The Savannah morning news., 1902-08-10

white wooden gate with latch. Be
yond it lies the wide moor l remem-
bered your theory of the affair and
tried to picture all that had occurred.
AS the old man stood there he saw
something coming across the moor,
something which terrified him so that
he lost his wits, and ran and ran I'M
til he died of sheer horror and eX-
haustion. There was the long, gloomy
tunnel down which he fed. And from
what? A sheep-dog of the moor? Or
spectral hound, black, silent and
monstrous? Was there a human
agency in the matter? Did the pale,
watchful Barrymore know more than
he cared to say? 1t was all dim and
vague, but always there is the dark
shadow of crime behind it.
One other neighbor 1 have met since
1 wrote last. This is Mr.. FARMLAND
of Latter Hall, who lives some four
miles to the south of us. He is an
elderly man, red faced, white haired
and choleric. His passion is for the
British law, and he has spent large
fortune in litigation. He fights for the
mere pleasure of fighting and is equal
ly ready to take up either side of
question, so that it is no wonder that
he has found it a costly amusement.
Sometimes he will shut up right-of"
way and defy the parish to make him
open it. At others he will with his
own hands tear down some other
mans gate and declare that a path
has existed there from time immemo-
rial, defying the owner to prosecute
him for trespass. He is learned in old
immortal and communal rights, and he
applies his knowledge sometimes in
favor of the villagers of Fernworthy
and sometimes against them, so that
he is periodically either carried in tri-
umph down the village street or else
burned in effigy, according to his lat
est exploit. He Is said to have about
seven lawsuits upon his hands at pres
ent, which will probably swallow up
the remainder of his fortune and so
draw his sting and leave him harm
less for the future. Apart from the
law he seems a kindly, good-natured
person, and 1 only mention him be-
cause you were particular that l
should send some description of
the people who surround us.
He is curiously employed at
present, for, being an amateur astron-
omer, he has an excellent telescope,
with which he lies upon the roof of
his own house and sweeps the moor
all day in the hope of catching
glimpse of the escaped convict If he
would confine his energies to this all
would be well, but there are rumors
that he intends to prosecute DR.. Nor
timer for opening a grave without the
consent of the next-of-kin, because he
dug up the neolithic skull in the bar
row on Long Down. He helps to keep
our lives from being monotonous and
gives a little comic relief where II is
badly needed.
And now, having brought you up to
date in the escaped convict, the Sta
pletons, DR.. Mortimer and FARMLAND
of Latter Hall, let me end on that
which is most important and tell you
more about the Barrymores, and es-
pecially the surprising development of
last night.
First of all about the test telegram,
which you sent from London in order
to make sure that Barrymore was real
ly here. l have already explained that
the testimony of the postmaster shows
that the test was worthless and that
we have no proof one way or the other.
/ told Sir Henry how the matter stood,
and he at once. in his downright fash
ion, had Barrymore up and asked him
whether he had received the telegram
himself. Barrymore said that he had.
did the boy deliver it into your
own hands?" asked Sir Henry.
Barrymore looked surprise, and con-
sidered for a little time.
NO" said he, II was in the box
room at the time, and my wife brought
it ND to me-"
Did you answer it yourself?"
mo; l told my wife what to answer
and she went down to write it."
In the evening he required to the
subject of his own accord
IT could not quite understand the
object of your questions this morning,
inL he that thew
do not mean that have done any
thing to forfeit your confidence?"
Sir Henry had to assure him that 1t
was not so and pacify him by giving
him a considerable part of his old
wardrobe, the London outfit having
now all arrived.
Mrs. Barrymore is of interest to me-
She is heavy, solid person, very linn
tied, intensely respectable, and inclin-
ed to be puritanical. You could hard
ly conceive a less emotional subject
Yet l have told you how, on the first
night here, l heard her sobbing Bit
terly, and since then l have more than
once observed traces of tears upon her
face. Some deep sorrow gnaws ever
at her heart Sometimes l wonder If
she has a guilty memory which haunts
her, and sometimes 1 suspect Barry
more of being a domestic tyrant.
have always felt that there was some
thing singular and questionable in this
mans character, but the adventure Of
last night brings all my suspicious to
a head.
And yet IL may seem a small matter
in itself. You are aware that l am not
very sound sleeper, and since /
have been on guard in this house my
slumbers have been lighter than ever.
Last night, about two In the morning.
was aroused by a stealthy step pass
ing my room. | rose opened my door,
and peeped out. A long black shadow
was trailing down the corridor. II
was thrown by a man who walked