The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-10-23

on with round eyes, "that the thief
'isself has been in here?"
And she looked back at her brooms,
her pals and her cloths with a mix
| ture Of amazement, fear and respect.
"Well, somebody's been in there,
that's evident, isn't it," said he, good
| humoredly.
And he decided in his own mind that
| the clever thief had opened and shut
the back door loudly as blind, and
| had secreted herself in this cupboard
until he was safely out of the house.
II suppose you don't happen to have
| seen him about this morning?" he
| went OF, in Jocular tone.
"Seen the thief! Lor, no, sir. IF he's
been in the house he must have got
| out again pretty quick, for. got down
pretty near as soon as the master
himself; an there was nobody about
then, for sure, but i'm and me and
Miss Nell"
''The poor young lady was fright
ened, I'm afraid, by the commotion:"
"Oh, well, we're used to these set
| outs by this time" replied Meg, philo-
sophically. Miss Nell did look very
white an faint-like, an she was all of
a tremble, poor thing, when she heard
about the fuss. So master packed her
off to the coloneps, and told her as she
was to stop there till he sent for her"
"The coloneTs! And who is the colo
nell"
"Oh, an old gentleman as lives a lit.
tie way from here along the Court.
stairs road. Miss Nell takes them their
milk there fresh from the cow every
morning and evening"
oh" remarked the detective, high
ly satisfied at having tapped the fount
Of Meg's loquacity. Il should have
thought she was too much Of a fine
lady for that, your Miss Nell"
"Ah, but she wouldn't do it for any.
body else," replied Meg, anxious to de-
| fend her mistress. "You see, the col.
onel an his daughter are real gentle
folks, only they're poor-very poor
An they don't keep no servant, an
Miss Theodore does all the work her.
self. So, you see, as she's been kind
to Miss Nell, an got the master to give
Miss Nell her fine eddication and
French an the pianner, why, Miss
| Nell don't seem to know how to do
enough for her. That's how it is, sir.
No y1o1 10 foly ha al
or we could easy get the boy to do it,
only Miss Nell likes to do it herself
like"
The detective was about to interro.
| gate Meg further, when the voice of
the innkeeper, shouting to her to know
why breakfast was not ready, pre-
vented his hearing any more. And,
much to his regret, he found on his
next meeting with her that the poison
| of suspicion had been instilled into
| her mind by her master, and that she
was communicative no longer.
Finding this source Of information
dry, therefore, the detective, who
shrewdly concluded that Nell would
not return until he had taken his de.
parture, sent a boy off toward Stroan
with his luggage on a barrow, and
paid his bill and went away.
But he did not 60 very far. Over.
taking the boy he made him leave his
luggage at Stroan station, and as soon
as the lad was out Of sight he had II
taken to one Of the inns Of the place.
This done he had his luncheon and
walked back to the Blue Lion.
He did not want to put in an appear
ance until he knew whether Miss Nell
had returned from her visit to her
friend. But it was a slack time of
day at the inn, and there was nobody
about Of whom be could ask .Ques-
ton. He managed to get peep into
the bar as he walked past the house,
but there was no one there, either in
front or behind. When he had hung
about the place some time, keeping as
much out of view Of possible watchers
as he could he saw the robust figure
Of Meg at the side door. She was
shaking out cloth. She started and
uttered little gasp at sight Of him.
why" said he, getting, by dexter
Gus movement, between her and the
door, whats the matter? You look
scared at the sight Of me-"
"Well, I don't want to have any
more to say to you, and that's the
fact" replied stalwart Meg, with her
hands on her hips. ut seems you're
nothing better than a detective chap,
what's coming ferreting about the
place, asking questions and trying to
get us all into trouble. Ugh! I'm
ashamed to be seen talking to you"
"Well, now, can't you see that it is
for the good of all Of you that this af.
fair should be cleared up, and that it
should be known who it is that has
brought the bad name on the house?"
said the detective, persuasively. "I'm
very sure you ladies must be fright
ened out of your lives to hear the
things that are said. It'll end by your
all going away from tie place like
Miss Nell has done"
To be Continued.