The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-14

l
| Certainly no invalid would have been
exposed TO such draft of crisp
autumn air as must have been surging
through the apartment.
This discovery strengthened n sus-
picion which / had previously formed
that Dyer was really in n room on the
ground floor / observed that the whole
north end of the house seemed closed.
1t was from room in that part of the
dwelling that the young man had come
on the preceding night. Had he been
watching with an invalid, or guarding
a prisoner? l resolved TO solve the
problem before another night had
passed.
1t may seem strange that, among my
theories, | did not consider the possi-
bility that Dyer YVES rslrposely avoiding
me. In explanation can say only that
my theories were based upon my ltnowl-
edge of the man. lie was not one to
hide from friend or foe. / believed
that, if left to his own choice, he would
receive me with the heartiest cordiality.
1t was impossible that my intercession
on behalf of his cousin had offended him
to such degree that he did not twish to
see me.
/ remained all day among the hills,
Observing the house from different
points. Hunger drove me to a farm
house in the afternoon. 1t was poor
abode as ever l saw in the country, but
full OF good will. The farmers wife
lamented heartily that she could give
me no better entertainment but to-
morrow was her baking day." and
Everything was clean eat up" Therc
was no cooked food in the house except
II pumpkin pie baked in yellow, earth
enware dish. three inches deep. This
she sat before me with pitcher of
milk. and | made n meal Of them. The
pie was somber with molasses which
impaired an acidity to it that was not
unpleasant al first. but it grew upon me
in succeeding hours. think the pangs
of remorse must be something like that,
when one has really sinned. However,
one cannot cure remorse with bicar-
Donate of soda. j rode ten miles to
lockwood for this useful drug, and in
cidentally obtained from the epothe-
cary some bits of Information about
Dertram Dyer.
"Iie used TO come over here quite
some, when he and his folks fust moved
into The old Peters place." said the
druggist, "but lately l amt seen moth
ing of him. i guess he's trading with
somebody over Greenville way. His
folks buy their groceries over there.
heerd awhile ago TINT he was sick, hut
/ amt sold any medicine 20 him lately
and guess maybe he's better. Be you
going up that way?"
Possibly. Would be coming back by
way of lockwood? If so. would drop
! in? lockwood folks would be glad to
hear how Mr.. Dyer was getting along.
Some of them had read one of his books,
and they thought il pretty good for n
young man to write. They were in
hopes he would write something about
lockwood, and kind of help the place
along. / promised to suggest local
story to the distinguished author, if /
had the pleasure of meeting him.
It was about ten o'clock when ar
rived once more upon the outskirts of
the "old Peters place." had resolved
TO pass the night in its vicinity; and to
commit friendly burglary if my in
vestigations should convince me that
Bertram was the prisoner of his wife's
relations.
At first the moon was too high for
my purpose. but before midnight it
had dropped nearly to the hills. and
some light clouds obscured IL. Then
stealthily approached the house. and
was soon concealed in the shadow Of
the northern wall. A very faint light