Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-08-16

scandals that are past and done with.
/ may have my own suspicious that
the annoyance we suffer from is con-
nected with the uncanny stories we
have heard so much about. But still
/ will not interfere. and | refuse 10
call in the aid of the police. We must
not forget that in delivering up this
unknown person who annoys lis. we
might be exposing others TO danger"
What others. papa" asked Miss
Theodore quickly.
But the Colonel would not answer.
He turned the conversation TO anothe.'
subject. and the Interesting ttIic was
having taken leave OF the Colonel.
stood in the nall with Miss Theodore
do you know why l came down
here today" he then asked.
Not TO see u.s." asked Miss Theo-
dora. I'VE could hardly have hoped
for that"
1T was to see you and to thank you
for your trust In Nell. met NJ )
Lansdowne in town one evening. and
she told me you We're the one person
who still believed in her innocence"
But. to his chagrin. the little lady
sighed and looked down. At last She
said:
81 did hold out rs long as could
against the thought of her guilt. Mr..
King: but l must confess that l. tco.
have had to give way to overwhelm-
ing evidence. In face of some fresh
to my knowledge. l don't see how
can escape the conclusion that she did
commit these crimes"
Clifford drew himself up with Il
great shock of disappointment. Here.
where he expected fortress. he found
a quagmire.
''In fact. it is because my father
feels sure that the person who comes
here to annoy us is the very same crea-
ture who instigared the girl TO commit
these crimes. that he refuses TO give
information to the police"
And who is the person:" asked
Clifford. quickly.
"A young man who has obtained n
great influence over her. and who has
probably by this time become ner hus-
band" replied Miss Bostal.
Clifford could not repress n move
ment of anxiety ut these words. Miss
Bostal tried to persuade him to come
back into the dining-room with her
and TO stay to tea. But he excused
himself and. with Il rather colder
leave-taking than he had expected. hc
left the house by the back door. and
heard Miss Theodore draw the bolts
before he reached the end c. the gar
den.
This visit had left an extraordinary
impression upon him.
There had flashed through his mind.
as he noted the effect which Thco-
dora's prattle made upon her father.
an uneasy suspicion whether the
Colonel himself was not in some wa.
implicated in the murder of Jem Site
kels ard the robberies 1t the Blue
Lion. 1t was quite clear that poor
Miss Theodore haC no inkling of this.
for she chartered away without even
noticing her fathers uneasiness. 1t
was in vain. however. that Clifford
tried to imagine any series of circum
stances by which the old Colonel
could have been implicated in the
crimes. On the other hand. they re-
manned just as inexplicable NJ the
hands OF any Other person.
1t was with n great sinking of the
heart that Clifford began to feel his
own belief in Nelrs complete limo
cence giving way. He was forced
again TO take refuge in the belief that
if she had been an agent in these Grim
inal acts. she had been an unconscious
one. And the thought which was
upparmost i'm his mind was: What
steps should he take TO find her? The
feeling which was strongest in his
heart was the desire to shelter her
from the consequences of those acts.
But the question was: How to find
her? Clifford had been down to
StrOan already to make inquiries. but
had been unable to obtain any tidings
of the uncle or the niece more defin-
lite than the vague rumor that George
Claris was "shut up somewhere"
Clifford paused Tor few moments
outside the garden gate of Shinglc
End. wondering whether he would
apply for information to the police at
Stroan. 1t was step he dreaded to
take. although he began to think it
was the only one likely to lead to his
obtaining the details he wanted.
AS he stood looking vaguely along
the road he suddenly perceived an old
woman. who was standing ut the door
of the ancient turnpike cottage. was
blinking and nodding ut him in n mys-
terions manner. He took few steps
in her direction. and she came out in
the road TO meet him.
To be Continued.