The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-09-15

me to his house.
GA detective!:' exclaimed Lewis. He
seemed startled, and Tom Burrows,
who vas watching him, noted that he
glanced hurriedly around the room, his
eyes resting finally upon Mr.. Barnes
and himself.
'tOh, you need not be alarmed!'' said
the squire, observing his agitation. Sit
is in your fathers interest that have
brought detective from Boston. I will
explain as we go along.
You must excuse my being startled, :"
said Lewis, but itrather astounded me
to hear that you were taking detective
to my father house. At the instant the
absurd but horrible idea entered my
brain that you meant to arrest him. "
Tom Burrows thought it significant
Efact that at the mention of the word
detective Lewis eye should have
sought tbs very men whQ were detect
1 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 ofsJohn Lewis. AS they walked
the squire enlightened them upon the
affair which had necess7tated the pres
ence of detective.
1sThis business, he began, sis par
ticularly unpleasant because the best
people in the town are mixed up. IN it.
John Lewis came to Lee 10 years ago,
bringing with him a little girl, then
about 6 years of age. Virginia she is
named, though her intimates call her
Virgie. We knew nothing of Lewis, but
he appeared to 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, and he was reckoned an ac-
auisition. The girl was not his own
child, he explained, but an adopted one,
the daughter of his sister, who had died.
mentioned having son''-the squire
here addressed Lewis but we never
saw you. How was that?''
..When my father came to Lee, . re-
piled Lewis, she left me at a military
academy in New York, but chafed un--
der the restraint, and one day very
foolishly ran away and shipped for a
voyage to China. .
All! 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 a place and since then have
been permanent residents. Naturally
young Walter Marvel-an only SON
met Virgie, and from boyhood 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 otfor tne friendship be-
tween him and Walter, Lucas would
court Miss Lewis himself That is prob
ably only gossip. However, these four
young people are fast friends.
''They are constantly together and
are partners in many enterprises of a
social or charitable nature. Another
fact which has not unimportaut bear
ing upon the subsequent events is that
all four of these young people are expert
shots with pistol. Some two or three
years ago a circus appeared in this
neighborhood, the star attraction Of
which was a young girl who was won
derfully clever with a pistol. Virgie de-
clared that she, too, could learn to
shoot, and the result was that pistols
were bought, and, may say, q sort of
shooting club was formed, though only
these four were members.
Recently Virgie attained her majQr
ity and arranged to celebrate it with a
festival for all of her friends. AS it
was during the nutting season the guests
were invited to come for the day, the
mary nut trees near the river banks
promising occupation to those who cared
for that sort of amusement, while ten
mis- nets and croquet were set upon the
lawn. In addition it was announced
that there would be a shooting match
in which all could take part.
stAll went merrily during the morn
ing, and a sumptuous dinner, served
upon tables in the open air, had been
enjoyed by all, after which the party dis
rersed about the farm in small groups.
was sitting On bench chatting with
Lewis when yirg;e and Walter Marvel
approached The latter asked permis-
sion to speak to Lewis privately, and I
therefore walked little way from them
with Virgie. At the time / had no idea
of Marvel's object in seeking the inter
view with Lewis and was startled a few
moments later to hear them talking in
angry tones. hTt th1t Won NAV hette,.