Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-04-04

sning him for weeks as one of the
shrcwdes. active operators in q league
OF high-grade thieves which had rivcp
the Boston police no end of trouble.
Even it innocent of the murder. tho
young mans liberty was forfeit IN
The law. In view of these facts Mrl-
hgan decided to try it again in the
woods, on somewhat different .,l,v. F."
Rev. Mr.. Warren had formed a vcr-
high opinion Of Mulligan's abilities. and
ne believed that big, hearty, pleasant.
faced man, so different from the de.
seetive of romance, concealed the spiri,
of the bloodhound in his heart. and
would yet track the criminal down.
The clergyman grew impatient when.
ever Muiligan was out of his sight. lie
wished to know every new fact the in
slant it was brought to light. Only by
concentrating his mind upon the prob
lem of detection could he keep his grief
within bounds. Blessed is he who has
work to do at such time. Early in the
evening Frank Ames called upon Mr..
Warren, whom he found pacing his
study in eager expectation of n visit
from the detective. Frank brought pain.
full news. His mother had not rallied
from the shock of the terrible scene at
the grave. On the contrary, her endur-
ance mad been SO seriously oyertaSed
that, at her time of life, the gravcst
results were to be feared. She lay i'll,
and h ,ala pSa1 into , ,,,o-o:f.., -
sciousness of her sorrow. In DIR. Max
wells absence there was no competent
physician in Williston, and it had been
necessary to telegraph for one who
lived in the Junction. He had not then
arrived. There never is any lack of
good nursing in a New England town,
however, and Samuel Amcs had found
abundant help for the bedside of his
wife.
On hearing this news, the clergyman
thought it his duty to go at once to Mr..
Ames' house. Frank remained with
Anna Warren.
At such a time, when the whole vii
lage fairly throbbcd with excitement,
it may not be matter for wonder that
Frank Ames displayed agitation. Yet
Anna, who was at tremendous nervous
tension herself, could not help remark
ing upon the condition of her COM
panion. The pallor of his face was
heightened by his heavy brows and
black mustache. His hands trembled.
He paced the little parlor in the man
ner of one tortured by the most harrow.
ing thoughts.
THE sight of you," said Anna.
"makes me regard myself as a marvel
of sclf-control.
He wheeled about suddenly, and
faced her.
'And the sight Of you," he said.
"makes me lose what little self-control
had before"
His tone frightened her. She asked
him with trembling voice what he
meant by that.
ANNA" he said, approaching her,
tive have been friends good many
years. remember you almost from
the day when you were born, and
have watched you grow year by year
into the beautiful woman that you are
tonight. How have you regarded me?"
''As friend, certainly" said Anna.
"Have you ever had cause to think
otherwise?"
I'm afraid not," he replied, while his
lips quivered.
Upon my word 1 do not understand
you,'' cried the girl.
'If you could see my heart but
there, frighten you. Yet l can't help
it. have that to say to you tonight
which demands that both of us should
be stronger than human flesh and
blood can be. Something has happened;
that you do not suspect
any more than l did a few hours ago. l
believe that it gives me an opportunity
such as thousand lives, if l might
live them one after another on this
earth, would not bring-the opportunity
Of serving you in an emergency in
volving awful risks and the most har-
rowing difficulty"
He spoke wildly, yet with such evi-
dent, deep purpose that the girl was
startled into calmness. There is such
possibility, though few there be who
are ever called upon to know it by ac-
sual experience.
"Tell me exactly what you mean"
she said, and the steadiness of her tone
amazed him.
''You love Robert MAXWELL"
''How can you ask me that? am to
be his wife"
II know that, but in this modern life
it means little. Do you love him !
enough to do him any service that one
human being can do another? Do you
love him as l love you? Stop! This is
no time to evade and disguise the truth
Hear me cat. When tell you what l
propose to do for you my disclosure
viii have to be made. You will know
that no motive of human conduct save
owe alone is strong enough to account
Tor it. have said it, and there is an
end. And now for him. Does your
owe answer the test?"
81 believe, said the girl firmly, "that
here is nothing he could ask of me
hat would not do"
HE cannot ask it. You must do 1t
without the asking. You must serve
aim at your own cost, and at your own
'isl, and at once"