To which / whispered back: lone grave
is not enough for US 70 find; IL we come
across no more that one can be easily ex-
planned" And whispered In one short
word whose IL was.
1t was rambling place and we were
hours going through IL; but though We
followed Miss Knollys' suggestion and
visited both cellar and attic we found
nothing in any way suggestive OF crime
or death. With many apologies to the
young ladies we were about TO leave the
house when Lucetta, gliding 10 my side,
touched me on the arm and said; "You
will not forget our compact. Mr..
Trohm's house Is to be searched also, is
it not?' To which ] answered by a de-
cisive "Yes, which made her cheeks
flush and bright light come into her eyes.
eff you do not find anything" said she,
"cone back to me. ] have no faith in
his cheerful airs and smiling hospitality,
and what you fail TO discover, / will.
For mark you there is certainly some one
of dangerous character In this vicinity
and who should II be, If not the perse-
cutor of my motherpp
Deprecating this assertion which looked
little too much like revenge, but yet
anxious to keep my word with her at all
hazards, followed the two gentlemen
into the road, and quietly explained
the necessity which our invasion OF this
peaceable dwelling behind US had occa-
stoned. We shall have TO go through
Mr.. Trohm's also,' said L; and though
the constable was for demurring Mr..
Simmons at once fell in with the pro-
ject, saying: "Oh, Mr.. Trohm won't
care; he will rather enjoy showing off
the neatness OF his dwelling"
And so he did. For when he learned
our errand he showed the utmost alacrity
In opening all the doors and ushering
us into every nook and corner OF his COM
Portable domicile. "Of course i know
you don't expect to find anything" he
laughed, "but none the less do / admire
your thoroughness and the extreme JUS
tice shown toward my interesting young
neighbors. What do you think Of my pic
and hat 6n thinE nf the naat
little pincushions you will find on every
bureau and all stuck full OF pins?n
Not exactly liking this sally, which
seemed somehow out Of place, / answered
lightly, but took care to survey the whole
house, and especially the cellar, with
my country colleague. But ] found
nothing; NO, not the last trace of any
thing, in the least sinister; and when,
the formality over, we all stepped into
the open sunshine, / could not but ask
myself II my expedition were destined to
failure and II my plan Of procedure had
not been too open and brusque.
A smile from Mr. Trohrn as he babe
me goodby rather served TO emphasize
this decision In my own mind. II was
not like any other had seen on HIS face,
and showed that under the geniality OF his
appearance lay depths OF sarcastic enjoy.
ment in other peoples discontinue that
went far towards explaining the inveter-
ate course he had taken in reference to
Althea Knollys.
~ must see those girls again."
thought l. "Lucetta may be right. Butt
My cogitation got no further, for at the
first turn OF the road we came upon
Lucetta standing like wrath by the
wayside, the bent finger laid upon her |
lips
''I see,' she cried, 'that you have
discovered nothing. Now may ! see what
can do to lift the suspicion which rests
upon those who live on this unhappy
road?p
'.But what can you do?'' objected |
"Why, you are as frail as that bough |
OF alder under which you are standing" |
Never mind; you are sure, arc you not, |