The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-09-11
The blood rose IN Cllfford's face.

The blood rose IN Clifford's face.
The mans surly, defiant tone seemed
to show that he had either some knowl-
edge or some fear of the truth. But
again there rushed over the young
man an overwhelming sense Of shame,
which prevented him from being more
explicit.
II have spoken out" he said, SIM
ply.
For a few minutes the men stood 81
lent, each afraid to say too much.
Then Claris, as sullenly, as fiercely as
ever, beckoned to Clifford to follow
him into the inn.
"Come an see 'em, come an see
'em all. Search 'em if you like" said
he, bluntly. "And look over the house
an see If there's way in it or out
of it that anybody could have got in or
out by. Come and see for yourself, I
say"
Clifford followed him in silence into
the little bar, allowed Claris to point
out to him that the window was still
barred, and had evidently not been
tampered with. And so in turn they
examined together the windows and
the doors Of the whole house; and
Clifford saw that, unless Claris him.
self had been in collusion with the
thief, no one could have got in from
the outside during the night. But
then Clifford himself had not sus-
pected a thief from the outside.
As for the persons who had slept in
the house that night, George Claris
said they we're five In number. Him
self, his niece, Clifford, the servant
whom Clifford had seen in the bar,
and old Mamie, a woman between
sixty and seventy years Of age, who
slept in a small room, which was
scarcely more than a cupboard, on
the ground floor, because she was too
infirm to go upstairs.
Clifford made the excuse Of wish
ing to converse a little with the old
woman, that he might have an oppor-
tunity of examining her hands. They
were withered and lean. rendered
coarse by field work, and enlarged at
the joints by rheumatism. Without
a doubt it was not the hand Of Old
Mamie which had taken his watch
and purse.
When he left the kitchen, where he
and the landlord had thus interviewed
the staff Of the establishment, Clifford
followed Claris again into the road in
front of the inn.
Now" said Claris, defantly,
you've seen every blessed creature
as was in the house last night. Which
of them was it as you think took your
things"
Clifford hesitated.
II have an idea," he said, "and I
want you to listen quietly, since If it Is
correct 1t takes away all suspicion Of
anyone having acted dishonesty. Is
there in your house a-a-woman who
walks in her sleep"
"Not into folks bedrooms to steal
their money, anyhow" answered Cla-
ris, surlily. "And I've never heard of
no sort Of sleep-walkin' by either OF
them"
Either Of the servants, you mean"
said Clifford with slight emphasis.
"Yes, Of course. Why, man alive!
You wouldn't sure dare to say as my
niece, my lovely Nell, was a thief to
take your dirty money" shouted the
landlord, with sudden fury, all the
more fierce that, as Clifford could see,
he had heard whispers Of the same
sort before. "Here, Nell, Nell! Where
are you
And, not needing Clifford's angry
protests, Claris rushed into the house,
and almost into the arms Of his niece,
who, apparently suspecting nothing,
came running quickly in from the gar
den at the sound Of her own name.
What is it, uncle"
She still wore her hat, but 1t was
pushed back; and her pink and white
face, glowing with the wholesome
sting of the fresh morning air, smiled
at the hot and agitated faces of the
two men.
"This man, this gentleman, says
you're thief, my girl! Says you went
into his room last night and stole his
watch and his money, and that he
caught your hand In the very act.
There, my girl, answer him yourself.
Tell him what you think Of a cur that
tells such lies as them Of my bonny
Nellw
The man was genuinely agitated. in
deed, almost sobbing with rage and
disgust. AS for Clifford, he was mar
ticulate; he could only look at the girl,
as she grew deadly white, and seemed
to lose the bloom of her beauty in hor-
ror and amazement as she listened.
To be Continued.
The General and the Water-Wheel.
70