Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-05-17
CHAPTER VI.
Continued.

Continued.
The young man had been much dis.
appointed that the first night of his
stay under the roof of the Blue Lion
had passed of uneventfully. The SECT
ond. however. fully u:de up TO: this
lack of exciteS ent So fearful was lie
of missing possible visitor by over.
sleeping himself. that he never closed
his eyes at all: and he was rewarded
for his vigilance when. between two
and three o'clock. lie heard slight
noise at his door. and a moment later
saw dimly that there was a figure
moving in his room.
He held his breath while the intrud
er went softly toward the head of the
bed. making no noise. feeling about,
STOPPING. searching. At last. when the
fore. which could now be discerned
as that of woman. reached his
clothes and began hunting in them. the
amateur detective. allowing his eX
element 10 get the better OF him. sat
up In bed. making. in doing SO. just
Goise to arouse the attention of the
watchful thief. The next moment she
had darted across the room. and out
Mt the door. But the young man. be-
ing prepared for such contingency as
this. sprang out of bed half-dressed.
and dashed out on TO the landing in
pursuit. The woman had got the start
of him. and was by this time halfway
up the attic staircase. He followed
her. saw her open the door of the
room on the right and close ii. He
heard the key turn in the lock. With.
out a seconds hesitation. he flung him.
self with all his strength against the
door. 1t shook. IL creaked: another
such blow and the rickety old frame
work would give way. Just as he
hurled his weight against the door for
the second time. however, he heard
the unmistakable sound of the throw
ing open of the window of the room.
The next instant. the door gave way
under the force of his blows. and lie
dashed into the rooM just in time to
see head disappear behind the sill Of
the open wirayw.
>->uashing through the room without
low reached the window. and looked
out. There was the sloping roof of
an ouihouse underneath. and although
he could see no one. he flung himself
out, slid down the dies and found
himself precipitated quickly if not
very gently TO the ground. Then he
saw dim something moving in front
IF L. "a nj L. ~
loved.
The shadowy something paused. A
cry escaped him. low Cry Of triumph.
as he found that lie was gaining ON
the creature he was pursuing But
the next moment lie uttered cry OF
different sort. and 4 much louder one.
as he found himself prccipitated with
great suddenness into bath OF Ice
cold water.
Not being acquainted with the geoS-
raphy of the place he had walked
straight into The little river. Cries and
shouts quickly brought him assistance.
for the landlord. who had been al
ready awakened by the hammering in
of the upstairs dcoT. came out III his
night-shirt and rescued him with
boat-hook.
The thief" sputtered the amateur
detective with chattering teeth The
thief; I've found her out. I've found
her.
What theft" said Claris. suriiIy.
rs he dragged the shiverinS man to-
wards the back-door Of the inn with
no gentle hand. Who do you mean
by thief. you addle-patcd rascal"
You'll see. you'll see tomorrow"
replied the other. undaunted, not heed
ing his own pitiful plight in his ex-
= citement. Whose is the bedroom up
stairs nj the bac!: on the right
That's my niece's roo - said Clar.
is. sullenly. and il you dare to say
that she had anything 10 do with your
fools outing tonight. I'll shake such
brains as you've got ont of yer.''
We'll. you may. and welcome. il
you don't find that she's left her room
and got AWAY by the window. All"
he stopped Shor. suddenly in the mid.
die of the cabbage garden, through
which they We're walking. and pointed
TO a white figure which was stealing
Its way into the house: is that your
niece. or is il not:" roared the young
man excitedly. rs he pointed with a
shaking finger in the direction of the
disappearing woman.
For answer George clariS sprang
forward. and SEIZED the girls wrist
inst rs she reached the shelter of the
doorway.
"Neli"' cried The man. in tones so
hoarse. so terrible that they sounded
like those o. n stranger. Tell me.
lass. what were you doing out there?"
Blu; the girl only stammcred and
shook. and h. waited in vain for an
answer.
CHAPTER VII
II ever guilt WAS written or a hu.