The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-10-20


he was absent Burrows took the oppor-
tunity to ask Lewis few more ques-
tions.
"Mr. Lewis" said he, "hov. long is
it since you were at sea, a: by did
you give up the life? Thoug- perhaps
you mean to return to it:''
"Oh, no. I have had enough Of ii.
The beautiful ease and comfort of the
messroom, described IL the books cf
adventure written for boys, are very
much overdrawn, I assure you. It was
this kind of literature which first made
me long for the sea. After became
sailor in earnest the charm of the ro-
nance dimmed considerably before the
stern reality. ] was sorry enough that I
had left home. -
"Why, then, did you not return
sooner?"
'sAh, that is easier said than done! I
shipped for a voyage to China. There l
was forced to leave my ship and find
another homeward bonnd, which was
not easy, or else to follow the fortunes
of my messnates. chose the latter, the
consequence being that it was five years
before we reached the States again, and
then il was on the Pacific coast. AS
there was little chance of finding my
father anyway, since I knew he had
contemplated trip to Europe, scarce
ly felt like crossing the whole breadth
of the country on the errand. So
shipped again, and so it was from one
ship to another, and the years rolled
by"
"still, you have come home at last
and found out where your father was
located too?''
eyes. Ny ship touched at Ports
mouth. as we were SO near to where
my father last was and as I was pretty
we'll sick of the sea, concluded to give
it up and come to Lee, with the faint
hope that I could hear something Of
my fathers whereabouts. The result
you know
eyes, and I sympathize with ycu
very much. hope you will pardon my
having appeared to doubt your identity, ),
I am trying to discover murderer, and
it is my duty to make every one ACCOUNT
for himself
Let US say no more about it. I IN
derstand your motive exactly and am
really glad that you are so careful in
your Investigations. 1 hope you will be
successful in finding the criminal. He
must be discovered at all hazards. l
may have been bad son to my father
while he was living Now must do all
in my power to avenge him." Lewis
spoke with SO much feeling that Bur-
rows did not for a moment doubt his
sincerity and determined to redouble
his efforts to be tie one to place the
murderer in custody.
At this juncture the squire returned,
followed by Miss Marvel and Virginia,
both of whom he introduced to Lewis
and to Burrows. To the former the
young ladies bowed cordially, and it
was evident that the squire had left no
doubt in Virginia's mind as to his iden-
tity, for she greeted him as relative,
though with no undue show Of feeling.
Toward Burrows it was different.
Though she offered him room in the
house during his connection with the
case, it was done in a formal way and
with a certain hauteur Of manner not
easily misunderstood. However coldly
offered, it suited Burrows to accept the
invitation, and she showed him to
chamber OF the next floor, just above
the one which had been used as sleep
ing apartment by John Lewis. Virginia
then descended to the parlor, and, ao-
dressing Lewis, she said:
eff you do not mind, will give you
the same room that your father had. -
Lewis acquiesced and followed her as
she led the way.
The squire thereupon started for his
home and escorted Miss Marvel to her
residence.
Burrows retired early that night, IN
tending to be as fresh as possible for the
next days work. He slept SO soundly
that when he awoke, with sudden con-
sciousness Of having been disturbed by
some extraneous sound, it was impossi
BILE for him to determine whether he had
slept for hours or minutes. Indeed he
could not even understand thoroughly
what it was that he had heard. 1t left
the impression on his mind of an OBJ
ject, such as chair perhaps, which had
been overturned, but whether he had
really heard anything or only imagined
it in connection with some vagary CT
dreamland he could not be sure. How
ever, though he had been sleeping
soundly, he was now thoroughly aroused
and could not dismiss the idea that he
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