The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-12-15
Of 4. / am solTy that 1 cannot ask hinl

at Just what point be did this, but
must do the best I can without this
knowledge. The probability is that he
tossed the bundle over as soon as he got
on the bridge and with bis right hand.
Therefore be would have thrown it over
on the side nearest the dam. At any
rate, that is what ! shall do
ST see what your idea is and am anx-
! ious to have the experiment tried Shall
we 60 at once7'
'.No. I cannot tell what difference
the hour may make on the currents, and
so many days after they may be totally
different However, shall go at the
same hour as he did. At least it will
insure our not being observed. Besides,
wish if possible to see Eyerly, and l
think be will return before II o'clock. "
"You wiliwait till that hour?"
eyes. You left Marvel at the river
and reached your room at 1890. He
came here after that, then went to his
own house and back to the bridge,
where he must have arrived at Or about
1880"
The evening passed slowly. most Of
the time being consumed By these two
in a discussion Of the subject which alb
sorbed their minds, until, at about a
quarter to II, a horses hoofs sounded
without, and moment Later they were
Joined by Will Everly.
"Well." said the detective, what
news?'
st found Ainsley and through him
wes enabled to see the locket. .
every yoodl What is the inscrip-
tion?''
s.Simply w. NJ. The word .to' does
not appear, and the letters are SO close
together there is no chance that it ever
was there. It occurred to me that 1t
may have been and have become worn
out, but that is impossible. /"
AS this hope was dispelled Virginia
seemed much disappointed.
tWhat do you think now, Nj.
Barnes?" said she. '"This is discourag-
ing, is it not?'
s'Do you know if your mother had
| more than one names!
I" I cannot be certain, but I never
heard of any other except Matilda. >"
"Still she may have had another, and
1t may have been Winona' or some 9th
er with w. for the initial. We must
| lock thatsup. If the initials are hers, it
will answer our purpose as we'll Now
we will start, on the other GRAND. Mr..
EVERY, you may come with us if you
wish. We are going to try to recover
the clothes which Marvel says he threw
over the bridge. .
.sI should like to go with you, but I
doubt if you will succeed. Young Mr..
Lewis inaugurated regular search,
and besides I went myself and looked
thoroughly more than once after the
inquest. / think should have made up
a bundle for them to find, only l could
not supply the locket which he said is
in the pocket.
'.Nc, no! We must not tresort to man
ufacturing any evidence. II Marvel is
guilty, be must suffer, but if he is H.
pocent he must be saved. Let Us work
only for the truth" So saying, he took
up the bundle of wet clothing and start
ed. Virginia and Everly followed in
silence, neither of them relishing the
last speech of the detective, however
just they knew it to be. The trio soon
reached their destination, and Mr-
Barnes stopped at a point near the rail.
.sHere,'' said he, "if my calculations
are correct, is the place from which l
think Marvel must have thrown his
bundle. Iwill now explain to you what
I expect will happen. have soaked my
bundle, because his was vet. Il dry,
the clothes would float nearer to the
surface of the water and would soon
| be hurried over the dam, ss the current
here is very rapid. But being wet, and
therefore more weighty, this bundle
will float below the surface, If at ali. J"
T; His companions listened with much
! interest. He continued: II will now
commence my experiment. Fortunately
the moon is bright and we can see east
1y. First, will take piece Of wood. J"
He looked about and soon found a
large, heavy piece of timber near the
sawmiu. Approaching the rail he said,
CHOW will throw this over, and you
will see that it will be carried. first,
against the boarding which projects
above the level, and then be swept to-
ward the center and over" He let it
drop and the result was exactly as be
had predicted. t'That much was easily
foreseen. But my next may not be so &C.
curate, for it is but surmise on my
part. My idea is this: That wood went
over readily. But with bundle CT
clothing it may be different. If it's first
taken against the projecting portion,
and then drawn toward the center, it
Will 60 over more slowly than if car
ried directly. Now, if the weight is saf-
fcient to hold it scme distance below
the surface, and there are any ragged
edges to the woodwork Of the dam, the
cloth would most likely catch on them.
In that casa it would not fall into the
stream below, but would remain sus-
%O va