Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-09-06
CHAPTER xxi

CHAPTEH xxi.
Sir Neville Bax had no idea of let.
ting his admiration of Nell Claris's
pretty face save her from the terrors
of most rigorous examination.
When she had made the admission
upon which the whole matter hinged,
and had broken down into tears as a
consequence. he gave her very little
time TO recover her composure before
he went on in 4 loud. pompous voice:
well. and SO you admit there was a
person in the house at the time Mr..
King was robbed of whose presence
there nobody but yourself knew any.
thing. Now. what was the name of
that person."
Nell looked at him reproachfully.
He knew who il was. and he might
have spared her the pain of having to
state 1t herself. But as he waited. she
said in 4 whisper which was strong
contrast 10 the magistrates tones:
Miss Theodora.'
Miss Theodore Bostal?'
"Tes."
and how came she to be there.
without anybody's knowledge"
Nell. seeing there was no hope for it,
dried her eyes and gave the following
account with composure:
Miss Bostal had for some months
been in the habit of asking Nell. from
time - tine. 10 let her sleep with Nell
for the night on the plea that the Col
0nel had stayed n. Stroan. and that
81. n - 1T. -,
End all by herself She had begged
Nell not 10 mention the fact even to
her uncle, al,egin: that il it were to
become known that her fathers house
was sometimes left unprotected II
world certainly be broken into. Nell
had seen nothing extraordinary in this,
and had readily S.ycl shelter TO heI
friend on half dozen different occa.
sicnS
Il believe you were in the habit OF
going to Shingle End every morning
and evening: that you We're on init.
mate terms with her father and her.
sell, and that you would chat with her
abc-t eve-ythin. that happened at the
inn:''
Yes" said Nell.
And IL it a fact that the robberies
nj The Blue Lion always took place
when Miss BostG. was sleeping unde.
the roef:''
only ct first" said Nell. earnestly
TIE iess time she slept there was the
night Mr. King was robbed"
How was : that you did not. on
;hat occasion. mention 10 your uncle
:!at she had been sleeping with you?"
How could I? Put indeed did not
think oe mentioning Il. and refrained
becaIsc 1t would have looked like
throwing srsric:on upon my best
friend
'your best :riend:"
ayes. sir. She lad been very kind
10 mo. and 1t was she who got my un-
Gle to send me 10 such GOOD school"
"Ob. CHI. l see. Artful all round.
Doesn't look much Ike insanity" NUT.
tered Sir Neville 20 himself. And he
continued his Undergraduates: And
d.i not the fact that the robberies al
>"ayg look place when she was there
excite your Suspicion
"So. oh. no, never thought OF such
thing protested he Young girl.
earnestly.
You say Miss 3ostal was not in the
h2-s". 20 your knowledge. on the &C.
,asOn OF the subsequent robberies:"
She was not sleeping in the house.
=" answered Nell. looking down.
Now. my dear Miss Claris. be cam
lid, and tell me all you know"
With n sigh Nell obeyed. She ad
mitted that on the morning when he
uncle was found in a state of insanit
she had made Il careful search of tn
house ind had found OUT n circum
stance which had escaped her notice
that a spare key of the back door
which had formerly hung on a nail il
the passage. had disappeared.
How was it you had not found tina
out before" asked Sir Neville rathe
dryly.
Il had forgotten all about the key
which was never used. until we had I,
leave the house on account of my poo
uncle. Then | went over the keys I,
the different doors by an old list W.
had left by the man who had the plac,
before my uncle. and it was then
missed the key. and remembered tha
had not seen it for long time
Sir Neville made few notes befor,
he went on.
before You missed the key you hat
had suspicious. Of course:"
Nell bowed her head in assent.
You need not think" said the mag
iStrate. Sharply. that your making ;
frank admission of yOur suspicion:
can 90 the lady any harm. We shout,
get 81 the truth somehow. you may b,