Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-09-05
"Well, sir, If I must say it-until

Clifford controlled the anger he felt,
since an exhibition of it would only
have closed the detectives lips more
tightly.
II should like you to make an expert
ment, though" said he. "Will you
make it on my account? want it
very well done, no matter what II
COSTS"
You're throwing your money away,
sir,' replied Hemming civilly. "Still'
if you wish it, and choose to pay fol-
it, of course it can be DONE"
Clifford found card, and gave 1t to
the detective.
There is my address," said he. ~
rely upon you to do your best"
"And you won't be dissuaded, sir,
from useless expense?"
mo"
Before they parted, Clifford and. the
detective had arranged between them
the details of little plot which Cliff
ford thought would certainly suffice
to excite the appetite of the astute but
daring thief who was at the bottom
of all the mischief.
In the week following Clifford's de-
parture, therefore, there arrived at
the Blue Lion a rough-looking person
who gave himself out as successful
emigrant. who had returned to his ma.
tive land with MS pockets full OF
money. The man stayed at the inn
for several days, boosted openly in the
bar of his luck, showed the results OF
1t in lavish treating and in the ap'
parently careless exhibition Of hand.
fuls Of gold.
But 1t was all in vain. Hemmins
had to report to Clifford, not without
secret triumph, that the wealthy emil
grant" had been allowed, after a pro.
longed stay. to leave the inn without
having received a visit from the mid.
night thief. Clifford was much chag.
rined, although he affected to think
that it was only in common prudence
that the thief, on whom at least the
suspicion Of murder now hung, had
| grown more careful.
But when Hemming had left him,
Clifford began to think out q new
problem which this last occurrence
had presented to him. Wac Jem Stick.
els the chief?
But then it was certainly not Jem
| Stickels whose hand he had caught
under his pillow. And a shiver passed
through the young fellows frame as
| he remembered the touch of the
smooth skin, of the little slender fin.
gers.
It was not until the first day Of
| March, on a clustering, stormy morn
ing, that Nell Claris, her resolution
broken down by pathetic appeal
from her uncle, came back to Stroan.
George Claris met his niece at the
station, and each was shocked at the
changed appearance of the other. Nell
seemed to have lost half her beauty;
her cheeks had lost their rOundness
which had been one Of her greatest
charms.
ooh, unclew she cried softly, when
she had received his silent kiss on her
forehead, you don't look the same
uncle! What have you been doing to
yourself?"
ooh, we've been pottering along
much in the same old way" answered
the innkeeper. affecting an Indifference
which he was far from feeling.
"Nothing's happened in particular,
since Mr.. King went back to London.
He wanted your address, as 1 told
you in my letters. Why wouldn't you
let me give it to him."
"Uncle, like him too much,' an
swered the girl. steadily. IF it had
been in the old time, now, he should
have had it quickly enough. But I'M
til this miserable business, that's been
the ruin of everything to lis all, is
cleared UP. I'll not let any man care
about involve himself in my disgrace"
Disgrace, Nellr echoed George Cla-
ris in q low voice. Don't say that,
child, don't say that"
In this tone the girl detected all the
emotions which the story and the ru-
mors about it had set stirring in her
uncle's simple mind. She felt keenly
the affection, the doubt, the anger.
which had tortured him during the
long weeks of the winter. She gave
sigh. and tucking her hand under
his arm, whispered:
1--WE won't say disgrace. then, but
misfortune"
"Aye, that's better, DEAR" agreed the
poor fellow mournfully.
At that moment they emerged from
the shelter afforded by the trees of
Stroan Court, the mansion which stood
| Just outside Of the walls Of the old
town. They were within sight Of the
spot where the body OF Jem Stickels
had been discovered; but any emotions
they might have felt at the recollec-
ton were overpowered by sense Of
actual physical danger. For the wind,
which had been boisterous all the
morning, was now so strong that they
were afraid that the dog-cart would
be blown over; while at the same time
q binding snowfall made it almost
Impossible for them to discern the road
a yard in front of the horses head.
1T blows straight on the Shore"
said George Claris. It'll be a lucky
thing If none Of the ships in the chan
mel get drove out OF their course to.
night"
Nell shuddered. Living as she did by
the seashore, she was accustomed to
storms and the horrors attendant up
OH them to the ships at sea. Every
gale brought disaster; and although,
the inn being on the shore of bay,