The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-19

lam a young man, but hope have
some Of the virtues of an older one
However confounded by the turn thus
given to my suspicious, did not allow
myself to be swerved from the path
which my Judgment had laid out for
me. Finding 1t to be not far from the
hour when had a right to expect Mr..
Simmons, and correctly judging that
Ire would bring some such man with
him as constable, only waited for
their coming to institute rigid search
OF this place. I had told the two gem
ttemen at their first appearance that
this was done with the owners per-
mission and even at their entreaty; and
seeing the calmness of Miss knollys,
the stolid Indifference of the brother,
who seemed 10 take the whole affair as
q matter OF course. and Lucetta'S spir-
rited but by no means repellant BEAR
ing, they accepted my assurance and
went chserfully, though mot 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 fled on
that fatal night: But what about the
grave In the woods and the body that
was buried therer 10 which / whs-
pered back: "One grave Is not enough
for us to find; II we come across no
more that one can be easily explained.
And l whispered in one short word
whose vt was.
1t was rambling place and We were
hours going through it; 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 to 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 I answered by a
decisive Yes" which made her cheeks
flush and bright light come into her
eyes. IF you do not find anything y
said she, come back to me. | have I'D
faith In his cheerful airs and smiling
hospitality, and what you fail TO dis
cover, I will. For. mark you, there Is
certainly some one of dangerous char
be, If net the prosecutor of my
mother?"
Deprecating this assertion, which
looked little too much like vengeance,
but yet anxious to keep my word with
her at all hazards. I followed the two
gentlemen into the road, and quietly
explained the necessity which our in
vasion of this peaceable dwelling be-
hind us had occasioned. I'VE shall
have to go through Mr.. Trohm's also"
said I; and though the constable was
for demurring. Mr. Simmons at once
fell in with the project, 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 alac-
rity in opening all the doors and usher
ing us into every nook and corner of
his comfortable domicile. "Of course
/ know you don't expect to find any
thing" he laughed, but none the less
do admire your thoroughness and the
extreme justice shown toward my in
terestng young neighbors. What do
you think of my pictures, and what do
you think of the neat little pin-cushions
you will find on every bureau, and all
stuck full Of pins?"
Not exactly liking this sally, which
somehow seemed out of place. 1 an
swered lightly, but took care to survey
the whole house, and especially the Gel
lar, with a care that evidently aroused
surprise in my country colleague. But
! found nothing; no, not the last trace
Of anything, in the last sinister; and
when, the formality over, We all stepped
into the open sunshine, I could not but
ask myself if my expedition were des-
tined to failure and if my plan of pro-
cedure had not been too open and
bruscue.
A smile from Mr.. Trohm as he bade
me good-by rather served to emphasize
this decision In my own mind. 1t was
not like any other 1 had seen on his
face, and showed that under the genial
aty OF his appearance lay depths of
sarcastic enjoyment in other peoples
discontinue that went far towards ex-
planning the inveterate course he had
taken In reference to Althea Knollys.
II must see those girls again."
thought I. Lucetta may be right.
But" My cogitations got no far
ther, for at tha first turn Of the road we
came upon Lucetta stading like a
wrath by the wayside, her bent finger
laid upon her lip.
II see," she cried "that you have dis
covered nothing.N Now may I see what
i can do to lift the suspicion which rests
upon those who live on this unhappy
road?"
But what can you do?" I objected.
why. you are as frail as that bough
of alder under which you are standing"
Never mind; you are sure, are you
not. that people are killed here by some
strange and unforeseen means?"
"We have thought So"
''Very well, come back here at night
fall and see me brave Mr.. Trohm. If
he Is the man I think he Is, results will
follow which you will do well to watch.
But you must be secret. He must con-
slider himself safe from all prying eyes"
stared at the young girl In amaze
ment. There was fever In her eyes and
on her flushed cheek, but there was a
stern determination also, such deter
mination as martyr shows for a
cause which he deems holy.
"You will do this?" exclaimed
aUT will do fhia said sha oPamau-