Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1899-05-18

lied the situation.
THANK God you are coming around
again" said Harry; "but it has been
a hard case. Fred you have been as
crazy as loon for whole week. I
advise you not to try the observatory
again till you are strong enough to
crawl back"
AT these words, what I had seen
from the housetop flashed upon my
mind; but had my life depended upon
1t could not then have told that it
was not all dream. To convince my
| self inquired for John Layton.
HE is--no one knows where" re-
piled Harry; "but you are too weak to
either talk or listen"
"No, I'm not, Harry; tell me about
| it,"
He yet hesitated, but I urged him,
and he yielded.
John Layton disappeared a week
ago." said he. "Absconded is the
better word, for he took with him
quite an amount of money belonging
to his father. The old gentleman is
very wroth, and has used every means
to find him, but has not succeeded.
Fanny Morton-they were to be mar
ried soon, you knpw-is almost crazy
about it, and will not believe that
John intended to do anything wrong.
This is all that is known about it.
But, speaking Of marriage, did you
know that Gerald Macburn and
Jenny Magrair are to be married to-
morrow"
John Layton is Dead" said I,
without answering his question,
though it had sent pain through my
heart that was agony to me. "He is
dead, Harry Wilmot."
Harry gazed at me, pityingly.
''There, Fred, wouldn't talk any
more" said he. "You are very weak
yet. Try and sleep"
''You think I am still crazy,
Harry9"
"Don't Fred, don'tl If you ever
expect to get off this sick bed you
must be more reasonable.
Ny question was answered.
turned my face 10 the wall and tried
to determine in my own mind whether
I was sane or not
went to sleep thinking of it, and
when I awoke the sun was going
down.
Harry, who had been out during
my sleep, had Just returned, and nis
entrance had probably walked me.
"How do you feel now, Fred?" said
he, drawing chair to the bedside.
Much better and stronger, Harry
I have had q most refreshing sleep. -
We talked awhile, and then I alb
ruptly asked him If he would grant
me one favor on the morrow.
Certainly, Fred, if it isn't asking
too much"
"1t will be quite easy, though none
the less important. Will you promise
to carry out my directions faithfully"
"If reasonable, yes. But couldn't
you postpone it for day2 You know
the wedding comes off tomorrow"
"Not an hour, Harry, after sunrise
in the morning, and it should be done
tonight, if it were not too late"
swell. go on, Fred, and let us hear
what 1t Is"
I did not tell him what I had seen
from the housetop, for 1 did not con-
slider myself competent to make an
accusation against any one; but I de-
scribed the srot where I firmly be-
lisved that I saw Gerald Macburn
murder John Layton, and I requested
him to take three or more companions
with him-men that could be trusted
-and explore the spot thoroughly.
"Will you promise, Harryp Now,
don't say you will, and then forget it,
thinking I do not know what I am
talking about, for 1 tell you I'm not
insane now"
"Well, Fred, I promise"
| I knew that Harry could be de-
pended upon, and I felt much relieved,
passing very quiet night.
Gerald Macburn was to be married
at nine O'Clock, and at ten they were
to start on their wedding tour.
This was why I was in such haste.
If he was guilty, as firmly believed,
I wished to prevent the marriage, or
at least to arrest him before he stepped
aboard the train.
I hardly know how I passed the
time till Harry's return, I was so i'm
patient. 49,
I heard the carriages of the guests
drive up to the door, and 1 could
family hear the busy hum of prepara-
ton below; and then the old town
clock, striking the hour of eight,
startled me.
Only one hour longer, and Harry
had not returned. What if he had
missed the spot?
1 watched the hands of the little
clock and for once they went too fast.
| I could almost see them move. Twenty
l-twenty-fve-thirty minutes past
eight, and would he never comel Yes,
thank God 1 heard the gallop of o
horse on the graveled road, and in a
moment Harry entered the room,
| flushed with excitement.
"What did you find Harry? Quick!
Quickl''
s'rhe bodv Of John IaytOn!"