The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-12

81 REMEMBER TWO OTHER CASES. "
handed him the epistIe signed by his own
name which he had sent to the Office in
Hartford.
The smile with which he had regarded
me from the first, changed from the mere
conventional expression to one OF heart
felt satisfaction.
81 am glad to see you," he gravely
remarked, his eye wandering from my
face TO the beauties OF the garden beside
us. "WiIl you come in or VIII you sit
down here?'' he asked, pointing to two
seats on each side OF the porch, on which
we stood. "You win find either place
equally secure from interruption. / keep
no servants and whether out or in find
myself wholly at home. -
From the look which / have just men
tioned-a peculiar look full OF the gloat-
ing delight of possession--I judged that
he would rather remain within view OF
his flower beds. And indeed j afterward
heard that he was seldom found indoors.
i therefore answered his genial invitation
by sitting down on one oi the seats before
us. He Immediately took possession of
the other, and with an expectant air
waited my questions.
"And so these woods hide a mystery?"
/ bodily ventured, with gesture toward
the east where the trees Stood thickest.
"Haye the disappearances OF which you
have written occurred lately?"
"One of them took place about Christ
mas time, the other two but few weeks
back. The first one attracted no attention
nor the second, may say; but when that
poor boy, silly Rufus, dropped out OF
sight and sound, people began to wonder
and recall the fact that the two strangers
l have mentioned had also vanished from
our midst in very queer and unexplained
manner. And l." here the old gentle
man became impressive, even going TO the
point of laying his hand on my knee,
"and remember two other cases, year
aback, OF persons who came into this road
who were never seen 10 Issue from IL, or
at least am assured by on old friend OF
mine who lives Just where this road runs
into the main one. But whether all this
means crime cannot tell. Can your"
The question came so suddenly 1
started. sit certainly has that look" !
remarked. "Are there any doubtful
characters in this neighborhoodY'--
"No," he answered, brooding minute
over my words. Has any one in the vii
lage-you have spoken to the folk there
of course-mentioned any name with sus-
picion?'
81 have not talked about 1t. I prefer
red to broach the subject at once to you."
He seemed surprised, but showed his
recognition of my courtesy by bow. 81
suppose you would have first wished to
have obtained a confirmation OF my state
ment from the general gossip of the town.
But ii is of no consequence; you can hear
them talk later.n And he again let his
eye roam appreciatively over .his.sshowers
and shrubs "Have you any plan OF pro-
cedure?" he suddenly asked.
~ must first find out ifthere has been
crime" replied, letting my eye follow
his over the top of long well-sweep that
was one Of the chief ornaments OF the
place to that dismal turn in the road,
which had beeA warned from pursuing.
"Are there any other houses on this
road besides yours?n ! now put in, recall
ing his glance back to myself by "A ges-
ture.
He looked at me seriously, II not anxi-