Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-11-10

| my Identify IN tne event OF MS 1a1l1nR
to recall my changed face. Now he is
dead, but the evidence thus attainable
assumes, it seems, an increased value. I
have preserved the letters in my pocket
book through all these years, and from
frequent reading they are not III very
perfect condition, though I hope suf-
ficiently decipherable for you at least,
squire, to recognize their genuineness.
So saying, he produced dilapidated
wallet and took from it three letters,
apparently quite old. They were in en-
velopes that scarcely held together, and
the edges of the folds of the letters were
almost worn through in places. Never
theless the writing was sufficiently dis
tinct to be leQible. The squire and Bur-
rows looked through them, and the for
mer unhesitatingly declared that he rec
ognized the handwriting as that Of
John Lewis. The contents were not es-
pecially interesting, being simply such
as father would send to son absent
at school. A detective is naturally sus-
picious. he is apt to doubt and ques-
tion to the last, and though Burrows
was comparatively new he nevertheless
possessed this trait to strong degree.
He therefore examined the date Of the
postmark, which was 1879. Although
he could not but accept this as unim-
peachable evidence that the young
mans story was correct, still, without
knowing exactly why he did SO, he cop
led down the address on the envelopes,
which was:
"John Lewis, Jr. Care T. Jamison,
Esq, Washington Heights, New York
City, N. Y"
"Mr Lewis" said the squire, II am
satisfied that you are my friends son,
and 1 am sorry that this will leaves you
nothing by its provisions. I am sure, as
I told you just now, that Virgie will
do what is right. Twill see her at
once"
He tapped gently on the door Of Vir
ginia's room and was admitted. While
he was absent Burrows took the oppor-
tunity to ask Lewis few more ques-
tions.
"Mr. Lewis" said he, chow long is
it since you were at sea, and why did
you give up the life? Though perhaps
you mean to return to it?'
"Oh, no. I have had enough Of it.
The beautiful ease and comfort Of the
messroom, described in the books OF
adventure written for boys, are very
much overdrawn, assure you. It was
this kind of literature which first made
me long for the sea. After I became
sailor in earnest the charm of the ro-
nance dimmed considerably before the
stern reality. was sorry enough that I
had left home"
"Why, then, did you not return
sooner?''
"Ah, that is easier said than done! I
shipped for voyage to China. There l
was forced to leave my ship and find
another homeward bound, which was
not easy, or else to follow the fortunes
of my messmates I chose the latter, the
consequence being that it was five years
before we reached the States again, and
then it was on the Pacific coast. As
there was little chance Of finding my
father anyway, since I knew he had
contemplated trip to Europe, I scarce
" felt like crossing the whole breadth
of the country on the errand. So 1
shipped again, and so it was from one
ship to another, and the years rolled
by"
"Still, you have come home at last
and found out where your father was
located too?"
Eyes. My ship touched at Ports
mouth. AS we were so near to where
my father last was and as was pretty
well sick of the sea, concluded to give
it up and come to Lee, with the faint
hope that I could hear something Of
my fathers whereabouts. The result
you know"
"Yes, and I sympathize with you
very much. I hope you will pardon my
having appeared to doubt your identity.
am trying to discover murderer, and
it is my duty to make every one account
for himself -
"Let us say no more about it. un-
derstand your motive exactly and am
really glad that you are so careful III
your investigations. hope you will be
successful in finding the criminal. He
must be discovered at all hazards. /
may have been a bad son to my father
while he was living. Now must do all
in my power to avenge him." Lewis
spoke with so much feeling that Bur.
rows did not for moment doubt his
sincerity and determined to redouble
his efforts to be the one to place the
murderer in custody.
At this juncture the squire returned,
followed by Miss Marvel and Virginia,
both Of whom he introduced to Lewis
and to Burrows. To the former tie
young ladies bowed cordially, and it
was evident that the squire had left no
doubt in Virginia's mind as to his iden-
tity, for she greeted him as relative,
though with no undue show Of feeling.
Toward Burrows it was different
Though she offered him a room in the
house during his connection with the
case, it was done in a formal way a.
with q certain hauteur Of manner not
easily misunderstood. However coldly
offered, it suited Burrows to accept the
invitation, and she showed him to a
chamber on the next floor, just above
the one which had been used as sleep
ing apartment by John Lewis. Virginia
then descended to the parlor, and, ad-
dracciDo Iaxpia she said.
eff you do not mind, I will give Jou
the same room that your father had"
Lewis acquiesced and followed her as
she led the way.