The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-10-27

While thus occupied be beard the door
open behind him, and, turning, saw
Virginia.
"What are you t.ii;,-;o'' said she.
'Those are my unc!e's taings. Why
gre you disturbing thena?''
Burrows flushed, as though detected
in some dishonorable act, and though
he felt that he had done but his duty
he would have been glad # Virginia
had delayed her entrance by half an
hour. However, he determined to tell
the truth. and it even occurred to him
that he might discover something by
closely watching Virginia's face as he
disclosed his suspicious to her.
ssMiss Lewis,'' snid he, 81 confess il
may seem strange that should be thus
engaged, but as detective, endeavcr-
ing to find the murderer of your uncle.
suppose you will admij that I may use
all means TO compass that end?''
"I am not sufficiently vsrsed in t.
methods Of the thief taker to be :,
judge" replied Virginia coldly. Bur
rows colored at the evidently intendee:
slur, and with some asperity he an
swered:
"lf am thief taker, it is only the
criminal who has need to fear my
methods The innocent can be in no
danger
sYou are egotisticaL Beware that
you do not make the innocent suffer for
the guilty in this case. y
"Ahl You know who the guilty is,
do you not? Tell me what it is that
you know and what you are conceal
ing?" At these words Virginia drew
herself up to the extreme height of her
commanding figure, and with wither-
ing scorn she replied:
'Mr. Burrows, you forget yourself.
How dare you speak SO to me?'' Bur.
rows was about to reply, but before he
could sufficiently control himself she
continued: Enough Of this. am not
here to aid you IN capturing the GRIM
inal, but I want to know what you are
doing among my~uncle's clothing.
By this time Burrows was determined
to deal with her with entire disregard
of her sex, remembering only that she
was possessed Of guilty knowledge if
nothing more. He watched her narrow
ly as he asked:
Where are the clothes which your
uncle wore when he was shot?''
The girl's corntenance did not change,
save that a slight, very slight, smile
crossed her lips.
It appears that my uncle was in his
nightdress when he was killed. There
fore your question is uninteiligible, J"
she replied.
.sYour uncle was in his full dress
when shot, and / am seeking the gar
ments which he wore"
Have you found them?" asked Vir-
ginia, still with her countenance under
perfect control.
ssNo, have not, admitted Burrows,
little disconnected. Before be could
continue he was surprised to hear her
cay:
"Will you come in to dinner? came
to call my cousin, but he does not ap-
pear to be here Without waiting for
his answer she left the room.
Burrows was disconnected at the read
mess with which she had dismissed the
whole topic. Could it be, he thought,
that, after all, she knew nothing? He
could not bring himself to admit this,
remembering her evident interest IN
keeping some secret Of which she was
possessed. s.The deeper I get the more
complicated the whole thing seems to
be-" he muttered, as be followed his
hostess to the dining room. Atthat mo-
ment he sincerely wished for the return
of Mr.. Barnes
Nothing of any consequence occurred
! during the remainder of the day, and
Burrows retired early to sleep that
night. Once in bed, he could not help
wondering whether there would be a
repetition of the mysterious noises of
the night before. His slumbers were
undisturbed, and he awoke much re-
freshed the next morning. Immediately
after breakfast he left the farm and
went to the saloon where he and Mr.
Barnes had stopped on their first ar
rival. Here he found, as he expected,
that their trunks had been sent from
New Market, and he was thus enabled
to make change of clothing, of which
he felt sorely in need. This done, he
proceeded to the squire's house to ascer-
tain if anything had been heard from
his superior.
He was ushered into most comfort
able parlor and was shortly joined by
the squire himself, who entered with a
dispatch in his hand.
Good morning, Mr.. Burrows. said
he, advancing. II presume you are anx-
ious to know about Mr.. Barnes. have
Just received message from. him, sent
from Portsmouth. He promises to be
with US today. Do you know what call
ed him to that city,"
"Not exactly, squire, though I fancy
I might guess. He left me to find out
the address on certain letter which be
thought it of importance to have. / sup