Sunday Washington globe., 1902-02-02
BENEDICT GORDON.
By REVERE RODGERS.
Written for the SUNDAY GLOBE. ]
CHAPTER XIV

The hue and cry about the murder of
Christopher Alexander had subsidized some
what after a week had elapsed, and no one
had been apprehended for the crime, save
the impossible suspects gathered in by the
Tennallytown watch. Mother Rider and
her daughter had been keeuly alive for any
information bearing upon the subject, and
they had frequented the hotels and pub
lie places in the hope of obtaining what
ever information they could in regard to
the murder
Saunders had returned to his usual haunts
about town, giving out that he had only
just returned from a fishing trip. Ross was
to be found again, hanging about his old
resorts; surly dangerous fellow, much
feared, and for this reason often avoided by
the denizens along the river front
Mother Rider and her daughter, with the
exception of the trips they made with their
basket of notions into the neighboring
country, remained closely at home and ap-
parently attended strictly to business and
to their own affairs.
And dearie, who is the note from?" The
speaker was Mother Rider, and the person
she addressed was her daughter Alice, who
sat reading letter before a smoulderng
tire in the kitchen. The two women had
been at dinner, when messenger had
brought the girl a letter, the sight of
which had perturbed her greatly, which
emotion had not escaped the keen, steady
eyes of the elder woman.
From friend, replied Alice, crumpling
the missive and thrustiug it into herpocket.
Then, as if to escape further questioning,
she arose and hurried into the shop, leaving
her mother deep in thought as she sat with
head bowed before the slowly dying fire.
Wherever the daughter went that day the
eyes of the mother followed her every ac-
ton; not the slightest movement on her part
was lost by the silent, keen eyed woman
whom she called mother.
AS evening approached the excitement
under which the girl was laboring became
more and more apparent. The mother,
seemingly unconscious of the girls be-
havior, sat sewing calmly away at a sailors
blue jacket, yet her keen dark eyes were
eognizant of everything transpiring about
her
Just before dusk, Mother Rider arose and.
putting away her sewing, went out of the
door. Going rapidly up the street she
turned the corner and went down Bridge
street in the direction of the Aaueduct
Bridge. Opposite the bridge there stood a
row OF low grog shops, mostly patronized
by the sailors and rivermen. Hesitating
for an instant Mother Rider entered one of
these saloons and reappeared a moment
later accompanied by Captain Bill After
few minutes hurried conversation with the
man, she retraced her steps in the direc-
tion of her dwelling, followed by the cap
tain, who Jagged along in her rear.
When Mother Rider reached her home
she found her daughter busily engaged in
stocking the small basket which both of the
women were accustomed to carry about
with them on their daily aud nightly rounds
about the vicinity of Georgetown.
why, dearie exclaimed Mother Rider
as she entered the room, I'VE are not going
out tonight are WEI l thought we agreed
that every other night would be often
enough to cart that truck about town."
mo matter said the girl sharply, Pm
going to try 1t tonight I'm in the humor
for it,"
"Ohl you are in the humor for it are you
dearie2" quered the mother, narrowly
watching the girl. You generally hate to
do it, don't you dearie2 You don't like the
way the people stare at you, do you2"
Pm in the humor for it tonight, any
way SAID the girl, turning away her face /
as if to avoid the piercing eyes that she |
knew we're regarding her searchingly.
why it's rather early to start, isn't it AL |
ie?" asked the mother, as she noticed the
girl putting on her shawl and bonnet
zen be good and dark before / get to
Bridge street." said the girl as she placed
he basket Of notions upon her arm and
stood ready to issue forth from the house
Well, good luck to you dearie," cried
Mother Rider, as she helped to arrange her
laughter's dress, and in another moment
he girl passed through the shop and out
nto the street.
Once clear Of the house the girl stopped for
moment to arrange her shawl, and then
on her way passed over the
bridge that spans the canal and walked
apidly up Frederick street in the direction
# the best part of the town.
As she passed the bridge man came out
# the door of one Of the saloons and fell in
o the rear of the unconscious girl Up
frederick street went the hurrying girl with
he man following, but keeping himself
veil concealed in the shadow of the houses.
(To be continued