The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-10
CHAPTER xxxII. (ContinueO.


The laugh with which he delivered
this last sentence might have been
heard a quarter Of mile away. Lu-
cetta looked at Loreen and Loreen
looked at me, but none Of us Joined
in the mirth which seemed to me
very ill-timed.
Suddenly Lucetta asked:
did they dig up Mr.. Trohm's cell
lar?'
william stopped laughing long
"His cellar? Why, it's cemented as
hard as an oak floor. No, they didn't
polish their spade in this house, which
was another source Of satisfaction to
me. Deacon Spear hasn't even that to
comfort him. Oh how I did enjoy that
old fellows face when they began to
root up his old fungi!'
Lucetta turned away with a certain
odd constraint I could not but notice.
tits a humiliating day for the lane"
said she. "And what is worse" she
suddenly added, nothing will ever
reach the root of this matter"
I thought her manner odd, and, NOV
ing up to her, I took her by the mana
with something of a relatives famlnar-
ity. -
Gryce seems a very capable man."
Eyes, yes, but capability has nothing
to do with it. Chance might and pluck
might, but wit. and experience not.
otherwise the mystery would have been
settled long ago. I wish p
"Wel?" Her hand was trembling Vlo-
lently.
Nothing. I don't know why I have
allowed myself to talk on this subject.
reason for breaking such a compact
never to give any opinion upon it. You
see how I have kept It,"
She had drawn her hand away and
suddenly had become quite composed.
I turned my attention toward Loreen,
but she was looking out Of the window
and showed no intention of further pur-
suing the conversation. William hao
strolled out.
"Well." said I, eff ever girl had
reason for breaking such compoct
you are certainly that girl. could
never have been as silent as you nave
been-that Is, if I had any suspicious
on so serious a subject, as from your
appearance you certainly have. why,
your own good name is 1mpugned-
yours and. that of every other person
living in this lane" -. r.,
miss Butterworth," she replied, Il
have gone too far Besides, you have
misunderstood me. I have no more
knowledge than any one else as to the
source of these terrible tragedies. 1
onIv know that an almost superhuman
cunning lies at the bottom OF so many
nnaccountable disappearances, cum
ming so great that only crazy per-
SOM u,ro.,,
"Ah,'' I murmured eagerly Mother
Jane"
n raco1utiOD.
T,ucetta," said I, "is Deacon Spear a
rich MANI
amazed. -,
guess that he is the man who has held
S S in such thraldom for years.
"And if he were?" said she.
at could understand Williams an
+ipathy to him and also his suspicious"
She gave me a strange look, then
without answering walked over and
took Loreen by the hand. "Hush! L
Thought 1 heard her whisper. AT all
events the two sisters were silent for
800 than a moment Then Luce'tta
said: 14 -,
ine will ever make me accuse living
man of crime so dreadful" And she
walked away, drawing Loreen after
her. In another moment she was out
| of the room, leaving me In a state OF
great excitement
sTShis girl holds the secret to the
whole situation" Wrought l. The belief
tbat nothing more can be learned from
| H. KnoIlvs is a false one. I must see
M Gryce. Williams rodomantades are
co much empty air, but Lucetta's 81
lence has a meaning we cannot aHord
| to ignore" 4
So impressed was I by this that
| took the first opportunity which pre-
sented itself of seeing the detective.
This was early the next morning. He
and several of the toWnSpeople had
made their. appearance at Mother
lanes cottage, with spades and picks,
and the sight had naturally drawn us
all down to the gate, Where we sIoou
watching operations in a silence which
| would hayeabeen considered unnatural
hv anv one who did not realize the
| Conflicting nature Of the emotions un-
| deriving it, William, to whom the
| death of his mother seemed to be
| great deliverance, had been inclined te
| he more orr less ocular, but his sal
| lies meeting with no response he hat
| sauntered away to have 1t out with
his dogs. leaving me alone with the two
| girls and Hannah.
| This latter seemed to be absorbed en-.
| tirely by the aspect of Mother Jane
who stood upon her doorstep in an at.
titude so menacing that 1T was little
| short of tragic. Her hood, for the frs
| time in the memory of those present
had fallen away from her head. show.
ing a wealth of gray hair which flew
away from her head like a weird halo
Her features we could not distinguish
| but the emotion which inspired hel
| breathed in every gesture of her up
lifted arms and swaying body. 1t wa:
wrath personifed, and yet an unreason
ing wrath. One could see she was al
much dazed as outraged. Her lares ani
penates were being attacked, and sht
had come from the heart Of her soil