The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-01-08
suspicious rushed through Clifford's

mind, ''that 1t is better not to stir up
scandals that are past and done with.
l may have my own suspicious that
the annoyance we suffer from Is con-
nected with the uncanny stories we
have heard so much about. But still
will not interfere, and 1 refuse to
call in the aid Of the police. We must
not forget that in delivering up this
unknown person who annoys us, we
might be exposing others to danger"
"What others, papa?' asked Miss
Theodore quickly.
But the Colonel would not answer.
He turned the conversation to another
subject, and the interesting topic was
not again touched upon until Clifford,
having taken leave Of the Colonel,
stood in the hall with Miss Theodora.
"Do you know why l came down
here today" he then asked.
mot to see us?" asked Miss Theo-
dora. 1--WE could hardly have hoped
for that
"It was to see you and to thank you
for your trust in Nell. I met Miss
Lansdowne in town one. evening, and
she told me you were the one person
who still believed in her innocence"
But, to his chagrin, the little lady
sighed and looked down. At last she
said:
"I did hold out as long as I could
against the thought Of her guilt, Mr..
King; but I must confess that I, too,
have had to give way to overwhelm-
ing evidence. In face of some fresh
circumstances which have now come
to my knowledge, I don't see how
can escape the conclusion that she did
commit these crimes"
Clifford drew himself up with
great shock of disappointment. Here.
where he expected fortress, he found
O quagmire.
"In fact, it is because my father
feels sure that the person who comes
here to annoy us is the very same crea-
ture who instigated the girl to commit
these crimes, that he refuses to give
information to the police"
"And who is the person?' asked
Clifford, quickly.
"a young man who has obtained q
great influence over her, and who has
probably by this time become ner hus-
band" replied Miss Bostal.
Clifford could not repress a move
ment of anxiety at these words. Miss
Bostal tried to persuade him to come
back into the dining-room, with her
and to stay to tea. But he excused
himself and, with a rather colder
leave-taking than he had expected, he
left the house by the back door, and
heard Miss Theodore draw the bolts
before he reached the end of the gar
den.
This visit had left an extraordinary
impression upon him.
There had flashed through his mind,
as he noted the effect which Theo-
dora's prattle made upon her father.
an uneasy suspicion whether the
Colonel himself was not in some way
implicated in the murder of Jem Stic-
kels and the robberies at the Blue
Lion. 1t was quite clear that poor
Miss Theodore had no inkling of this,
for she chartered away without even
noticing her fathers uneasiness. 1t
was in vain, however, that Clifford
tried to imagine any series Of circum-
stances by which the old Colonel
could have been implicated in the
crimes. On the other hand, they re-
malned just as inexplicable at the
hands OF any other person.
1t was with a great sinking of the
heart that Clifford began to feel his
own belief in Nelrs complete inno-
cence giving way. He was forced
again to take refuge in the belief that
If she had been an agent in these GRIM
inal acts, she had been an unconscious
one. And the thought which was
uppermost in his mind was: What
steps should he take to find her? The
feeling which was strongest In his
heart was the desire to shelter her
from the consequences Of those acts.
Dul luc luSSllOh w 90. A1ON ~ aae
her? Clifford had been down to
Stroan already to make inquiries, but
had been unable to obtain any tidings
Of the uncle or the niece more defn-
ite than the vague rumor that George
Claris was "shut up somewhere"
Clifford paused for few moments
outside the garden gate Of Shinglc
End, wondering whether he would
apply for information to the police at
Stroan. 1t was step lie dre AIDED to
take, although he began to think 1t
was the only one likely to lead to his
obtaining the details he wanted.
AS he stood looking vaguely along
the road he suddenly perceived an old
woman, who was standing at the door
of the ancient turnpike cottage, was
blinking and nodding at him. in mys.
terious manner. He took few steps
in her direction. and she came out in
the road to meet him.
To be Continued.
Scarcely a Good Pleader.