Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-09-18
THE:nYSTERT. oF.THE

Now, then, stop that" --.-
Cllfforls assailant oDeyed this rough
command without a moments hesita-
ton, and when Clifford, feeling him
self suddenly released, turned round,
he only saw a glimpse Of q mans
figure as it plunged into the darkness
again.
"Who was that?" asked the young
man in astonshmcnt, as he perceived
that his Tescucr made no attempt to
follow him.
1t was Hcmmng, the London dctec-
tive, who stood before him, and he
only shrugged his shoulders.
"Only man I've got to help me in
this business" answered he, with q
gesture in the dissection Of the Colo
nors house. "IIc made mistake, that
was all"
what business do you mcan?'
asked Clifford, uneasly.
"Well, sir, think you ought to know
by this time" replied Hemming, eva
sively.
Clifford pondercd for q few moments.
Then he asked:
"Have you been to the house?'
ono, sir. I am waiting for further
instructions first"
Clifford looked at the little weather.
beaten dwelling. which had lights in
two of the upper windows. He fam
cicd he could detect a watching figure
behind the narrow curtain Of one Of
them.
Il suppose it was your man." ne
said suddenly, "who has alarmed the
poor lady so much by his knocks and
thumps at the doors and windows?'
IIemmng's face could not be seen
distinctly in the darkness, but Clifford
had n fancy that he was smiling as lie
answered:
VERY likely, sir"
Clifford. who was growing moro puz-
z1cd more curious, every minute.
turned abruptly away and walked
round to The back door of the house,
by which had been admitted that
morning.
lie knocked two or three times with
his stick against the door before he
heard window above his head softly
opened. Looking up he heard wills
per in Miss Theodora's voice:
rs that you, Mr.. King", Il
Yes" I
"You are alonc"'
"Why, yes, Of course. have just
seen Nell
As he had expected, this answer
brought the little lady down in the
tWinkling of an eye. lie heard the
bolts drawn, and minute later he
found himself dragged inside the door,
While Miss Theodore, painting with her
cXertions, hurrlcdly fastened the door
again.
Il have seen your Dogy." said Cliff
ford, "the man who tOremntS you at
night. lie attacked mo just before /
came to the corner"
"Ah" cried Miss BoGtal, with a
shake Of her head. Il have found out
who he is now. He Is the man who Is
ut the bottom Of all these robberies
and of the murder Of poor Jem."
Indeed" said Clifford, politely, but
without deep excitement.
For he rather looked down upon the
little lady's intelligence, which he
thought was by no means so strong as
her kindness of heart
YES" she said, "hc Is the man who
got such hold upon poor Nell that he
hn,, {a u No ,,lno cod ~
The notion was SO shocking that, i'm
probable as it appeared, it made Cliff
ford shudder.
"But why" he asked impulsivcly,
SHOULD Hemming let him come here
and worry you:'
"IIcmmingw echoed Miss Bostal.
Then she was silent. They remained
in the little stone passage for few
seconds, unable TO see each others
face. Then she passed him. and run
ming quickly to the dining room door,
threw it open and entered, beckoning
to Clifford to follow.
Papa" said she, breathlessly, and
in q little tiutter of excitement, pat
ting her little hands softly and rapidly
the one against the other, ut Is the
detective Hemming who is sending
this wretch to annoy us. Mr.. King
says So"
The Colonel. who. as it seemed to
Clifford, had aged since the morning,
got up slowly from his chair and
stared at Clifford with haggard eyes.
"Hemming" said he in a broken
voice. "The detective! Wha-a-t Is
he here for?'
You don't understand, papa" piped
Miss Theodora's bright, shrill voice.
II didn't say he was here. But Mr..
King tells me it is he who sends the
man to knock at doors and windows at
night. Didn't you, Mr.. King?"
Clifford did not Immediately answer.
He saw that he was upon the thresh-
old of q mystery. to which the staring
eyes and trembling limbs Of the un-
happy old man before him seemed al
ready to give him the clue. Without
waiting for Clifford's answer to her
question, Miss Theodore suddenly
went on again:
"You said you had just left Nell, Mr..
King. Where was that?"
He hesitated. He was overwhelmed
with feeling Of pity for these two
forlorn people, shut up and barricaded
within their poor tumbledown house.
So that, although he certainly had a
vague belief that the old Colonel was
in some unknown way involved in the