Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-10-03
or almost as much, as he longed fd
NelPs. So he answered in q troubled

mel needed 1t. The old man SHOOK 81
much, as he heard the announcement
that Clifford began to fear the Stroke
which the police sergeant had pre-
dicted.
Miss Theodore turned pale and
clasped her hands.
'The police" she exclaimed, as II
scarcely able to grasp the dreadful
fact. And she twirled round. rs II
moved by spring, to her father
"Papap' she almost screamed, "if thu
police have arrested Nell, I shall bt
called to give evidence against herl ]
will never do it-never! l would DID
first"
Clifford was touched. It was only
of Nell the poor little lady thought
Then surely Miss Theodore could not
have the slightest suspicion that hel
own father had anything to do with
the crimes!
The Colonel, meanwhile, had recov.
cred much Of his self-possession.
"Calm yourself, my DEAR" he said
to his daughter. but in such a hard
tone of despair that Clifford began to
feel that he was an intruder upon grief
SO deep. "If Nell is arrested"
He stopped.
For in the middle of his speech there
was q knock at the front door. Miss
Theodore, Clifford noticed, drew her.
self up in an attitude Of rigid atten'
ton. There was dead silence In the
little dining-room, until the knock was
repeated louder than before.
II shall 60 upstairs" said Miss Theo'
dora, softly, "and see from the win
dow who it is. But If 1t is the police.
come for my evidence, I will be put In
prison rather than give It,"
She had scarcely uttered the words
when O third knock was heard at the
front door. Miss Bostal glided out of
the room and ran upstairs without an
other word.
Then again there was a pause. The
two men looked at each other by the
light of the lamp. which gave but a
dim illumination through its smoky
glass. In the old Coloners face Cliff
ford became conscious that there was
written a most pitiful history, the his
tory Of lifelong shame. Of an indeli-
BILE disgrace. Still only cropping toward
the truth as he was, the young man
stood silent. reyerent. Wondering. what
awful thing he was next to learn.
For the fourth time the knock, loud
er and more imperative than before,
echoed through the house. Then the
Colonel drew q deep sigh and went
slowly toward the door.
81 am sorry you are here" he said
with calm courtesy. whatever err
rand brings these people, and whoever
they are, you, being here, will be sub
jected to some annoying interrogato-
ries. Perhaps there may still be time
for you to get out by the garden way
before have to let them in"
The old man was talking, it suddenly
occurred to Clifford, to fill up the time.
for he made no movement in the direc-
ton Of the garden way Of which he
spoke, but stood in an attitude which
showed that he was listening lntently.
"Hark! What was that?" he asked
abruptly.
Clifford had heard nothing. A doubt,
born Of hope rather than fear, Of the
Colonel's complete sanity crossed his
mind.
"UpStairs -upstairsW went on the
old man, impatiently, az he at last
moved, In q shutting step, toward the
door. 81 think l heard u window
open."
"Shall 1 go upstairs and secT asked
Clifford. what are you afraid Off?
"My daughter-is very determined.
She has made up her mind-that she
will not = give evidence" answered
Colonel Bostal, in a shaking voice.
eyes, you can 60 up and see."
Clifford went up the narrow stair.
case, and called gently:
"AIiss Bostalw
No answer. But he heard some one
moving about softly in the room on his
right. He went close to the door and
said, with his mouth so near to the
keyhole that she could not fail to hear
him:
"Miss Theodore! Your father has
sent me-"
Then he heard something-a little.
weak cry. followed by silence. He
drew back a step. and he saw the Col
onel standing at the bottom OF the
stairs.
"Shall 20 iny" Clifford asked.
The Colonel hesitated. y
els the door locked?" he asked. \
Clifford tried it and found that 1t
was.
"Then come away" said Colonel Bos.
tai quickly.
At that moment there was a thun-
dering knock at the front door. which
threatened to split the old wood into
fragments. The Colonel walked slow
~ along the passage, and, with as
much delay as. possible, drew the bolts
and opened the door.
Clifford, still on the upper floor,
knew that the voices were those OF
the police sergeant and Of another con-
stable belonging to Stroan.
you've been a long time opening
the door, SIR" began the sergeant,
dryly.
But the master of the house had not
waited to inquire his visitors busi'
ness; he had already retreated into the
dining-rOOm.
The two policemen held a short and
hurried consultation in very low tones.
Thar, tho cornnnnt entered the Qiuinp-