The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-06


| th>hB was quiet l went on to my own
room. 1t was nearly 2 O'clock"
Ihcn you do not really know that
your mistress was iii her room ut that
| hour?'
mo, Sir. I ought to know, but I
don't"
'It is your duty to attend her in the
morning, is it not?'
Eyes, sir, but she never wakes before
| o'clock, and tho doctor told me not to
| disturb her till he came. He said he
wanted to wako her himself and sec how
| sho acted"
But you wcro not in her room nor
III tho breakfast room at 8 o'clock " Mr..
Barnes scrutinizod her closely. "Whcro
were you?' Tho girl turned crimson
and stammcrcd Il few words inaudibly.
Come, toll mo where you werc," said
Mr.. Barnes sharply. "You woro some
where, you know. Where were you?"
81 was in tho down stairs hallway"
she eaid slowly
"Doing what?''
II was talking to tho policeman, F" she
replied reluctantly.
Your boau?' suggested Mr. Barnes
significantly.
! mo, sir. Ho is my husband" She
tossed her head defiantly now that hor
secret was divulgod
Your husbandr' said Mr.. Barnes,
slightly surprised. "Why, then, did you
hesitate to speak Of him?'
! ''Bccause-because''- ''-she stammored
once moro and seemed troublctl.-"bo-
cause maybe if I had not beon talking
to him Miss Nora wouldn't have been
carried of. Ho might have seon the
! thief"
'Just SO" said Mr.. Barnes and as
tho doctor was announced no allowed
the maid to 80.
| DR.. Donaldson appeared to be q gen
ial, elderly medical man of tho old
school-ono of those who bring an at
mosphero of convalcsccnco and hope into
sick chambers. Mr.. Gedncy introduced
him to Mr.. Barnes, and ho advanced
and shook the detective cordially by the
hand
II am delighted, Mr.. Barnes, that my
| old friend Gedncy has been sensible
enough to engage you to unravcl this af-
fair rather than call in the police. The
police are bunglers who depend for sue
cess upon publicity and newspaper aid
This affair can bo managed without pub.
licity, eh? You have looked into the
matter? What do you think?"
'"That is precisely the question, doc
tor, which ! was about to ask you. Mr.
Gcdncy tells mo that you think somnam-
buliSm." "
Just SO. But I only said it might be
that. Doctors. you know, aro as careful
as detectives in forming conclusions
Vn,, hnpo hnnrI h,t I
see tho dear little girl on Monday night?
well, found her i'll ~ strange mood
Thinking 1T over, [ have almost con-
vinccd myself that what we took for
stubbornnCSs--sulks | think I called it
was somnanbuliSm-t that, in fact,
| she was asleep when [ saw her. That
would account for hcr not replying to
| questions and Offering no resistance
when her maid removed her clothing to
put her to bed. Still. it is merely Il guess
1t is possible that sho arose in tho night
and wandered out Of tho house. I only
venture tho suggestion as Vague Glow
for You to work from"
What do you think Of this lettcr?'
asked MIR. Barnes, handing him the
anonymous communication signed "M.
t."
Tho doctor read it twico over and thon
said:
Looks moro like somnambulism than
ever. Don't you see? She must have
dressed herself in tho night and wan
dcred Off. Some ono found her and has
taken her homo and now tries to mako
capital out Of it. Will you notice this?"
Wo have already inserted an adycr-
hscment in The ITorald," said Mr.. Ged-
ncy, "asking FOR terms"
Il suppose that was the wiscst
| course, said tho doctor, "and I hone
you VII soon recover litto Nora. /
trust, though, that Mr.. Barnes may be
ablo TO save you paying out anything to
the scoundrel. Well, other people arc
waiting for me, with which romark
Dr. Donaldson left the house.
Mr.. Barnes promised Mr.. Gedney to
loso 40 time in his search and was loay-
ing tho house. when, at tho door, the
butler stopped him by saying:
"Thcre's ono thing, perhaps, sir, that
1 ought to tell you, though it may no,
amount to anything."
"What is it?'' asked Mr.. Barnes.
'Wcll, sir, as you know, tho master
was out on Monday night. 1t was near
| lO O'Clock when the doorbcll rang,
which surprised me. answered the
bell, and it was Mr.. Mitchell"
Mr.. Leroy Mitchell" asked the de-
tectivc, much Interested
| Yes, sir. He comes here often,
though not so late ut night. lie said he
was passing. and, seeing light in the
library, thought he'd drop in and have
cigar with the master. When told