The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-07-17
then folded it also. placing both papers

then folded it also, placing both papers
in her dress.
Approaching the door which commu-
nicated with the parlor, she listened at
tentively for Q few moments and then
entered that apartment. which was
empty. the detectives, by this time, hay
ing gone out upon the lawn. Peeping
from the window, careful that she her
self should be hidden from sight by the
curtains, she saw Mr.. Barnes and Bur-
rows near the summer house. She
watched them until they were again
approaching the house, whereupon she
returned to her own room. Here she re-
manned till tho detectives had made the
map Of tho grounds and again sailed
forth toward the river This time she
watched thin from the window Of her
own room and realized from their &C.
lions that they were studying the foot
prints Letwcen the house and the river.
She clgo raw them Get in the boat and
crc7s tho river.
C.co ;-ore s'':o entered the parlor.
Ono would think from her repeated Wis
its to 10 place where lay the dead body
that IL Lad some fascination for her. As
though, indeed, this were the case, She
went straight to where it lay and, bend
ing down, gased at it intently. Especial
ly did she look upon the disfigured face.
Finally she turned her attention to the
hand and examined ring Oh one fin
ger. This seemed to satisfy her. In ris-
ing she stepped on the hem Of her dress
and fell to her knees, striking against
the corpse, which was thus slightly
turned over. This action brought into
view the other hand, which before had
been under the body. She shuddered as
she jumped up, and then, noticing that
the fist was doubled up tight. her curl
osity was aroused, and she determined
to investigate further. She endeavored
to open the fingers, and, though they
were tightly clinched, she at length
succeeded in relaxing two. This enabled
ii her not only to see that there was some.
thing within the dead man s grasp, but
also to withdraw it. This done, she evil
IDENTIFY had enough Of the company Of
the corpse, for she hurried to the next
room aud hastily closed the door after
her.
She then examined the article which
she had just obtained and found it to be
a small gold locket. Opening it, she saw
that it contained miniature of herself
which had been made when she was yet
o child.
She was evidently disturbed at the
discovery, for she gazed at it long and
earnestly Perhaps her conscience
troubled her, and the thought came to
her that even at the moment when he
was killed her uncle had just been look
ing at this picture of herself, thinking
of the time when, young and attract
I've child, she had been his idol, and
then Of the past week, when, before all
their friends, they had antagonized
their wills. She threw herself on the
bed, buried her face in her hands, and
for some minutes she sobbed like one in
dire distress. Presently, rising from her
recumbent position, controlling her
emotions by all effort of will, she first
hid the locket in her dress, as she had
done with the letters, and then bathed
her face and went to the window. She
looked toward the summer house, but
saw nothing Of the detectives. Turning,
she hurriedly put on her hat, arranged
her toilet and started out from the house
in the direction Of the postotfice.
She thought that she had avoided the
observation of the detectives, but III
this, as she herself subsequently Sub
pectcd, she was mistaken. Reaching
the bridge, she noticed the boat, and as
she had last seen the two men entering
it she concluded that they were now in
the vicinity, though she did not yet
guess that they had followed her. As
she passed the saloon, however, she
caught glimpse of Burrows, and as he
Immediately withdrew, SO as to hide
himself from her view, she at once de-
eided that he was there to watch her
movements. Thus she was compelled to
abandon her project of mailing the let
ter herself, which had been her object
in coming out. She went on to the
house of the Marvels.
Being Oh terms Of closest intimacy
with the inmates, she unceremoniously |
entered without knocking and went in
to the parlor. Here, seated in front of
rousing log fire, she found Mrs. Mar
vel, busily engaged with some knitting !
and evidently ignorant of the fact that
at that very time grave suspicious were
entertained against her son. The old
lady politely rose and welcomed her
visitor, but Virginia, without accept
ing her invitation to be seated, at once
for her daughter Alice.
'Alice is not out Of bed yet" said
the mother "She sent me message at
breakfast time that she had headache
and preferred TO sleep. But you can go
up to her room if you wish. guess she
is not seriously i'll" She smiled, well
knowing that her daughter was fond of
her morning nap, and that "a head
ache' was often convenient excuse.
Virginia at once went i'll search of her
friend. Ascending one flight of stairs,
she entered Alice Marvel's bedroom.
Alice was in bed, but not asleep. On
the contrary, she seemed very wide
awake, although completely absorbed
with her thoughts.
A moments description of this young
ady may not be amiss. Though, like
Virginia, brunette, she was neverthe-
ess totally different in appearance.
Her friends called her pretty, and the