Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-11-11


"Ah! How was that?'
II had concluded that It was lost,
but now see that my uncle must have
had it."
"How can you be sure that this Is
yours? Has it your name or any other
mark by which you would know it3'
mo; there is no name on 1t, but
know that it is mine for, as you see, 1t
Is of a peculiar pattern. have been
told that my mother had it made spe-
cially for my picture. and it has been
in my possession, except lately, for a.
long as can remember"
Mr.. Tupper pondered second, but
said no more on this subject at that
time. Nor did he pursue the point
about the piece Of paper directly, but
determined to approach that by another
method.
Now, then, Miss Lewis, We will 60
back to the meeting across the river, II
you please. Did you meet Mr.. Marvel?
But stop-you have already admitted as
much. Tell ts whether you left him on
the other side or whether he crossed
over with you"
1--WE separated before I rowed back to
tho farm"
"Then you left him across the river?"
"Yes, sir"
Ibid he say where he meant to gol'
"To Epping."
This seemed doubtful to Mr.. Barnes
in the face of the fact that be had found
Marvel at Portsmouth, but then he re-
mem bered that Joseph Harrison had tes-
titled to meeting Marvel at Epping on
tho morning after the murder. Mr..
Upper continued:
"Did he say where he would go after
that?"
HE did not lay out route and fur
nish me with a complete plan Of his
movements for the future. He did,
however, mention that he would return
to Epping, from which place he had
come that night"
do you think that he proceeded to
that place immediately after leaving
you:"
Virginia was very cautious, now that
the subject involved information about
her lover.
How should I be able to reply deA.
nitely?" said she.
"Do you know, then, whether he
crossed the river and visited the house
after parting with you?'
II should gay not, as took the boat !"
"Do you mean to say that you did
not see him after you left him at the
maple tree?'
II mean to say that I have not seen
him since then"
''Then, why should he have crossed
the river?'
What makes you think that he did
so:"
II do not think; know"
You cannot know unless you saw
him, and that is impossible"
Miss Lewis, there was snow on the
ground, and not only do l know from
his footprints that he visited the farm,
but that he actually went to the very
door by which you had re entered. OF
course l cannot know that he went in,
for unfortunately there is no snow with
in, as without"
Virginia was silent, and despite her
strong control Of her features it was
evident that she was troubled.
Now, them" SAID the lawyer, con-
tinuing, "the question arises, Why did
Mr.. Marvel visit your house at that
late hour? You say he did not see you.
Could it be that he sought your uncle,
hoping to effect a reconciliation? l un-
derstand that the only obstacle to your
union was his opposition, was it not?'
"That Mr.. Marvel should have sought
my uncle at that hour is preposterous
You say that he did come to the house,
which doubt. but even though he did
not succeed in seeing me, 10 it not more
probable that it was his object to do
so?'
"If go, how is it that he did not sue
ceed?''
II retired as soon as reached home
and did not hear any one enter after
me. That is why doubt your theory,
for am light sleeper"
Mr.. Upper now executed bold
move. Taking the paper which Mr..
Barnes had found in the parlor Of the
farmhouse, he folded it so that only the
first half Of the sentence could be read.
Approaching Virginia, he suddenly
held it up before her eyes and said:
"Did you ever see this before!"
This was so unexpected that Virginia
was thrown off her guard. At the first
glance she smothered an exclamation
and hurriedly put her hand to her
breast. Instantly, however, her agita-
tion passed, and she replied quite calm.
ly.
''No. Never"
II believe You, for had you done 80
it would never have reached my hands.
Now please take it and examine it
closely"
She did go, and then said, lit looks
like my uncle's writing, and it would
seem that he tried to communicate to
us the name of his assailant
Precisely, and, more, he made an!
other attempt and--succeeded. Miss
Lewis, the second paper is in your pos
session."
"You are mistaken" she replied
coldly.
II am not. / say not only did you
take that paper, but you have it secret
ed about your person at this very min
ute" .-.