The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-09
CHAPTER XIX.

what she did cay was in seeming explanation
thar nrevious sentence. 1T was not the same
hN man | had seen on the doorstep. and while
vas looking at him ] became aware Of some
ope leaving the house and passing me on the
,oad ,phill. OF course this ended my interest
i, What went on within. and turning as quickly
rIrouli | hurried into the road and followed
che shadow 7 could lust pe-ceive disappearing
IN the woods above me. l was.bound. gentle
men: as you see. to follow out my adventure to
thsepd. But my task now became very difl-
nuIt FOR the moon was high aud shone down
rcnn the road so distinctly that l could not fol-
low the person before me as closely as l wished
without running the risk 81 being discovered
by him. | therefore trusted moro to my ear
than 10 my eye. and as long as l could hear his
,tens In front OF me | was satisfied. But pres
.ntly. AZ We turned UP this very hill. ] ceased
N hear the steps. and SO became confident
that he had taken to the woods. was so sure
OF this that | did not hesitate to enter them
myselL, and. knowing the paths well. az l have
avery opportunity OF doing. living as we do.
directly opposite this forest. I easily found my
way to the little clearing that | have reason to
think you gentlemen have since become ac-
ouainted with. But though from the sounds
heard | was assured that the person l was
following was not far in advance Of me. l did
not QdTb 10 enter bHlS plilildutb lluhlnsu
space. especially as there was every Indication
Of this person having completed whatever task
no had set for himself. Indeed. l was sure
that | heard his steps coming back. So. for
the second time. | crouched down in the dark
est place / could find and let this mveterious
person pass me. When he had quite disap-
peared | made my own retreat. for it was late
and | was afraid OF being missed at the bail.
But later. or rather :he re1t day. l returned
and began a search for the money which l was
confident had been left in these woods by the
person I had been following. I found it, and
when the man here present. who. though a
mere fiddler. has presumed to take a leading
Iart in this interview. came upon me with the
bills In my hand. ! was but burying deeper the
iA.gottep gains l had come upon"
All. and sn making them your own" Quoth
sweetwater, stunG by the sarcasm in that
word "Hddler.'
But with a suavity against which every at
tack fell poverless, she met his significant
look with one as significant. and quietly said:
II | had wanted the money for myself l
would not have ,tisked leaving it where the
murderer could find 1t ~ diGGing w a few
leaves. No. ] had another motive for my ac-
1 nSF ;, a ntpIi with which few II any; OF you
the m M whom / had some meSI reason s' as
you see, for thinking ! knew. from the conse-
4 Quences OF his own action
er!and., who naturally believed she referred
70 Zahei; and who; one and all; had u lingering
which not even this seeming act of:madness on
his part could quite destroy, felt Il ~soecies OF
reaction at this, amt surveyed the singular be.
shade o., relentinE in their severity. sweet
water alone BETRAYED restlessness: Knapp
one petriaed and moved neither hand nor foot.
Urine that Is the outcome OF iorethought
Is des . she:Eent on. with a deIibera,e.
auditors shuddered. "But:crime that springs
from some, imperative and overpowering ne
Tmpathy, and am not ashamed Of having
pSeen sorry Tor this frenzied and suffering man.
TeaK ana lmpul5lye AZ YOU may consider ne.
Y be were ever found with this money in his
and trusted to the conipsion:which crime:sI-
STays awakens even in the strongest mind for
n,n "h a?' 70 Tc n5sSGTsF my B fsSfifisfnss subtle, .h?
Clever. too clever were some of the whis-
pered ordinations which this curious expla-
water showed his open and entire disbelief OF
ne story. the others possibly, remembering
srhntnG law and no ordinary interpretation.
ndS ~eEeetwater. however. this was but so
. much display Of feminine resource and sub
usy. though he felt he should keep still in
tne presence OF men so greatly his superiors.
NC .eould not resist saying:
'Nni 10 opIlFLlIltS stranger imam HCIlOU.
should never have attributed any such mo-
iesSia az you mention TO the young, girl l saw
: 1ttbs id 1his ir spot Tith many a backward look
ttbbe IarGe sum "f money in question. But say
una thls reburytng, Of stolen funds was out OF
sSasiIeration Tor the feeble old man you de-
St'he as having carried them there. do you
scc. sse nay att sy MS act you can be held as an
der eyebrows went up and the delicate
sSSS'e o. her lips was not without menace as
You hate me. Mr.. Sweetwater. Do you
"sh me TO tell these gentlemen why"
.rhitne nush which. notwithstanding this pe-
.rI%Ga his features was q surprise to Fred,
HNS. 20 was It To the others. who saw in II
G hStTsst0le hint as t. the real cause Of his per.
ISL therio ~IsGrihcd entirely to his love Of
;vttT nosouS SiiG1Rt"d lGye makes some hearts
2nce loved this bewitchines H pieSc '" "f mnr "Hse
i an suffered from her di1dnin'
Sweet 3 w a very n9sed6Ie assumEt'om. though
smn,! " m"r question, which nevertheless had
'" Tn' served is turn.
so \, ,he gap made bv his silence. Mr..
bIWiF'hd mad" an effort and addressed her
: " Nrctjy honorable rcrson. Why did you
Ky" no alarm when YOU re-entered my
inrn,l.tG' after being witness to this double
4 '"r"1l'! 81 NO. 10 b" disturbed.
"it,fI 'l,,i 4 u.s., ~. mud. she reminded him.
tu,N" All haze s,nprthy ror James label,
DO rn' ho'ioy~ our word % this story" in
i"t"tWdiei, IN reckless disregard Of
liz I/n,iiLret-s "a hungry. feeble old man
kaayye If@nr,J o. tho verge Of death. could not
y"n s.,'NH ms way M INTO these woods. a.
''af Ms vog are the "'''''' '"'''
"a, ii.h lut"rEoscd tho Coroner. authori-
w., 90 not let us C. too fast vet. Miss
M "'r at an, 81 speaking the truth. strange
e. taan,.. GhI = u'na aS j., may Sem, /ah"I w9-
,n. ana murder, u IVA, MOI until hi, ft,ri.