The Opelousas courier., 1899-01-21

The next day l was called upon by
she introduced as her friend, Mena
Bell. of Boston, who had come to
make her a long visit; and she said
must make her house my headQuar-
tiers. She thought | could do better
service by being constantly about the
premises. and. besides. it would not
be unpleasant to have Il mar in the
house.
While | had not made any progress
in solving the mystery which brought
me to TiltoGsville. it is not quite true
that | ha,fT1iot progressed favorably
toward a wholesome friendship with
Grace Sawyer and Mena Bell, who
We're delightful companions. l was
treated as Il guest and equal.
We were i lively TITO. and os"dM
in the midst Of Il gale ofelnerriment9
Miss Sawyer suddenly became serious
and said:
Perhaps. Mr.. Fox. yog think me
an odd mixture. l loved my father as
devotedly as an only child soeld love
an only parent, and my grief is strong
upon me at all times. But | know
papa would wish me not to, shut out
sunshine: and if I can get away from
sadness and gloom l am best serving
myself and paying the highest tribute
to his memory
| admired Grace Sawyer for that
speech, but I admired more the phil
osophy which prompted it.
Three weeks had passed and l had
made no Roadway in the case. We
We're on the river, and Miss Bell in
quired in an easy, off-hand way if I
had made any progress. l replied
promptly and almost abruptly:
"No. | have discovered nothing"
"Is that possible?' she drawled pro-
vokingly.
Us what possible, Miss Fe}l?'
"To discover nothing!"
Miss Bells speech nettled me. not
so much by the words as her manner
while speaking them. and ] wondered
if she had seen through the veil and
had discovered that I vas in love with
Grace Sawyer. Later on | met her
alone, and l resolved to dissipate that
impression. assuming my conclusion
was correct. With this thought up
permost l remarked:
You tainted me this afternoon,
Miss Bell. and I want to say, in self
justification, that l offered to surren-
der this CASE some time ago. but Miss
Sawyer would not consent. I am free
TO say to YOU that l see no hope of
solving this mystery unless luck
points the way, and /"
"Somehow l feel as if you will win
out yet" she responded, kindly; "but
I know Grace will never feel content
until the mystery surrounding her
fathers death is cleared up. l am
IRE I wish YOU success, but Grace
will never-there, she is calling me;
good-by for the present. I am dumb"
The mex day Miss Sawyer came to
the study for what she termed a con-
sultation. | was lying on the couch
when a rap came upon the door, and
before the echo Of my Come in" had
died she was in tie room. She told
me not to move and seated herself at
the desk. and said:
Il cannot bear this doubt and I'M
certainty. If my father was muir
dered I want to know it. and I want
to see the murderer. Oh. I wouldn't
harm him! If he'd confess I think /
could almost forgive him: if l don't
know for certain I shall go mad"
She had swung about on the swivel
chair, with her head and body thrown
forward. and was sobhing bitterly. [
sprang from the couch, more crazed
than ever 1 was before or since. and
placing my hands on her shoulders,
cried:
Grace, Grace, don't you know l
would turn the world upside down for
your sake?"
Then 1 became lucid and realized
what 1 had said; the reaction was as
painful as the paroXysm had been de-
licious. | drew back, Grace turned
and faced me! as her eyes confronted
mine l was startled at their b%rilliance,
and in making a backward movement
LILY AULit - III lllC SuH, liz tUuoil
Of that sun-heated iron formed an
current, and in pain, fright
and joy / gave a sharp cry and lost
consciousness.
The doctor said the causes of nv
attack were the heat. too much eXer-
else, overwork, and too good living.
The last / subscribe to, but the others
[ reject.
I had solved the mystery. Now to
prove my solution. | took the gun
and carefully cleaned 1t. | loaded it
with powder and n half-bullet shot.
[ put it back on the rest. | made up
4 dummy and placed it on the couch.
[ locked and barred the study door,
and then silently, but vehemently,
prayed for hot weather, the hotter the
Ostensihly my service had ended,
but l stayed on 20 :ecuperate. We
passed the days anil evenings much
usual, but I met neither Miss Saw
yer nor Miss Bell alone. We three
were sitting on the piazza, one after
noon, when Miss Sawyer, with an ell
fort for a matter Of fact tone, said:
by the way, MI. Fox, I have mis-
aid a letter. 1 think I left it in the
study. Will you get it for me?"
"Certainly," 1 replied; shall I 20
ooh, no! later on will answer"
Then a heavy silence overcame us.
[ began to wish l had gone for that
etter. l was about to put the wish
ntO action. in fact had startad for