The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-01-08
W." Florence \/arden,
An,or IF 6 1he Hou.e on fhs NarSh," e[c.i
ICopyright, 1895, BY Robert Bonner's Sons

l
Look in therew whispered she.
Clifford obeyed, and say nothing
whatever; for 1t was dark. When,
after a few minutes spent In rather
uncanny silence on the part of the
lady, his eyes got used to the gloom,
he saw that the windows had been
barricaded from the inside In the
most thorough and ingenious manner
| with furniture and with planks nailed
across from side to side.
"Why," said he, in astonishment,
"you seem to be preparing to stand q
SIEGE"
He had already made up his mind
that the eccentric little lady had gone
out of ner mind.
"We are besieged," she whispered,
with a look which confirmed Cliff
ford's hypothesis. 81 can see that you
don't believe me, that you think 1t Is
only my fancy. But ask my father"
And before Clifford could make any
answer, she had quickly crossed the
stone-hagged passage. had thrown
open the door of the dining-room and
with q gesture invited Clifford to en-
ter.
AS the young man did so, rather
fearing what sort of conversation he
should have to hold with her, he was
much relieved to find that the Colonel
was there, sitting by the fire, with his
spectacles on, reading weekly paper.
But to Clifford's astonishment and
alarm, the change in the old man was
as great as in his daughter.
Colonel Bostal. although his clothes
were always shabby and old-fashioned,
had always retained an cir Of soldier
ly trimness, had always kept his hair
closely cut and his snow-white mus
tache we'll trimmed, so that he had
borne a certain air Of smartness and
distinction. Now he had lost every
trace Of it. His shoulders were bent
His hair had been allowed to grow
long. His mustache hung ragged and
untrimmed over rough and strag-
Cling beard. More than this, there
was in his eyes look as pitiful in its
restlessness as the haunting express
sion which Clifford had noticed In
Miss Theodora's.
The old man started when he saw
the visitor, rose and held out his hand
with mechanical, old-fashioned court
esy; but it was doubtful whether he
recognized him.
Miss Bostal went softly round his
chair with her quick. bird-like little
steps, and put her hand gently on his
shoulder.
Dear papa" she said in a whisper,
"don't you remember Mr.. King? He
was here in the summer. You do
remember. don't you"
"Oh, yes, certainly I do; of course
do, Theodora," responded the Colonel,
with a slight frown at the implication
that he was losing his memory. "Sit
down, Mr.. King, and tell us what the
great world is doing"
Then Clifford saw that in moment
the old man had become quite him
self, and it was the weight Of some
care which had given him his changed
appearance. The young man was sor-
ry when Miss Theodore at once re-
called her father to the anxiety which
was pressing upon both Of them.
Il want you to tell Mr.. King, papa"
she said, as Clifford took the chair
offered him, "about the terrible perse-
cution we have been subjected to late
" since the Blue Lion has been shut
up"
Its not a very lively subject" OBJ
| jected her father, whose face fell Mt
his daughters words. However. I
will tell you, if the story is worth
telling"
Clifford, although he was indeed
curious to hear the narrative, protest
ed that he did not wish to do so, as
he saw that his host was by no means
anxious to relate it. But Miss Theo-
dora insisted.
"Well, then" said the old gentle
man, "it is simply this: At least half
q dozen times since the Blue Lion
has been deserted we have been an
noyed by knocks and blows on our
doors and windows at night. And
although we have done our best to
find out who it is that annoys us in
this manner, ,7e have been unable to
do So"
"And have you no idea, no sus-
picion?"
The Colonel shook his head In a
troubled and anxious manner, but
Miss Theodore pursed her lips and
looked shrewd.
81 have q theory" she said. And
she waited to be asked what her theo-
ry was.
Clifford expressed the wished-for
curiosity.
81 believe" she went on, with con-
viction, that it is the person who has
been at the bottom of the mysteries
we have been suffering here lately"
Nonsense, my DEAR" interrupted
her father, quickly, and not without
nervousness. What on earth should
such n person want with US? We have
nothing in the house worth stalling;
and If we had. do you suppose that
the person who was so very skillful
in getting away and in evading JUS
tice, would try to batter our doors in :
You are talking nonsense, Theodora.' v
But Theodore looked stubborn. Then
Clifford made a suggestion.
'If you think that, why don't you
inform the police? They would lay
IN ambush for this person, and would