The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-12-31
The boy looked surprised.

81 must get back to my work." said
he.
Donald meanwhile was writing on a
slip Of paper.
This Is my prediction" he an
nounced, "and If you won't look at it
till afterward I'll give it to you, uncle"
"All right, my boy" I replied. And
when he had sealed up the prediction
in a very small envelope put it into
my waistcoat pocket.
In the course Of the next day or two
had several opportunities for exerting
my powers Of persuasion upon Mr.
Isaac Thorndyke. He was evasive, but
his intent was clear. The man could
be counted absolutely with the Kelvin
party. What inducements Kelvin Of
fered him have never learned, but
have suspected that they consisted IN
promises to invest money in crazy in
vention which Tlorndyke controlled
and in which he mad just sense enough
not to sink all his own money.
No change occurred in the situation
I'D to the day before the election. On
the afternoon Of that day Donald and l
were walking along the business street
Of Tunbridge, where most Of the stores
are and the principal hotel, sorry
place of entertainment, regret to say.
As we approached it I saw Detective
Gillespie come out. He paused upon
the edge Of the upper step. and 1 no.
ticed that he was triie unsteady, as
| if under the influence Of drink.
I had had no interview with this man
since the day when he had made his
extraordinary and baseless charge
| against Donaldson. I knew that be
had remained in town, and had TAX
en- some pains to make sure that he
was not repeating his accusation. Had
he done so I should have made trouble
| for him. But so far as I could judge
his main business was to drive about
the town in a light top buggy and Iook
mysterious.
The vehicle in question was standing
before the door Of the hotel, and the
horse was fastened to an iron hitching
post AS we approached the spot from
one side Kelvin and Thorndyke came
up from the other, so that it seemed
likely that there would be rather in
teresting encounter before the door OF
the hotel.
Gillespie remained poised upon the
step, and as we came near Donald
bowed to him.
"Aha, the wonder-boyw said Giles
pie. ''What sort of weather are we
going to have next Christmas?"
"The weather is fine today" replied
Donald, pausing. "Be content with
that"
Gillespie turned to me.
"I've got some interesting facts for
you, Mr.. Harrington" said he. "They
won't please your young friend there
very much"
81 would suggest that this is hardly
the place to disclose them" said I.
"No," he answered, "and I'm not quite
ready yet"
s'That was the trouble with you the
other day." said injudicionsly. you
fred off the gun before it was loaded"
1t is fault Of mine that I am al
ways impatient with a drunken man.
Nothing else makes me so angry as
foolishness, and at the head Of all fol-
lies stands ineDriation. On this occa-
sion Gillespie was seized with the sud-
den and absurd anger which often
marks a certain stage Of intoxicaton.
"If you want me to talk right here"
said he, 'T'll show the whole business
I'D. I'm dead on to this boy. I can
Tell you the whole game from A to D."
a crowd was collecting. Kelvin and
Thorndyke had stopped and were in
:erested spectators. caught glimpse
If Donald out of the corner Of my eye
and saw that he was pale with some
strong emotion, which I judged to be
wrath, though it was really mere mis-
cry, as afterward learned.
"Why don't you so on?" said he to
Gillespie. "Tell what you know here
| and now."
Tomorrow will do" said the detec-
tive, beginning to descend the steps.
Tomorrow III come to see you at
your Office, Mr.. Harrington"
"I shan't be there" said I.
"Then I'll find you over to the juno
tion,' ne rejoined. ooh, l shan't have
any -.ouble in keeping track Of you
tomorrow"
Donald stepped forward into the
mans path. I saw that some unusual
impulse was upon the boy, and it af-
fected me with a peculiar thrill. l
had often seen him show the same
aspect, but never with such intensity.
Frank Gillespie" said he, '.if you
have anything to say upon this mat
ter speak now. Tomorrow will be too
late. If you wait till then, I warn you
that you will not speak at all. Now is
your time, and there is no other"
He extended his right hand and
touched Gillespie upon the breast over
the heart. He has declared since then
that the gesture was entirely acciden-
| tai, that he was wholly unaware OF II.
And I think that is one Of the strongest
points in the case.
AS to the immediate effect of his
words and manner, I never saw the
like. There was such silence that
it seemed as if the whole town of Tun-
bridge had stopped to take its breath.
In certain moments Donald undoubt-
edly exercises an influence upon those
about him which has no rational ex-
planation.
Gillespie put up his hand and COW
cred the spot which Donald had
touched.
"Hocus pocusw he cried somewhat
hoarsely. "I'll attend to your case to-
morrow"
He brushed past Donald and unhltch-
ed the horse with so much nervous bus
tie that the animal was irritated and
| L.1 s,,.+ 90 C;11acnio ho6 n foot m