Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-09-16
RQpRIGyES ( o11eLEN!ayI| !!
COPYRIGHT. 1897 er G. p purMAMs sons.

importance with your father this morn
ing, and I am taking detective with
me to his house."
"a detective!' 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 alarmed!' said
the squire, observing his agitation. 1T
is in your fathers interest that I have
brought a detective from Boston. will
explain as we 60 along"
"You 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 you meant to arrest him. "
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 tho
home of John Lewis. As they walked
the squire enlightened them upon the
affair which had necessitated the pres
ence Of detective.
"This business" he began, "is par
ticularly unpleasant because the best
people in the town arc mixed up in it
John Lewis came to Lee 10 years ago,
bringing with him little girl, then
about years Of age. Virginia she is
named, though her intimates call her
Vireie. We knew nothing Of Lewis, but
he appeared to have money, for he
bought Riverside farm, OIL which he
has lived ever since. Ho made friends
rapidly as the townspeople came to
know him, and he was reckoned an &C.
QUESTION. The girl was not his own
child, he explained. but al adopted one.
the daughter Of his sister, who had died.
He mentioned having u 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 military
academy in New York, but I chafed un-
der the restraint, and one day very
foolishly ran away and shipped for
voyage to China. p"
"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 a place and since then have
been permanent residents Naturally
young Walter Marvel-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 bo in love with AL
ice, though thore are some who claim
that We're 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
young people are fast friends.
sENko,, tlxy kn~othor oy,d
are partners in many enterprises Of O
social or charitable nature. Another
fact which has not unimportant 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 circus appeared in this
neighborhood, the star attraction OF
which was young girl who was Won
derfully clever with pistol. Virgie de-
clared that she, too, could learn to
shoot, and the result was that pistols
were bought, and, may say, sort OF
shooting club was formed, though only
these four were members.
Recently Virgie attained her major
ity and arranged to celebrate it with Q
festival for all of her friends. AS 1t
was during the nutting season the guests
wero invited to come for the day, the
many 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 1t was announced
that there would be a shooting match
in which all could take part.
"All went merrily during the morn
ing, and sumptuous dinner, served
upon tables in the open air, had been
enjoyed by all, after which the party dis
persed about the farm in small groups.
was sitting on a bench chatting with
Lewis when Virgie 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 l had no idea
of Marvel's object in seeking the inter.
view with Lewis and was startled few
moments later to hear them talking in
angry tones; but that you may better
understand the affair l will relate just
what occurred, as it was told to me aft
erward by Lewis himself.
"It appears that the shooting match
that day had a greater prize at stake
than the trophy which had been offered.
Marvel had asked Virgie to be his wife
and begged permission to speak to her
adopted father. With smile and wom'