The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-12-25
who gave himself out as a successful

| who gave himself out as successful
emigrant, who had returned to his ma
tive land with his pockets full OF
money. The man stayed at the inn
for several days, boasted openly in the
bar of his luck, showed the results Of
it in lavish treating" and in the ap-
parently careless exhibition of hand
fuls of gold.
But it was all in vain. Hemming
had to report to Clifford, not without
secret triumph, that the wealthy emil
grant" had been allowed, after pro.
longed stay, to leave the inn without
having received a visit from the mid
night thief. Clifford was much chag-
rined, although he affected to think
that it was only in common prudence
that the thief, on whom at least the
suspicion of murder now hung, had
grown more careful.
But when Hemming had left him,
Clifford began to think out new
problem which this last occurrence
had presented to him. Was Jem Stick.
els the chief?
But then it was certainly not Jem
Stickels whose hand he had caught
under his pillow. And shiver passed
through the young fellows frame as
he remembered the touch Of the
smooth skin, Of the little slender fin
gers.
1t was not until the first day of
March. on a clustering, stormy morn
ing, that Nell Claris, her resolution
broken down by pathetic appeal
from her uncle, came back to Stroan.
George Claris met his niece at the
station. and each was shocked at the
changed appearance Of the other Nell
seemed to have lost half her beauty;
her cheeks had lost their rOundness
which had been one Of her greatest
! charms.
"Oh, uncle.w sine cried softly, when
she had received his silent kiss on her
forehead, you don't look the same
uncle! What have you been doing to
yourself:"
"Oh, we've been pottering along
much in the same old way" answered
the innkeeper, affecting an Indifference
which he was far from feeling.
"Nothing's happened in particular,
since Mr.. King went back to London.
He wanted your address. as / told
you in my letters. Why wouldn't you
let me give it to him:'
Uncle, I like him too much,' an
swered the girl. steadily. IF it had
been in the old time, now. he should
have had it quickly enough. But un-
til this miserable business, that's been
the ruin of everything to us all, is
cleared up, I'll not let any man I care
about involve himself in my disgrace"
Disgrace, Nell" echoed George Cla-
ris in a low voice. Don't say that,
child, don't say that
In this tone the girl detected all the
emotions which the story and the ru-
mors about it had set stirring in her
uncle's simple mind. She felt keenly
the affection, the doubt, the anger,
which had tortured him during the
long weeks of the winter. She gave
q sigh, and tpcking her hand under
his arm, whispered:
I'VE won't say disgrace, then, but
misfortune"
AYE. that's better, dear" agreed the
poor fellow mournfully.
At that moment they emerged from
the shelter afforded by the trees Of
Stroan Court, the mansion which stood
just outside of the walls of the old
town. They were within sight of the
spot where the body of Jem Stickels
had been discovered; but any emotions
they might have felt at the recollec.
tion were overpowered by a sense Of
actual physical danger. For the wind,
which had been boisterous all the
morning, was now so strong that they
were afraid that the dog-cart would
be blown over; while at the same time
a binding snowfall made it almost
impossible for them to discern the road
a yard in front of the horses head.
ut blows straight on the Shore"
said George Claris. It'll be lucky
thing if none of the ships in the chan.
mel get drove out Of their course to-
night"
Nell shuddered. Living as she did by
the seashore, she was accustomed to
storms and the horrors attendant up
on them to the ships at sea. Every
gale brought disaster; and although,
the inn being on the shore Of a bay,
most of the accidents Of which Nell
heard happened some few miles away,
yet she and her uncle were always
among the first to hear of them, from
the lips of the frequenters Of the inn.
Both Nell and her uncle thought it
prudent to flush their short journey OH
foot. leading the horse, and finding
their way with some difficulty through
the snow storm.
Tn he Continued