San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-18
eoPrs,esI 1897 BY g. pursANts SONS.

ing, and | am taking detective with
me TO his house.
"A detectivel' exclaimed Lewis. He
seemed startled, and Tom Burrows,
who was watching him, noted that he
glanced hurriedly around the room, his
eyes resting finally upon Mr.. Barnes
and himself
''Oh, you need not be alarmedr' said
the squire, observing his agitation. at
is in your fathers interest that ] have
brought detective from Boston. will
explain as we go along"
lyon must excuse my being startled, "
said Lewis, but it rather astounded me
TO hear that you were taking detective
to my fathers house. At the instant the
absurd but horrible idea entered my
brain that Won meant to arrest him. I"
Tom Burrows thought it significant
fact that at the mention of the word
detective" Lewis eye should have
sought the very men who were detect
ives. When he impaired this suspicion
to Mr. Barnes. the latter suggested that
possibly Lewis had seen them before
and that their faces attracted him be-
cause he partly recognized them. Sub
sequently he learned that Lewis had
seen them that Same morning on the
train, but had reached Lee after them,
because he had walked from Newman
ket, while they had taken the stage.
Without further conversation the four
men started on their way toward the
home of John Lewis. As they walked
the squire enlightened them upon the
affair which bad pecessitated the pres
ence Of detective,
This business" he began, sis par,
ticularly unpleasant because the best
people in the town are mixed up in it.
John Lewis came TO Lee Is years ago,
bringing with him little girl, then
about g years Of age. Virginia she is
named, though her intimates call her
Virgie. We knew nothing of Lewis, but
he appeared 10 have money, for he
bought Riverside farm, on which he
has lived ever since. He made friends
rapidly as the townspeople came to
know him, ard be was reckoned an &C
QUESTION. The girl was not his own
child, be explained, but an adopted one,
the daughter of his sister, who had died.
he mentioned having q son'-the squire
here addressed Lewis-"bpt we never
saw you. How was that"
when my father came to Lee, " re-
piled Lewis, "he left me at q military
academy in New York, but chafed I'M
der the restraint, and one day very
foolishly ran away and shipped for a
voyage to China"
"Ah! That explains matters About
five years after Lewis settled here the
Marvels came. At first it was only for
the summer months, but finally they
bought place and since then have
been permanent residents. Naturally
young Walter MarveI--an only SON.
met Virgie, and from boyhoCd he has
been attached TO her. But while she
has not rejected his attentions she has
never acted SO that any one, even her
most intimate friends, could be sure
that she loved him. There are two 9TH
ers connected with what | am about TO
tell you-Alice Marvel, Walters sister,
and Harry Lucas, Walters friend, cur
rently supposed TO be in love with AL
ice, though there are some who claim
that were it not for the friendship be-
tween him and Walter, Lucas would |
court Miss Lewis himself. That is prob
ably only gossip. However, these four
'oung people are fast friends.
They are constantly together and |
re partners in many enterprises of
ocial or charitable nature. Another |
act which has not unimportant bear |
ng upon the subsequent events is that |
II four of these young people are expert |
ibots with pistol. Some two or three |
ears ago a circus appeared in this
leighborhCod, the star attraction Of |
which was a young girl who was won
lerfully clever with a pistol Virgie de- |
Jared that she, too, could learn to |
boot, and the result was that pistols |
we're bought, and, may say, sort of |
hooting club was formed, though only
hese four were members
Recently Virgie attained her major
~ and arranged to celebrate it with a
festival for all Of her friends. As it
vas during the nutting season the guests
we're invited 10 come for the day, the
many nut trees near the river banks
occupation to those who cared
or that sort of amusement, while ten
lis nets and croquet were set upon, the
avn. In addition it was announced
hat there would be a shooting match
N which all could take part.
"All went merrily during the morn
ng, and a sumptuous dinner, served
upon tables in the open air, had been
enjoyed by all, aftCy which the party dis
persed about the farm in small groups.
was sitting Oh Eench chatting with
Lewis wien Virgie and Walter Marvel
approached. The latter asked permits
don to speak to Lewis privately, and
therefore walked little way from them
with YirRie. At the time had no idea
Of Marycl's object in seeking the inter.
riew with Lewis and was startled a few
later to hear them talking in
angry ZONES; but that you may better
the affair will relate Just
what occurred, us it was told TO me aft.
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