The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-07-22

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 not? 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 me3" Bur.
rows was about to reply, but before he
could sufficiently control himself she
continued: Enough Of this. I 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 if
nothing more. He watched her narrow
ly as he asked:
Where are tho clothes which your
uncle wore when he was shot?"
The girls countenance did not change,
save that a slight, very slight. smile
crossed her lips.
1T appears that my uncle was in his
nightdress when he was killed. There
: fore your question is unintelligible, !"
she replied.
"Your uncle was in his full dress
when shot, and I am seeking the gar
ments which he wore.'
"Have you found them2" asked Vir-
ginia, still with her oountenance under
perfect control.
'No, I have not" admitted Burrows,
q little disconnected. Before he could
continue he was surprised to hear her
cay:
will you come in to dinner? came
to call my cousin, but he does not ap-
pear to be here" Without waiting for
his answer she left the room.
Burrows was disconnected at the read
iness 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 YVES
possessed. "1he deeper I get the more
complicated the whole thing seems to
be-" no nuttered, as he followed his
hostess to the dining room. At that mo-
ment he sincerely wished for the return
Of Mr. Barnes.
Nothing Of any consequence occurred
during the remainder Of the day, and
Burrows retired carly to sleep that
night. Once in bed, he could not help
wondering whether there would be a
repetition of the mysterious noises of
the night before. His slumbers wero
undisturbed, and he awoke much ro-
freshed the next morning. Immediately
after breakfast he left the farm and
went to the saloon where he and Mr..
Barnes had stopped Oh their first ar
rival. Here he found, as he expected.
= that their trunks had been sent from
New Market, and he was thus enabled
to make change of clothing, of which
he felt sorely in need. This done, he
proceeded to the squire house to ascer-
tain if anything had been heard from
his superior.
He was ushered into a most comfort
able parlor and was shortly joined by
the squire himself, who entered with a
dispatch in his hand.
GOOD morning, Mr.. Burrows, said
he, advancing. II presume you are anx-
ious to know about Mr.. Barnes. have
just received message from him, sent
from Portsmouth. He promises to be
with US today. Do you know what call
ed him to that city,"
mot exactly, squire, though I fancy
might guess. He left me to find out
the address on-a certain letter which he
thought it of Importance to have. Isup-
pose he must have followed the letter to
its destination, in order to come up with
the party to whom it was written"
"And who may that be?' asked the
squire, with considerable curiosity.
II cannot say certainly" replied
Burrows; "but, as the letter was written
by Miss Lewis, I fancy it may be her
lover, Walter Marvel. II this should
prove to be the case, you will see how
we'll Mr.. Barnes foretold how he should
find this man when he said that he
would only need to keep watch on the
movements Of the lady"
but does he - that is, does Mr..
Barnes think that Marvel is connected
with this case?" The squire's voice
quivered slightly. Evidently he was
sorry to have this young man implicated
"You will find, when you know Mr.
Barnes better, that he is very slow to
express any decided opinions in cases Of
this kind In fact, it is commonly said
among the men on the force that
when Mr.. Barnes accuses man he al
ways proves him guilty. Therefore, you
sec, it is impossible for me as yet to say
just what he docs think"
Before the conversation could be car
ried any further, there was loud rap
on the knocker Of the front door, and
the squire himself FASTENED to open it,
ushering IN Mr. Barnes and Walter
Marvel. Squire Olney was as one struck
dumb when he saw and recognized the
latter. How quickly this shrewd de-
tective had accomplished what had baf
fled the efforts of so many othersl In
just "a hours he had apprehended the
man whom he had come to find. Marvel
was the first to speak.
Good morning, squire. You seem
surprised to see me.
II am" rejoined ths squire briefly.
"Mr. Barnes here has told me what
did not know. You have offered a re-
ward fr my capture"
The squire hastened to disayow any,