Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-03-14

and bevond the wall itself the red-tiled
roof of loads cottage. showing in pictur-
esoue contrast against the delicate azure
Of an August sky. After regarding the
scene from right TO left, as it lay STEPPED
in the yellow sunlight, Dora's gaze finally
rested on the glimpse of Joad's house.
There it stayed: and her thoughts revert
cd TO the remark made about the clock by
Pallant. and TO the later explanation
given by Meg Canoe. What connection
these things had with Joad may be gather
cd from the girls thoughts
They ran something after this fashion:
Gould it be possible that Joad had killed
Ed5rmont? There seemed to be no motive
for his committing the crime, and he was
not the kind of man to run needlessly into
danger. Yet the discovery about the clock
was certainly very strange l knew 1t
was correct on the night of the murder
meditated Dora L set my watch by it
before I went up stairs That was a, half
past nine. and my watch has been right
ever since. When Meg looked at it in the
morning it was an hour wrong; therefore
somebody must have put it wrong with
intent. 1t is impossible that so excellent a
clock could suddenly slip for an hour and
then go on again. Could Joad have been
in the house on that night. and have put
it on an hour? AT the time of the muir
der the clock struck one and at that hour
Joad. according 10 his own showing and
Mr.. Pride's confederation. was in the cot
tage. II The clock had been put wrong,
the murder must have taken place at
twelve. since it was an hour fast in the
morning. There was ample time for Joad
to commit the crime at twelve and be back
in his cottage by one"
Dora got up and walked resJlessly to
and fro. She could not quite understand
why the clock should have BEEN put on
an hour. so as to give false time when
there was no one TO hear it In the night.
That she had woke up and heard IL strike
was quite an accident. although there had
been nights when she had heard every
hour. every chime. strike till dawn. Sud
denly she remembered that once she had
something to load about her sleepless
nights. on the impulse of the moment she
walked into the library
Mr.. Joad." she said to the old man.
who was reading near The window, that
hall clock"
1t seemed TO Dora that pallor crept
over the red face of the man she addressed.
However he looked up quietly enough,
ard spoke 10 her with the greatest calm
ness.
what about the hall clock, Miss Dora?'
he asked in a puzzled tone.
1T is disturbing me again. 7 really must
have it removed. In the dead hours
hear it strike in the most ehostly, grave
yard fashion. As il did on that night,
she concluded under her breath.
DO you have many sleeploss nights
now?"
How 90 you know that I have sleep
less nights at all?" she asked quickly.
Joad looked at her in surprise. You
told me so yourself shortly before We lost
Julian" he said quietly. 1T was tooth
ache was i; not?'
"Yes-something of that sort she an
swered carelessly But it is not tooth
ache now Still / lie awake thinking
"Of me?" said Joad with a leer.
The week is not YET over, Mr.. load"
she said coldly: "til the end of il You have
no right to ask me such a question.
Goodbye for the present; / am going out
on my bicycle"
This was an excuse. Confident that Joad
had altered the clock. on the chance that
she would hear il during her .leep'ess
nights. she was confident also that for
such reason. and for a more terrible one.
ne had been i'm the house on the night Of
the murder
'He pu;on the clock so as to prove an
alibi" she thought wheeling her bicycle
down the path to the gale. IF he killed
EdermOut at twelve o'clock-tho right time
when it struck one-he would have ample
opportunity of getting back TO the cottage
through the postern. ! quite believe that
he was with Pride az one o'clock; but I
also believe he was I'm the study at twelve"
She had proved TO her own satisfaction
that Joad could have been i'm the house:
she wished to discover if h. had killed
Edermont The assassin had committed
the crime to obtaiR the manuscript con-
tanning the story of her guardians life.
If Joad were guilty that manuscript
would be in his possession This was why
Dora excused herself on plea of riding
her bicycle. She was determined TO search
Joads cottage and find out if the manu-
script was hidden there.
With this intent she hid the bicycle BE-
hind the hedge on the other side of the
road, and went TO the cottage. There was
plenty of time for her to search. as Joad
took his midday meal i'm the Red House.
and never returned to his house until nine
at night. She had the whole day at her
disposal and determined to search in
every corner for the manuscript she be
Heved he had hidden. If she found it she
would then be able to prove Allen guilt
less and Joad guilty. 1t would be mag
nihcent revenge on her part. The man
would be caught i'm his own trap.
1t can he easily guessed by what steps
Dora had arrived at this conclusiOn-the
A LESSON IN