Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28

bushes that overhung the stream, l sped on
ward for ten minutes or more, until I
came to the boundary Of the great pasture,
passing through the swing gate by which /
felt confident that they must also pass. /
turned to look before leaving the meadow,
and could just distinguish their figures.
They had turned at right angles, and as !
had expected were walking in my direction.
went forward again and, after some hur-
ried search, discovered a spot close to the
path where concealment behind a great old
willow seemed possible. SO at that coign of
vantage / waited breathlessly for their ap-
proach. The roaring of the waters behind
would, l feared, prevent any of their words
from reaching me, nevertheless l waited
anxiously.
A great barn owl tapped lazily past, boot
ing weirdly as 1t went, then all nature be-
came still again, save the dull sound OF the
tumbling food. Amber Jevons, had be been
with me would no doubt have acted differ
emily. But II must be remembered that l
was the merest tyro in the unraveling Of a
mystery, whereas with him it was a kind of
natural occupation. And yet would he be-
lieve me when 1 told him hat l had actually
seen the dead man walking there with his
wife?
l was compelled to admit within myself
that such a statement from the lips Of any
man would be received with incredulity. In
deed, had such a thing been related to me,
l should have put the narrator down as
either a liar or a lunatic.
At last they came. / remained notion
less, standing in the shadow and not daring
to breathe. My eyes we're fixed upon him,
my ears strained to catch every sund.
RI. -a4a - - What 4N uyag
I could not gather. Then he pushed open
the creaking gate to allow her to pass.
Across the moons face had drifted a heecy
cloud; therefore the light was not so brill
liant as half an hour before. Still l could
see his features almost as plainly as l see
this paper upon which l am writing my
strange adventure and could recognize
every linament and popularity Of his coun-
tenance.
Having passed through the gate he took
her ungloyed hand with an air of old
fashioned gallantry and raised 1t to his
lips. She laughed merrily in rapturous
content and then slowly, very slowly, they
strolled along the path that ran within
three feet OF where l stood.
My heart leaped with excitement. Their
voices sounded above the rushing Of the
waters and they were lingering as though
unwilling to walk further.
"Ethelywnn has told me-" he was saying.
81 can't make out the reason of his cold
ness toward her. Poor girl! she seems
utterly heart-broken."
HE suspects" his wife replied.
Blu what ground has he for Suspicion
l stood there transhxed. They were
talking of myself
They had halted quite close to where
1 was and in that low roar had raised their
voices so that I could distinguish every
word.
We'll" remarked his wife, "the whole
affair was mysterious, that you must admit.
With his friend, a man named Jevons, he
has been endeavoring to solve the prob
lem"
"a curse on Amber Jevons!" he blurted
forth in anger, as though he were we'll
acquainted with my friend.
"If between them they managed TO get
at the truth it would be very awkward"
she said.
mo fear Of that" he laughed in full
confidence. "A man once dead and buried.
with a coroner's verdict upon him, is not
easily believed to be alive and we'll. No,
my dear; rest assured that these men will
never get at our -secret-never."
I smiled within myself. How little did
he dream that the man Of whom he had
been speaking was actually overhearing his
words!
"But Ethelwynn. in order to regain her
place in the doctors heart, may betray
US" his wife remarked obviously.
She dare not" was the reply. From
her We have nothing whatever TO fear.
AS long as you keep up the appearance Of
deep mourning. are discreet in all your
actions, and exercise proper caution on the
occasions when we meet, our secret must
remain hidden from ALL"
But ] am doubtful Of Ethelwynn. A