San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-08-01

| III 81
| He heard the door open behtnd him, and,
turning, sdto Virginia.
ing the door and placing the key in his
pocket. They passed down the stairs
and. meeting no one, parted at the gate,
the physician jumping into his wagon
| and turning his horses head homeward.
Left to himself, Burrows fastened to
commence his search. First he satisfied
himself that he was alone in the house,
the others apparently having gone out.
Feeling thus safe from danger of inter-
ruption, he unhesitatingly proceeded to
the room which had been occupied by
John Lewis. Here he found clothing in
the closet and in the drawer of a bureau.
He examined everything most thorough
ly, but was chagrined and disappointed
by not finding what he sought. At
length, however. he was compelled to
admit that there was no sign of such
evidence as he sought, and he COM
menced replacing things as he had found
them.
While thus occupied he heard the door
open behind him, and, turning, saw
Virginia.
"What are you doing?" said She
"Those are my uncle's things. Why
are you disturbing themH"
Burrows flushed, as though detected
in some dishonorable act, and though
he felt that he had done but his duty
he would have been glad if Virginia
had delayed her entrance by half an
hour. However, he determined to tell
the truth, and it even occurred to him
that he might discover something by
closely watching Virginia's face as he
disclosed his suspicious to her.
"Miss Lewis" said he, II confess it
may seem strange that should be thus
engaged, but as detective, endeayor-
ing to find the murderer of your uncle,
suppose you will admit that l may use
all means to compass that end?''
at am not sufficiently versed in the
methods Of the thief taker to be a
judge" replied Virginia coldly. Bur
rows colored at the evidently intended
slur, and with some asperity he an
swered:
"If I am thief taker. it is only the
criminal who has need to fear my
methods. The innocent can be in no
danger
"You are egotistical. Beware that
you do not make the innocent suffer for
the guilty in this case"
"Ahl You know who the guilty is,
do you notf7 Tell me what it is that
you know and what You are conceal
ing?" At these words Virginia drew
herself up to the extreme height of her
commanding figure. and with wither-
ing scorn she replied:
''Mr. Burrows, you forget yourself.
How dare you speak so to me?" Bur.
rows was about to reply, but before he
could sufficiently control himself she
continued: Enough of this. am not
here to aid you in capturing the Grim
inal, but want to know what you are
doing among my uncle's clothing"
By this time Burrows was determined
to deal with her with entire disregard
of her sex, remembering only that she
was possessed of guilty knowledge il
nothing more. He watched her narrow
| ly as he asked:
"Where are the clothes which your
uncle wore when ! IL as shot?"
The girls countenance did not change,
save that a slight, a very slight, smile
crossed her lips
at appears that my uncle was in his
nightdress when he was killed. There
fore your question is unintelligible, l"
she replied.
Your uncle was in his full dress
when shot, and l am seeking the gar
ments which he wore. /"
Have you found them?" asked Vir-
ginia, still with her oountenance under
perfect control.
"No, have not, admitted Burrows,
| little disconnected. Before he could
continue he was surprised to hear her
say:
"Will you come in to dinner? l came
| to call my cousin, but he does not APP
pear to be here Without waiting for
his answer she left the room.
Burrows was Disconnected at the read
mess with which she had dismissed the
whole topic. Could it be, he thought,
that, after all, she knew nothing? He
could not bring himself to admit this,
remembering her evident interest in
keeping some secret of which she was
possessed. 1.-THE deeper 1 get the more
complicated the whole thing seems to
be, =" he muttered, as he followed his
hostess to the dining room. At that mo-
meut he sineerelv wished for the return