The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-09-29

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..I7.is qras q place of maeettn9," said Mr.
Barnes.
abjured conclusions wnlcn were too
hastily and therefore illogically drawn.
Come be continued; twe will fol-
low this trail as far as the summer
house"
He started, his head bent and his eyes
fixed scrutinizingly on the snow. Bur-
rows followed in silence, feeling re-
buked and just a little resentful. The
tracks led in almost q direct line to the
summer house, which they discovered
to be divided into two parts. It seemed
that the unknown person whose move
ments they were tracing had entered
the sou cchern half.
''This was q place of meeting" !" said
Mr.. Barnes, tfor notice that still an
other set Of steps leads here, evidently
mans, judging from the size. %
'.Then you think the woman came
here to meet some MANI"
eyes, and, furthermore, the man ar
rived first, for his footprints, or at least
those leading in, are more obliterated
by the falling snow than are hers Sim
ilarly, arguing from the impressions
which they have left for our examina
ton, it is evident that they separated
here, for the woman plainly walked of
toward the river, whereas the man re-
tnrned, as be had entered, through tho
little gate yonder. -
"Mr. Barnes, as there seem to be so
many sets of impressions, would it not
be we'll to make drawing of the
grounds and the general direction of
the tracks, for convenience as well as
reference?'.'
CA good suggestion. We will act up
on it at once. But wait here moment.
There is man going along the road. I
will question him about last nights
snow." Mr.. Barnes hurried over to the
fence, where he found the man await
ing him, having been attracted by
call from Burrows.
''Good morning, friend. Do you live
about here?'
eyes, jest over the bridge -
Then perhaps you can tell me about
what hour it stopped showing last even
ing. It may seem q trife to stop you
about, but have a good reason for in
quiring and hope you won't mind my
troubling you.
''No trouble tall, not the least in
the world. Le'me see, I don't know as
I kin tell you for sartin, cause went
ter bed airly last night. But stop
minute. Come ter think, ] kin find out
purity nigh an kin give you scme notion
myself. %
s'I shall be much indebted, and hope
you can fix the time as near as posi-
BILE. -
"Well, as I said before, I went ter
bed airly-7 o'clock, IN fact 'Twas
snowin hard then, an I lowed 'twould
keep up all night slept purity sound.
but was walked up by the noise my gi-ls
made comm in from visit ter neigh
boris. You know how 'tis when a
mans woke up. He's kinder crusty an,
more AN all, can't tell whether he's
slept ten hours or ten minutes. So, c.
the girls went by my door, grovled
out, Amt you purity late gittin homer
NO, pop; it's just O'Clock, come the
answer. Seein as how I had good
nights rest before me, I felt leetle
mite pleasanter, an in a easier tone l
said, 4 s'pose the SHOWS purity deep,
amt it?' Not very, says one on 'em. 1T
stopped awhile ago, an the moons out
now That's all was said. But you see
that shows it didn't snow after 8,
though, eff you want it nearer, mebbe
ken find out from the girls. :"
81 should thank you to ask them.
Will you please give me your name"'
"Jef Harrison's my name, an any
one'll show you my house ef you care
ter come up an speak ter the girls your
SELF
az am much obliged, -ar. Harrison,
and perhaps III accept your invitation
to call. I"
"I'll be glad ter see you. But, say.
there amt nothin wrong, is there:
Nothin speshul, hay?'
"No," replied Mr.. Barnes, not deer1-
ing it wise to tell Of the death of Mr..
Lewis, lest he be kept from his investi-
CATION by further talk.
"You ain t got track Of young Marvel
yet. is you:"
''Not yet"
"Well. good day ter you. Hope ter
see you up ter the house by an by
Jef Harrison walked of slowly, evi-
dently reluctant to leave. AS he passed
on he muttered to himself: Guess he's
the detective they told about down ter
Lee Depot. Guess he'sa cute one. Amt
much of hand at answerin questions.
A doggoned sight better at askin 'em.
Wonder why he wants ter know when
the snow stopped. Them fellers kin
make mighty sight out Of durned lit
tie, that's what / think. :" And so he
trudged on. still wondering at the pres
ence of the detectives and what it all
portended.
Mr. Rarnes reioined Burrows and