Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-04-26

Won [. IL 3 my Deilel IL : tTulpeu-up
story altogether. an dare him 10 fetch
the police in, dare him to. I say"'
And he gave another thump on the
table.
Avarice as well as anger cleaned in
the mans eyes as he spoke. the ayaT-
ice of the man who has had to work
hard for small gains.
Clifford looked from the niece to the
uncle. and suspicion of the latter be-
gan TO grow keen. Nell retained her
presence of mind. She went up 10 the
, excited man and put 4 coaSing hand
| upon his shoulder.
Uncle she said. almost in wins
per. you remembec there have been
other robberies here
Her voice sank until the last word
was almost inaudib,e.
George Claris started violently. and
shook his iist in the air in Il tumult Of
| rage.
81 know there has, l know there
hasr' said he. between his teeth. An
I'd like TO catch the rascal AZ Gid EN-.
| But nobody before as dared to say
You or me was ut the bottom of it.
| Nell. Nobody before has dared TO say
we wasn't honest. Why. man. I've
been settled here these twenty-five
| years. and I'm known to every man.
woman and child between Stroan and
Courtstairs Me take a mans watch
or purse-me or my niece! It's plant.
my girl. 4 plant of this fine London
| gentleman. Twenty-Five pounds! You
| bet it's more than he's worth. every
rag and stick OF him. He's heard of
my misfortunes lately. an he's come
| an trumped no this story. thinking
| itll be better worth my while TO pay
him the money than have another
! scandal about the place. BIT ] won't.
| l wont, I'll DO time rather
Clifford was torn with battling emo
J tons as he listened 10 this speech.
which was indeed like that of Il bro
| ken-hcarted man. He had not been
| able 10 stem the torrent of the poor
| fellows fierce wrath. and il was only
when Claris sank down with his head
| upon the tn bic that he was able 10 say.
Very quietly:
+, Il never thought of asking for COM
pensation. Mir Claris / should not
think OF doing so. Ali / want is TO
! clear up this detestable puzzle. much
| more in your interests than in mine.
] am not rich man. but neither am
/ a begga-, as you have rather unkindly
suggested. l can afford the loss OF
my watch and money. but / cannot ar
| ford to leave you and poor Miss Nell
| here without doing my best to find
out the cause OF these unfortunate &C.
curreaces."
Then Nell looked again in his face
with smile which made him ready
TO go ON his knees and worship her
! for Der sweet foroearance.
| THANK YOU" said she. Then turn
/ ing TO her uncle: 1T will come right"
she said: "or. ut least" she added.
| Lurriedly. 1--WE will hope it may. You
| 60 back 20 your work. uncle. and
will see if can't set my wits TO work
and have something TO tell you When
| 1 next meet you"
| C!aris allowed himself TO he coaxed
into compliance with her wishes. and
presently disappeared into the bar.
/ Then. when they We're alone together.
/ Clifford noticed 4 sudden alteration in
her manner toward himself. 1t was
no longer the ccnfi6ing. childish beha-
vior of light hearted girl; ii was the
responsible gravity OF an older and
| thoughtful woman.
You are moi TO distress yourself.
| NJ. King" she said, quietly. Al
| though il is Il terrible thing for us
we are. in way. used to it, for. as
you heard me say. there have been two
! or three cases OF theft here before. /
hope you are not in a hurry to get
| back TO Stroan. for l should like. be-
fore you go, 10 have a search made of
the house and few more inquiries"
She would not listen to his protests.
his objections. but left him and went
upstairs. Clifford. miserable and per-
| picked. went out into the garden and
| stroiled among the cabbages and car
rcts. torn by doubts whicn he tried
in vain 10 suppress.
in about ten minutes he saw. from
| the corner of the garden where he
was smoking his pipe under an apple
tree. Nell coming quickly out of the
| house by the back way, and flying
| like an arrow down to the rivers
bank. From the glimpse he caught
| of her face lie saw that she looked
scared and guilty. and that she cast
around her the glance of 4 person who
J does not wish to be observed.
/ Hastily unmooring one of the boats
| which lay by the bank she got in.
sculled across the stream. made the
boat fast to the opposite shore. and
| began to run across the open fields as
| fast as her feet could carry her.
IL occurred ut once to clifford that
| she must be going TO take counsel
with her friend. Miss Postal. and he
| started in the direction of Shin@le
End himself. thinking that it would ne
good idea for him TO open his heart
10 that lady. aud reasSurc Nell as to
his own trust in her through the un-
impeacha0le lips OF her elderly friend
lie went by the road, and sauntering
along at very sedate pace. reached
the little tumbledown residence OF
Colonel Bostal just as Nell. ernGrgin:
from ii by back gate into the fields
started on her journey back home.
She did not see him. but he looking
through the hedge NJ her. was able 70
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