Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-26
CHAPTER V.

what had happened. My uncle at once
dispatched him to acquaint the police.
CHAPTER v.
THE RETURN OF THE wANDERER.
As we fully expected, nothing came
Of the police investigation. Such
wanton, senselcss crime they failed ut
terly to comprehend, and, not knowing
all that we knew or all that we sus-
pected, they had little to stimulate
them to great exert!ons. Sometimes I
doubted my uncle's wisdom in with
holding the story of the sign. 1t would
at least have put the authorities on the
right track, but as my mothers muir
derer was still ut large and they were
supposed to be assiduously searching
for him it could have furthered his
capture but little to tell of our suspl-
cions. AS for making point Of the
egg shaped symbol, that would I'M
doubtedly have laid lis under the sus-
picion of being marked family and
Us such not pleasant neighbors. No;
take 1t all in all, he was perhaps wise.
The crime had been committed. There
was the evidence of it. IL the police
captured the perpetrator, we should
murderer.
But some weeks slipped by, and with
them went all my uncle's patience, and
at last he told me that the strain of in
cessant watching was proving more
than he could bear.
II am convinced" said he, that the
police will never discover the perpetra-
tor Of this outrage, and as they cannot
afford us the necessary protection we
must see to our own welfare. Davie,
my lad, l am sick to death of being
| hunted, and intend to turn hunter
myself. have no doubt whatever
| that this man or men will follow us, so
that our chance Of one day meeting
him is not remote. You know what to
do. Kill him without moments hest
tation just as you would mad dog.
But you are young yet, and have de-
cided to put you in place Of security.
will work on Alone"
Then one day, without warning, we
left the house and went to London, my
uncle taking couple of rooms for us
in Chelsea. He then entered into COM
munication with his lawyer, and after
some little delay he succeeded in let
ting his cottage to couple of highly
respectable spinsters who sighed for
the felicities of a rural life. Next the
subject of school was preached, SUBJ
ject not at all to my liking, but my
uncle considered that another two or
three years at least We're necessary to
complete my education. and. feeling
| that he was right, l consented. More
| over, my life of the last few months
had made an old man Of me before my
| time, and sorely needed the compan-
ionship Of youth.
| So in due time was packed off to q
school in the heart of the Midlands, my
uncle having carefully chosen the stu
alton. There was known as James
/ Davie. my uncle, for reasons of his own,
wishing me to take his name. Perhaps
those reasons would not be difficult to
guess. If by chance my own name OF
Kingston should come to the ears OF
certain people, even the crowded school
might be no protection. Perhaps it was
little superfuous caution on my un.
cle's part, but could not quarrel with
him on that account. Besides, had nc
particular love for my fathers honored
patronymic. Anyhow, names are moi
of much account in youth, and of the
two preferred James Davie to Davie
Kingston.
My life was now extremely pleasant
and, except when got letter from
my uncle, l scarcely thought Of the
horrors Of the past. was surrounded
by young companions. lived the free
open life of boy, and If did not en-
j Joy my studies overmuch made uI
for my lack of intellectual energy by
developing wonderful aptitude FOL
games.
1 During this period my uncle proved
most consistent correspondent, dis
patching letter to me every weel
with unfailing regularity. 1t was {
contract we had entered into, for 1
would be the means whereby nigh
know If he was still alive. I in turf
was to write as often, but after having
had few letters sent to his club b,
begged me to desist and send them OF
to his lawyer, to whom I was at one,
to telegraph in case of an emergency
He did not explain himself more fully
but needed no fuller explanation.
Then he began his wanderings, ant
got letters in succession from Hast
ings, Eastbourne, Brighton, Worthin,
and SO on from many towns and man,
counties, and they all repeated tn,
same note: ~ am still searching TO
the man with the strange eyes" L,
me it seemed singular that he SHOULD
not forget, and once even went so ia
as to suggest something Of the sort
but the answer l received made mi
feel ashamed of my presumption. Ssh
was my sister," he said, "and yet
cannot forget, but she was your moth
err" Only those few underlined words
yet what world of meaning they con
veyed.
With the advent of the holidays h
always came and took me away witt
him, and upon each successive occasion
saw how sadly his quest was affect
Ing him. From jolly fellow he ha
grown morose and gloomy and wa
losing weight in manner that NIGH
have been considered alarming had
not suited him SO well. Truth to tel
he had been somewhat inclined t
freshness and ruddiness Of countt
nance of which fastidious observe
could not approve. Had not know
the cause of this change should prot
ably have welcomed it; knowing, ha
some difficulty in concealing my alarm
| The world was not big enough for hiI
and his sisters murderer. He was lik
/ one cropping in the dark, but som'
} where behind that darkness was til
+ light and he would see it one day.
3 In the comparatively calm seclusio
. Of this school the next two years of m
, life slipped peacefully away. The pa.