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

Who co you think it was. then?
Who do you think 1t was as took your
watch an your money? Speak out.
sir. speak out, IL you dare
The blood rose in Clifiord's face.
The mans suriy. defiant tone seemed
to show that he mad either some knowl-
edge or some fear o. the truth. But
again there rushed over the young
man an overwhelming sense OF shame.
which prevented him from being more
explicit.
Il have spoken out" he said. SIM
ply.
For = few minutes the men stood 81
lent. each afraid to say too much.
Then Claris. as sullenly. as fiercely as
ever. beckoned to Clifford to follow
him into the inn.
"Come an see 'em. come an see
'em all. Search 'em if you like" said
he. bluntly. And look over the house
an see If there's a way In it or out
OF 1t that anybody could have got in or
out by. Come and see for yourself. I
say"
Clifford followed him In silence into
the little bar. allowed Claris TO point
out to him that the window was still
barred. and had evidently not been
tempered with. And so in turn they
examined together the windows and
the doors of the whole house; and
Clifford saw that. unless Glars him
self had been in collision with the
IN
the outside during the night. But
then Clifford himself had not sus-
pected a thief from the outside.
AS for the persons who had slept in
the house that night. George Claris
said they Were five in number. Him.
self. his niece. Clifford. the servant
whom Clifford had seen in the bar.
and old Mamie. n woman between
sixty and seventy years of age. WHO
slept in small room. which was
scarcely more than cupboard. on
the ground floor. because she was too
infirm to go upstairs.
Clifford made the excuse Of wish
ing 10 converse little with the old
woman. that he might have an oppor-
tunity OF examining her hands They
were withered and lean. rendered
coarse by field work. and enlarged at
the Joints by rheumatism. Without
a doubt 1t was not the hand OF old
Mamie which had taken his watch
and purse.
When he left the kitchen. where he
and The landlord had thus Interviewed
the STAFF o. the establishment. Clifford
followed Ciaris again into the road in
front OF the inn.
Now said Ciaris. defantiv.
you've seen every Blessed creature
as was IN the house last night. Which
OF them WAS ii as You thinG took your
things"
Clifford hesitated.
Il have an idea he said. land 4
want you to listen cuietiy. since if it is
correct, it takes away all suspicion of
anyone having acted dishonesty. Is
there in Your house a-a-woman who
walks in her Sleep
Not into folks bedrooms to steal
their money. anyhow" answered Gle
ris. surlily And I've never heard o.
no sort OF sleep walkin' by either OF
them
Either of the servants. you mean:"
said Clifford with slight emphasis.
"Yes. of course. Why. man alive!
You wouldn't sure dare to say as my
niece, my lovely Nell. was thief to
take your dir,y money" shouted the
landlord, with sudden fury. all the
more fierce that. as Clifford could see.
he had heard whispers OF the same
sort before. Here. Nell. Nell. Where
are you
And. no. needing CiiiforG's angry
protests. Claris rushed inIo the mouse.
and almost in.o the arms OF his niece.
wno. apparently suspecting nothing.
came running quickly in from the gar
den at the sound OF her own name.
What is It. uncle
She still wore her hat. but it was
pushed back; and her pink and white
face. glowing with the wholesome
sting of the fresh morning air. smiled
at the hot and agita,ed faces OF the
two men.
This man. this gentleman. says
you're Il thief. my girl, Says you Went
into his room last night and stole his
watch and his money. and that he
caught your hand in the very act.
There. my girl. answer him yourself.
Tell MIN what you think OF i eur that
tells such lies az them o. my bonny
Nell.'
The man was genuinely agitated. in
deed. almost sobbing with rage and
disgust. AS for Clifford. he was mar
ticulate: he could only look Al the girl.
as she grew deadly white. and seemed
to lose the bloom of her beauty in hor
ror and amazement as she listened.
To be Continued.