The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-12-17

- OClQ TOu mlNQ II WalAeu q aDOul
n hit?" said he. It's no earthly use
, sc" know. May go into the house?"
he moved toward the door end thus
came face to face with Martha Hill,
the suspected maid, who was just CON-
ing out. She was worn, faded, pa
tient woman IF Sfty. not without intel
! Hgence and meant perhaps fur better
station, yet now q creature Of lifelong
servitude Her mouth had peculiar
droop at the corners, so that she must
! have looked sad at all times. She had
shed many tears that day, and her eyes
were red; her nose, too, poor woman,
and altogether she was picture Of
| woe
Donald kept his eyes upon her as she
crossed the veranda toward her mis-
| tress. When she had taken her place
behind the chair in which Mrs. Kelvin
had sat down, she turned and looked at
Donald. It was clear that she knew
who he was and why he had come.
You were quite right, Mrs. Kelvin" :"
S<ilO l1S IVY. AOoA A4e-4N AZ ES-|~>@AJ
innocent"
at these words Martha's feelings
cvercame her. She walled distressful-
ly and fell upon her knees, not because
she thought the act appropriate, but
because she could not help it.
Donald turned hastily toward the
house and made three attempts to open
the door. I describe his action as it
appeared. There was an ordinary
screen door, very easy to open, but he
tried three times and failed. Then he
shook his head and walked across the
veranda to the steps, returning imme-
diately to the door, by which he stood
for some seconds, hesitating.
The diamonds are not in the house."
said he at last.
That's easy" said Reedy.- "I'Te
been hunting for 'em since II o'clock" !"
1T may be that that's why I feel
that they're not there" returned DON
aid, as if gratifed to receive this eS-
PLANTATION. You never can tell where
these foolish notions come from. Have
you searched outside the house?" y
"'Outside the house is a wide propo-
s!tion," rejoined Reedy. 1T includes
most everywhere. But I've looked
around a bit"
Donald groaned.
"I do hate this business so like the
old Harryr' he said. But it's got to
be done. Would you mind if 1 walk
around the house? I don't know what
I'm doing it for, yet can't sit still.'
He ran down the steps Of the veran-
da, and we ali followed him, as he
raised no objection. In an absurd,
struggling procession we made the cir
cult of the great old mansion.
"Well," said Reedy as we stood
again before the main entrance, "did
you see 'em anywhere"
Donald shivered in the heat Of the
summer day.
I've been mighty close to them," he
said. LET me try that once more"
This time he led US less than half
way around, and we came to a halt
beside q pile Of coal that had been
dumped that day before an entrance
to the cellar. Kelvin is thrifty man.
He buys coal not when he needs it,
but when it is cheapest The. pile may
have amounted to about three tons.
Donald regarded it steadily for some
seconds and then walked hesitatingly
toward the cellarway.
you've been down there, Mr.. Reedy"
he queried, and then suddenly and
with decision he said. 'The diamonds
are there"
He pointed directly toward the heap
Of coal.
There" echoed Kelvin. I'm that
coal? Why, the stuff wasn't brought
here till this forenoon. How do you
suppose the diamonds could get into
it,"
Donald dashed the perspiration from
his forehead with gesture Of de-
spair.
81 don't know a blessed thing about
it, Mr.. Kelvin" said he. Except that
they're there"
Kelvin seemed somewhat taken
aback He regarded it as perfectly
obvious that the diamonds could not be
hidden in the coal, which had not been
delivered until after the arrival Of De-
tectiye Reedy. Why had Donald CON-
mitted himself to such clear absurd
ity? 1t looked like a trick, and Kelvin
glanced quickly at Reedy as if to read
advice in his eyes. The detective eleI
waited his eyebrows and his shoulders
simultaneously and spread out his
hands with the palms forward. 1t was
equivalent to saying 81 pass" in q
game of cards.
The iron lips Of our amiable host
came together firmly and be settled
himself upon his broad, fat feet in the
manner Of an orator who has reached
the great, convincing argument Of his
discourse
'Now, l call this a clear cut ISSUE"
said he. "We've got this thing local
lied, so to speak. Either those dia-
monds are here or they are not!'
And his head came forward as he ut
tered the last word with a decisive
snap that would have endangered his
neck if it hadn't been so thick. He was
q man Of ready executive ability, and
the way he went to work to insure
proper inspection Of that heap Of coal
commanded M admiration. 1t was re-
moved a basketful at q time, and Kel-
vim saw every lump Of it.
-Four sturdy grooms were selected
for the task, and they were subjected
to a scrutiny that would have suficed
for a count of cash in the United States
treasury, yet they were driven at good
speed, so that the coal vanished rap
idly into the cellar. Kelvin wars too
thrifty to put it anywhere except in
the bin.
It was a warm day, and the flying
coal dust stuck like glue. Kelvin,