The Lamar register., 1901-09-18

ing about the circumstances II she is
told not 70. How about the other, your
old nursef
"she would do anything possible for
me. I was her idol when q child, and
now devotion for me seems to have
been augmented in proportion to my
stature. Sarah is wholly Trustworthy,
and If I requested her not to mention
the matter she would have her tongue
cut out rather than breathe q word
Of It,"
That's good. The discovery had best
be kept secret" the old lawyer said. re-
fectively.
There IL another thing Iwish to men
ton, though perhaps it is hardly worth
dwelling upon. Mrs. Snyder thinks
there is something strange about the
house. And she has so succeeded in
impressing my old nurse with the idea
that Sarah is quite concerned about my
staying. She seems to be imbued with
an inexplicable fear that something
harmful threatens me-"
Indeed! What do you mean when
you say there IL something strange?
You mean mysterious?" the old lawyer
asked, in the manner he would have
used in cross-examining q witness.
ayes; Mrs. Snyder claims to have
seen mysterious lights at night. and
heard strange noises"
Mr.. Sonntag's eyes lost their shrewd
expression for few moments; he re-
lapsed into deep thought.
"Have these mysteries any relation
18th tha aAalAd
cellar?" he finally asked.
1.-THE woman said nothing about the
strange events being located In any par
ticular place, and did not think to ask
her." 1 replied. The old lawyers ques.
ton opened up new train Of thought.
Could it be possible that the strange
voice I had heard proceeded from the
sealed cellar2
"Ahi I suppose the women are su-
perstitious and think the place is
haunted. Such ideas generally get
abroad about old. long vacated houses.
But you do not mind their talk7
You arc not afraid Of ghosts, are you?"
The old fellows eyes twinkled merrly.
swell 1 have never come across any
of those shadowy beings. I could tell
better after met one. I hardly think
talk alone could frighten me" replied.
somewhat shamefacedly, remembering
how nearly 1 had been unnerved the
night before by my own reflection.
~ will be over some time tomorrow,
and will see II anything can be done re-
garding the mysterious cellar" Mr..
Sonntag said. az rose to leave. And
pardon me for referring to the unfor-
tunate affair-have you heard Of any
new developments in the robbery case?"
"WhatI" I exclaimed. 'you know Of 1t
too?'
Certainly. lived near Philadelphia
at the time and read the papers" he
replied. smilingly.
"It seems cannot escape hearing Of
that terrible Affair."" said, bitterly.
"And 1 acted the part of fool, too, In
the matter. Instead Of putting forth
every effort to find the perpetrators /
let the thing go; let others, who could
not possibly have had the interest in
the case that ! had. undertake investi-
cations. / am rightly served for my
supineness, for ! have heard nothing
about it at all. know what knew
the morning Of its occurrence, not q bit
more. Others have failed; intend to
zee now what can do"
"You intend going into the affair.
thenT' he said, dryly.
"I do, with all the energy and re-
source am possessed Of"
"Do you know how near you came
to being arrested for The crimeT
Sonntag asked.
"Why. yes. know, Of course, that
would have happened could anything
have been found against me-"
"Well, there was enough to hold you,
on suspicion At least"
''Then why did you not arrest me7
am sure was willing. courted q
trial"
"It was very seriously talked OF
opposed it, for one" Sonntag said.
Eyes, know he really believed me
innocent"
"But his objection was not the strong
est influence which arose in your be-
half" continued my agent. "The
strongest, most powerful opposition to
your arrest came from one whose infiu-
ence outweighs even the presidents"
.CCe of the trustees" asked, eager
VI I'D cannot mean
lester Morley" interrupted the
lawyer.
"Mr. Morley!" exclaimed, joyfully
For knew, great as Sylvester Morley's
influence was, there was one who WELD.
ed greater, since she could influence
her father. Was 1t her sweet self that
had come to my aid through her
father7 1t would be happiness to know
this; but then-why had she passed
me without q greeting7
My face must have told q whole story
to the shrewd old lawyer. When ]