The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-01-08

Il have her fathers consent.
"Ah! congratulate YOU"
Sonntag extended his hand and
smiled. But the smile died away imme.
diately, and the expression which fol-
lowed strangely disturbed me. Was Ii
sorrow? For what? Or was 1t pity?
Surely not pity for me-!
went from the office resolved to fol.
low my lawyers advice just this once.
Tomorrow was not far distant, and ]
would know all then. Wondering very
much what this all would prove TO be, l
started on my five-mile walk homeward.
Fortunately. / encountered Sarah,
who had driven to Twineburgh to do
some trading, and who was just climb
ing into her wagon as came up.
Hello. Sarah" called, as she was
about to take up the lines. "Will you
give me lift?"
She looked around in surprise, then
expressed her pleasure at seeing me
again as climbed up beside her.
AS we were crossing the track at Sid
ington, was considerably surprised to
see the station agent at work on the
platform handling some freight. The
fellow really seemed to be ubiquitous.
l had encountered him in Jacksonville,
in Sonntag's Office, and now again at
the station attending to his duties.
His back was toward us and he did
not notice the wagon and its occupants.
Sarah pulled up the team at my re-
quest and l climbed down from the
wagon. 1 was curious to note again
what effect my presence would have on
the fellow. When I had moved some
distance from the team (for / did not
propose to endanger Sarah's life in
case he took it into his head to fire at
me AGAIN., placing my hand on my re-
volver as it rested in my pocket, /
called to him:
Hello, there! I say, you, Skinner!"
The fellow dropped the truck handles
and turned quickly. Then he fled swift
ly along the platform toward the door
of the station house, through which he
bolted.
But l was not watching him. His
fight and the manner of it was per-
ceived simply because his form was in
the line of vision.
1t was upon the bow-window in the
telegraph office that my gaze was fixed.
For, at my hail, a face had appeared at
that window, and then was quickly
withdrawn.
Did my sight deceive me, or was it
really the face Of Horace Jackson?
Following natural impulse, l,
sprang upon the platform and went to
the door, 1t was locked. Then l tried
the door leading into the ladies' wait
ing-room, but that was also locked.
! walked around the place few times
and peered into each window, but no
one was to be seen.
1t was no surprise that the fellow
Skinner should wish to avoid me, but
If the other face had seen belonged to
Jackson. why should he desire to hide
from mep
The idea of smashing in window or
breaking down door, and thus gain
ing entrance, occurred to me, but on
second thought I abandoned it.
Probably Jackson, having heard that
I was residing at Jacksonville, andknow-
ing that I must therefore have met
Florence Morley and have been in
formed by her of his contemplate man.
ner of trying to win her, thought 1t
best not to meet me.
II he wished to avoid me he was at
liberty to do so. twas trivial circum.
stance, at any rate, and so I left the
platform and climbed back upon the
wagon.
"Vhat for he run SOP" inquired Sarah,
as she drove on.
"Oh, have little account to settle
with him, and he is afraid of me, ]
suppose" replied.
"Der vas anoder man too-in de vim
der" she continued.
"You saw him, then. Yes, I thought
there was. But couldn't find either
of them, and the doors were all locked"
Sarah was much puzzled at the oc.
currence, and made numerous remarks
and asked many questions in the en-
deavor to obtain more light; but did
not crafty her curiosity and answered
ony in monosyllables.
My mind was IN even greater whirl
of perplexity than my old nurses.
Why-had Skinner tried to shoot me,
ard why, after thus showing some pow.
erful animosity toward me, should he
now appear such craven that he fled,
evidently in great fear, from my pres.
ence? What was the fellows real intent
and purpose in engaging himself to
Florence as detective? Was he really
a detective?
Jackson had recommended him to
Florence. What bond existed between
! Jackson and Skinner? And, moreover
who was Sonntag? These three men
seemd somehow strangely connected
with my life, but how and to what end
Sarah, do you know anything abou,
Mr.. Sonntag?" finally asked.
"Ach, yes. He is your lawyer. ain't
he"
"Yes, yes. But do you know anything
about him? He has not been in Irvine
burgh very long, has hep"
mo. Aloud six months. He is {
very nice man, and a goot Won, too
Sarah replied, convincingly.
THAT seems to be the general opin
ion regarding him. Do you know any