Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-12-15

in this cupboard" remarked the de-
tective. swinging open door In the
wall. ..but q set of old china more or
less nicked."
Abel started. An old recollection had
come up: some months ago he had
been present when James had tried to
sell this set. They were all In War
ner's store. and James Zabel-he could
see his easy attitude yet and hear the
offhand tones with which he tried to
carry the thing off-had said, quite as
| If he had never thought Of 1t before,
"By the by. | have set Of china that
came over in the Mayflower. John
likes it. but it's grown to be an eyesore
to me. and If any of you hear of any
one wanting such thing send him up
to the cottage. will let the old thing
90 for a song" Nobody answered, and
James had soon disappeared. 1t was
the last time. Abel remembered. that
he had been seen about town.
81 can't stand it." cried the lad. 81
can't stand it. If they died of hunger
must know it. am going to take
look at their larder." And before any
one could stop him he dashed to the
rear Of the house.
The constable would have liked to
have followed him. but he looked about
the walls of the room instead. John
and James had been fond of pictures
and had once INDUCED their fancy to
the verge of extravaganza. but there
were no pictures on the walls now.
nor was there so much as candle
stick on the empty and dust covered
mantel. Only on bracket in one cor.
ner there was worthless trinket made
out of cloves and beads which had
doubtless been given them by some
country damSel In their young bachelor
days. But nothing Of any value any.
where. and Mr. Fenton felt that he
now knew why they had made so
many visits to Boston at one time and
why they always returned with a
thinner valiSe than they took away.
He was still dwelling on the thought
Of the depth Of misery to which highly
respected folk can sink without the
knowledge Of the nearest neighbors.
when Abel came back looking greatly
troubled.
Its the saddest thing ever heard
Of" said he These men must have
been driven wild by misery This
room is sumptuous in comparison to
the ones at the back; and as for the
pantry. there is not even scrap there
mouse could eat struck match
and glanced into the -four barrel. 1t
looked as If it had been licked. de-
clare it makes fellow sick"
The constable with a shudder with.
drew toward the door.
THE atmosphere here Is sitting"
said he Il must have breath Of
outdoor air"
But he was not destined to any such
immediate relief. AS he moved down
the hall the form Of man darkened
the doorway and he heard an anxious
voice exciaim:
"Ah. Mr.. Fenton. Is that you? | have
been looking for you everywhere"
1t was Sweetwater. the young man
who had previously shown so much
anxiety to be of service to the coroner.
Mr. Fenton looked dspleased.
And how come you to find me
here?" he asked.
"Oh. some men saw you take this
road. and ! guessed the rest"
"Oh. ah. very good. And what do
you want. Sweetwater?'
The young man. who was glowing
with pride and all alive with an en-
thuSiasm which he had kept suppress
ell for hours. slipped mp to the con-
stable and whispered in his ear: Il
have made a discovery, sir. / know
you will excuse the presumption, but
l couldn't bring myself to keep quiet
and follow il that other fellows wake.
l had to make investigations on my
own account, d"-stammering
in his eagerness-"they have been sue
cessful, sir. l have found out who
was the murderer of Agatha Webb
The constable. compassiOnating the
disappointment in store for him, shook
his head with Il solemn look toward
the room from which he had just
emerged. You are late. Sweetwater.'
said he. I'VE have found him out our.
selves. and he lies inside there, dead.
1t was dark in this narrow passage
way and Sweetwater's back was to
the moonlight. so that the blank look
that must have crossed his face ut this
announcement was lost upon the coH-
stable. But his CONSERVATION was evil
dent from the way he thrust out either
hand to steady himself against the
walls, and Mr. Fcnton was not at ali
surprised to hear him stammer out:
Dead. He! Who do you mean by
he, Mr.. FentOn?"
"The man in whose house we. now
are" returned the other. rs there any
one else who can be suspected of this
| crime?"
Sweetwater gave gulp that seemed
to restore him to himself.
"There are two men living here, both
very good men. | thought. Which of
them do you mean. and why do you
think that either John or James Zabel
could have killed Agatha Webb"
For reply, Mr.. Fenton drew him to,
ward the room in which such a great
heart tragedy had taken place.
"Look." said lie, "and see. what can
happen in a Christian land, in the
midst of Christian people living not 5O
-a, ,u.oy rHboco mon ora dead