Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-04-19
CHAPTER TIT.

ford King sat up in bed when the
had closed with a flicker OF dim
bit and a rush of cool air. shaking
ON head to foot with excitement and
)rror which made him cold and sick
Was she 4 thief. thea. a common
ief. this blue-eyed, pink-cheeked girl
10 hs9frfatuated him the evening
This Nell of the soft voice
bright nair. TO whose pretty
had listened with delight.
lie had been ready 10 worship
y gentleness. her affectionaft
for her rough old uncle? Nc,
impossible. He had been
g. He would wake presently
nat the experiences of the last
Ites had heen 4 nightmare
IA wish tc~tfiss- effect so strong
was almost belief. lie thrust
and under mis- pillow and felt
for his watch and his purse.
hey We're gOre. without The posi-
of Il doubt.
spFans oul OF bed groped his
TO the window and drew back the
v Ut uSNU WIS DStIh-
and pale. golden light was On
e ca. The rain of the night before
lad made the air cool and fresh. and
Clifford's brain was as clea- at is could
be as ne threw open the window and
had TO confess that the visit OF the
woman with the soft hand had been
terrible reality. He observed by the
dawning light ihat il WAS nearly fou.
sb'clock. He examined his clothes. saw
hat they had been disarranged. and
he went To the door. turGed The
se softly. and looked ous
ls1sslag was small and narrow.
wO doors Opered on il tcsiGes
Cllfford's room. a steep and
harrow wooden staircase led up
G top OF the house. and locking
'lifford could just discern that ri
op there was one door on either
Ee ok into his room. dressed
Il. =sat by the open window
cate OF great as. cation. Far from
ing at once TO the apparently in
able conclusion. Clifford fought
inst il with all his might. Quickly
passion for the girl had sprung
was strong enough 10 make him
TO accept any hypothesis. how
Improbable. rather than ACCEPT
idence of his own senses when
violence was against her He
ady to believe that there was in
use another woman with Il hand
II. as soft, as smooth SIX inned rs
e he had held in his hand when
de Nell good night. And then
desperate impToDability OF his
)sitiOn struck him with the force
blow. He remembered the stall
~ red-handed country wcIch who
had been helping the landlord in the
bar. and he was forced to admit that
the hand which had taken his watch
and purse was not hers. Bun mention
had been made OF "Old Mamie" = ner.
sonage whom he had nof seen. and ne
told himself that this might be nick.
name. and that the bearer Of il might
rove to be young ard fair enough te
the owner OF the thievish fingers.
Although this explanation OF the
r. was a very unlikely ore. Clifford
Gu IL Win 0fSt1tAal- ItfS.Ss 'tltl
the dawn OF anosher suggestion
Is mind This was a better one
linly.
as pretty Nell a somnambulist? II
II only wanted a good. hard stretch
cliffopds Imagination to picture the
rs continually haunted. both by
and night, with the idea of helping
enriching her uncle. until At last
wishes ran away with her and
-shqpe in her sleep in actual thefta
half. Clifford had read tales
,ort. which he had Indeed
non as highly imaginative:
his love made him snatch al
il any way % escaping the
possibility of having 30 &c
that Nell was Il thiei.
seD-waIking notion bad
N some comfort. ana h eli.
sul about clearing up The
aen n faint noise outside
&c him start up and listen.
,ut uDon .ae LANDING. 0ut
one 10 ee se