The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-12-22

SSSs~ o. WV
aDithi1.
may change boarding places as often as
you please, but remain in the city.
That is all. Good morning" Before
she could say a word be had gone.
Mr.. Barnes went directly to the
Grand Central railroad depot and start
ed for Lee, where he arrived early on
the following morning Reaching the
farm, he found Virginia in the parlor.
She advanced to meet him with cor
dial greeting.
"I am SO relieved to see you back
again What news have you?"
81 have discovered the murderer. !"
"You have? Who is he? Tell me at
once. -
cit is the man who has passed as your
cousin. -
''My uncle's son?''
."No, not your uncle's son, though
that is what he called himself. I must
fird him at once. Where is he?"
he has gone.
"Gone! Gone where? ] will follow
him to the end Of the earth. He shall
not escape me- Where has he gone?''
"We 90 not know. I told you, when
last saw you, that he would pass the
night at the squire's, but it seems that
he must hayo retired to his room after
the funeral, for he was here at break
fast
"Well? Goonl Go on!'' The detect
i've was impatient
CATER breakfast he again went to
his room. We saw nothing more Of him
until dinner time. Then | went in to
call him, but he was not there. He has
not been seen since. " !.
tPerhaps he went to the squire's. -
81 went over to see Alice this morn
ing and learned that no one had seen
him since the funeral. -
"Too late! Too late after all my
troublep' moaned the detective. He
leaned his head on his hands and SEEM
ed almost about to weep. Virginia did
not know what to say to him; so think
ing it best to leave him to himself she
noiselessly left the rooln. Mr.. Barnes
remained in one position for fully ten
minutes, but suddenly he jumped up
and seemed all animation again.
'sMiss Lewis! Miss Lewis!" he cried
in great excitement. At the sound Of
his voice Virginia came hurryirg in
and was astonished at the change in his
demeanor.
"Miss Lewis" said ! ., speaking rap
idly, Nyou say that b ant to his room
and has not been seen since:''
eyes, he must have come out''-
"Never mind that. Tell me, is it the
same room which he occupied when he
slept here on tie night after the muir
der?''
eyes. Thinking that he was my un-
cle's son, / gave him my uncle's room.
s:Your uncle's room? Of course. 1t is
as clear as day. During that first night
Burrows heard mysterious noises. He
came down into this mans room and
found it empty. Burrows sat by his
door all night to ask him where he had
been, and, although be did not pass him,
nevertheless in the morning the man
was in the room. Do you understand
"Not clearly. -
cit is very simple! There is secret
apartments in this house, and the muir
derer is at this moment concealed in 1t. y
GA secret room! 1t is impossiblep'
Anything else is impossible, you
mean. This is not the day OF miracles,
and man cann6t disappear in this way
in broad daylight %
"But how will you find it, if it ex-
ists?''
''It will be easy enough to fnd it If
we know that it is in existence. In the
first place, there must be way to enter
it from that room in which your uncle
slept. Come, we will go there first .
Together they went to the room, and
Mr.. Barnes looked about for some sign
that would guide him Alright. After
reasoning for moment, as Burrows had
Il.