Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-07-01

ed over TO door that seemed to lead to
q closet. "Please remain near enough
to see that don't take anything, he
said, with one of his wintry smiles, as
he opened the door and peered into the
closet.
The girl watched him wonderingly, a
little doubtful whether this mild man
nered elderly gentleman was in quite
his right mind.
There seems to be only one suit of
clothes here, said the professor, land
this is heavy winter suit. Do you re-
member whether Mr.. Damon has worn
more than one kind of suit recently7"
"Yes. sir; sometimes he wore a
brown suit. and sometimes black coat
and vest ard gray pants.
"You don't know which suit he had
on when he left the house Wednesday
night, do you?'
mo, sir; didn't see him when ne
went out. l came up to the room and
told him Mr. told him a man
wanted to see him down at the door,
and then went back into the kitchen. y
"Well. neither the brown nor the
black suit appears to be hanging in his
closet. You don't know of one having
been removed ny any one since the dis
appearance of the young man, do you 2
"No, sir. y
"It may easily enough be explained,
though, said the professor. He may
have sent one of the suits to his tailor S
for pressing and cleaning. That would
account for its absence.
The professor was silent for a mo-
ment and surveyed the room curioasly.
Then he said: ga moment ago you said
that you came up here that night tc
tell Mr.. Damon that Mr.. Somebody
wanted to see him. You stopped before
speaking the name. Do you mind tell
ing me what name you were about to
utter?''
The girls face grew red and then
whitened, but she made no answer.
"You might have fancied the caller
resembled some person that you knew, y
said the professor reassuringly, land
inadvertently have been about to men
ton his name to Mr.. Damon. Such
things sometimes happen, you know. y
The professor S tone was encouraging
and his manner such as to inspire con-
fidence.
The poor girl looked sorely puzzled,
but remained silent.
"For instance" said the professor,
Gin the dim light this tall young man
with smooth face and smiling mouth
might have reminded you strongly OF
some one-of Mr.. Rice. say-whom you
have often seen with Mr.. Damon and
whom you would in all likelihood recog-
nize even in shadow. He might have
reminded you of him, and your impress
sion that it was he might have been SC
strong that when you came up here
that night you may have said to Mr..
Damon, Mr.. Rice is down at the door
waiting for you.
A frightened look had come into the
girls face, and she took hold of chair
near her.
"As matter Of fact" continued
Professor Gilman, "isn't that precisely
what you did do? Your impression
then was and still is that the man who
called for Mr.. Damon that night was
his friend Benjamin Rice.
The mild manner of the professor had
given place to sternness, and the girl
began to sob.
"It was Mr.. Rice who called, was it
notY' Professor Gilman persisted.
eyes, sir. " said the girl and sobbed
yet louder.
"There, my girl, there" said the
professor soothingly. Don't feel bad.
Mr.. Rice told You not to tell any one, I
suppose. But don't feel concerned be-
cause you have told me. I give you my
word that believe Mr.. Rice will get
into no serious trouble through your
confession. Do not tell him, nor any
one, that you have told me it was he
who called. 1t is just as we'll to keep 1t
a secret for awhile longer.
And with that the professor departed,
and as he walked back toward the
boarding house in Somerset street he
smiled more than once at something
that pleased him hugely.
TO BE CONTINUED.