The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1897-11-13

Decu WnOlly SedIeO- IernAps tnerc VIVA
. secret entrance provided. But then.
why should your property have been
selected? Were you alone when the
discovery was made?"
"No, sir. A woman who used TO act
as nurse girl when was young one
was with me, and also Mrs. Snyder. the
widow who takes care Of the house"
ayes, I know. I believe the old
widow can be relied upon to say moth
ing about the circumstances II she is
told not to- How about the other. your
old nurse?"
"She would do anything possible for
me. / was her idol when child, and
now devotion for me seems to have
been augmented in proportion to my
stature. Sarah is wholly trustworthy,
and II l requested her not to mention
the matter she would have her tongue
cut out rather than breathe a word
of It,"
That's good. The discovery had best
be kept secret" the old lawyer said, re-
fectively.
There is another thing 1wish to men
ton, though perhaps It is hardly worth
dwelling upon. Mrs. Snyder thinks
there is something strange about the
house. And she has so succeeded in
impressng my old nurse with the idea
that Sarah is quite concerned about my
staying. She seems to be imbued with
an inexplicable fear that something
harmful threatens me-"
Indeed! What do you mean when
you say there is something stranger
You mean mysterious?" the old lawyer
asked, in the manner he would have
used in cross-examining witness.
Eyes; Mrs. Snyder claims to have
seen mysterious lights at night, and
heard strange noises"
Mr.. Sonntag's eyes lost their shrewd
expression for a few moments; he re-
lapsed into deep thought.
Have these mysteries any relation
to, or any connection with, the sealed
cellar?" he finally asked
THE woman said nothing about the
strange events being located in any par
ticular place, and did not think to ask
her." replied. The old lawyers ques'
ton opened up new train of thought.
Could it be possible that the strange
voice I had heard proceeded from the
sealed cellar?
"Ah! I suppose the women are SUI
perstitious and think the place is
haunted. Such ideas generally get
abroad about old, long vacated houses.
But you do not mind their talk?
You are not afraid of ghosts, are your
The old fellows eyes twinkled merrily.
well have never come across any
of those shadowy beings. could tell
better after met one. hardly think
talk alone could brighten me" replied,
somewhat shamefacedly, remembering
how nearly l had been unnerved the
night before by my own reflection.
II will be over some time tomorrow,
and will see if anything can be done re.
garding the mysterious cellar" Mr..
Sonntag said, as | rose to leave. "And
| pardon me for referring to the unfor-
tunate affair-have you heard of any
new developments in the robbery case?''
What" exclaimed. you know of il
too?"
Certainly. lived near Philadelphia
at the time and read the papers," he
replied. smlingly.
ut seems cannot escape hearing of
that terrible affair."" l said. bitterly.
And l acted the part OF fool, too. in
the matter. Instead of putting forth
every effort to find the perpetrators
let the thing go; let others. who could
not possibly have had the interest in
the case that had. undertake investi'
cations. am rightly served for my
supineness. for have heard nothing
about 1t at all. know what knew
the morning of it's occurrence. not bit
more. Others have failed; intend to
rec now what l can do"
you intend going into the affair
then?" he said, dryly.
II do, with all the energy and re-
source am possessed Of"
do you know how near you came
to being arrested for the crime"
Sonntag asked.
"Why, yes. I know, Of course, that
would have happened could anything
have been found against me-"
"Well, there was enough to hold you,
on suspicion at least"
Then why did you not arrest me p?
| am sure l was willing. I courted a
trial."
ut was very seriously talked OF
among the trustees. But the president
opposed it, for one" Sonntag said.
Yes, know he really believed me
innocent"
But his objection was not the strong-
est influence which arose in your be-
half" continued my agent. "The
strongest. most powerful opposition to
your arrest came from one whose influ-
ence outweighs even the presidents"
"One of the trustees?" asked, eager.
ly.
"Y.s."