The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-02-04

but I SO IN fear of something happen
ing--almost in fear of my life! You
know, when dear Harold died, had to
let the ground and first floor-to man
Lamed Winston and his wife.
"They seemed strange from the first,
and kept all their doors locked; then
they began to have mysterious visitors
long after dark, and my servant kept
waking me at night to say she could
not sleep for the queer noises. I'm
positive there's something wrong, and
yet | darer't say anything, for there
are firearms about--the man deliber-
ately shot my cat one day because i;
looked at his canary. But that's not
al; these last two days there has been
continual digging sound down in the
basement, especially at night. l lie and
quake; it sounds just as if they are bur-
rowing under the street-they might,
for all / know, be mixed up with those
these dreadful nihilist people There,
[ know there is mystery behind"
That was it, poured out in agitated
brcaths. think it was fully a minute
before | could turn my face and say,
steadily:
Indeed? And what made you come
TO me, MADAME"
ITO you? Oh, of course. Why, /
gave them notice to go six weeks back,
and they simply laughed. Since then
they have not offered farthing rent.
/ dread an upset of any kind; several
times / have thought of going to the
police for advice, and always hesitated.
But this evening my girl said there
was homeIy constable at the corner;
the Winstons happened to have gone
out, so slipped on my things, ran UP
and asked him if he would mind COM
| ing in to see what was going on, and
how / could get an ejectment notice
He wrote this address on piece of pa
per and told me to come straight ia
YOU, the inspector, az you would see to
it Immediately. He said something
about search warrant, but how could
| L"
''He did quite right-and so did you!'
I was at the door in two strides This
queer accident. brought about sc
simply, showed the way as clear as day.
light. / had stumbled upon the nest
ard should have the silk within few
hours. would wait for no search war
rant nor to ask further details. "This
way, madam! You say they have gone
out-then III come back with you. Ii
any case, you can admit Ire as 8
friend"
"Ye-es." She had hand to her fore
head. "But--but I'm sure they are des
perate people! Anything rather than {
disturbance, or that neighbors should
talk"
Leave that to me. Er-Katie!"
called over the baristers. Don't ST
up in case I'm late"
We went out. A moment later WI
were hurrying towards Windygat'
street and-what?
looked round for our constable. III,
stepped out from the shadow opposite
No. 9.
Haven't seen anyone go in, sir" HI
whispered. The lady asked me to wal
rear, in case of anything. Think We've
got em easily--I tumbled at once. No
I'm not relieved for two hours yet
SIR"
Come inside with us. then Up thu
steps we went. The servant girl yer.
pale, was standing in the hall. Togeth
or we all stodd listening-not sorn'
from below. Nothing more lucky coul'
have happened. snow, keep cool
madam" ! said. "and we'll have a lool
round downstairs. The girl can watc]
here. - By Jove, yes, every doc
is loclled!"
pulled out my bunch of keys to tr.
them. We were standing in the pas
sage below, ,the candlestick shaking il
Mrs. VarneNs hand. 1t was rather al
exciting moItent.
"Nope of nine fit, / know" sh
L breathed, nervolaly. "But 90 maxi
n haste, sir-couldHt they imprison u
y Cor doing this? 4. There, that Ike.
: looks exactly like tie breakfast parlo
+ one--this door; let me try it. sir. Nc
it doesn't quite turn. Oh and there
n the door of the big cellar, where W
t keep hearing the digging and knocking
s. noises!"
l had forgotten that. Flinging ope'
the door, peered down into the black
J. ness. Hand me that lamp-well 500
l know" said, and the, constable TO
:, lowed me down the wooden steps. A
n the foot the ceiling was so low we ha
: to stoop. "Quick! we might find tn
S bales here" whispered to hun.
$ "Mind the coals!" came madam
y shaky voice down. "Oh. be quick! Th
+ cellar runs out under the street.
sounded as il they Mercy, it
the Winstons. come back! Out wit
e the light, sir--don't move, for heaven
0 sake!"
We were half way across tbs damp
i black space; her voice merged into
J half scream so thrillingly that on tn
ID spur of the moment blew the candl
5 out and gripped the constab'e's arm
:, mere nothing became tragedy of
II sudden. There was the sound of doc
~. ~ y L., T. 1+1x,