Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-05-10
ling taken thelr leave, walked

two. having taken their leave, walked
on together
Willie spoke first. Putting at the
pipe he had just lit. he glanced mp ut
Otto.
Well and VIVA; IS your opinion OF
our fair friend now he asked.
My opinion is that she is thief.
and very daring. ii not very skill
full one. Those earrings were pearls
and rubies. real ones. very old-fash-
toned. but worth something"
And You don't think they may have
been given TO herr"
My dear fellow look M the story
| Is there anything TO blush about in
the fact Of receiving u present from
| an old man and his old daughter? Yet.
undoubtedly. she did blush Then
look NJ the improba hiiity Of the thing.
The Bostals are as poor as church
mice. Would they have such thing
as these earrings: Well. perhaps
they might have. Eut would they
give them away: The old man might.
infatuated with her pretIy face but
not the starchy. elderly young lady"
"I0u had better not tell Clifford
what you think"
Il don't mean 10. Rut | mean 10 try
To save him from this ENHANCEMENT:
and i'll order to carry out my plan. he
must not suspect that I have one. He
won't say much about her. you bet :.
he Will be afraid of our raiilcry. And
we shall say no more than he does.
And. of course. ii he asks me my
opinion about the earrings. ! shall say
they were worthless. See
Willie nodded. lie 10 longer bore
Clifford malice FOR cutting him out: he
was only too thankful that he had been
himself saved from Il deep tumble into
The same pitfall.
IL was about fortnight after the
return TO town of the three friends
that there drove up 10 the Blue Lion.
enc bitter evening. hired dog-cart
from S;roan. in which sat Il gentleman
who told the landlord that he was on
the way 10 Courtstairs. but that he
found the weather TOO severe. and
should be glad 10 pun up at the inn
until the following morning. He was
pleasant, laxative young fellow, and
George Claris. who had been growing
rather moody and reserved of late
thawed under the influence of Tho
strangers genial manner. and passed
me evening smoking and talking bv
THE fire In the little bar-parlor Only
once i'll the course of the evening did
he catch sight of Nell
She was passing through the massage
on her way upstairs. and she appeared
mt the door OF the room for an instant
only. To give Il message 10 her uncle
As she stood there. the young man
TOOK occasion TO mention that he mus.
Try 10 push on tomorrow, as hc was
carrying property OF some value for n
hrm in whose employment he was.
which was expected Ivy another firm to
whom lie was commissioned
And ne noticed that. rs I've said this.
the girls bright color left her checks.
Why don't You push on tonight.
then: she said. brusqucly. advancing
il step into the room and fixing her
eyes earnestly upon him. The wealth
CIR HAY be worse tomorrow. and if
You are afraid of little wind. you
should have gone by rail. and not by
road"
The young man rcse politely. and
looked At her curiOusly Is she spoke
But before he had had time TO utter a
word in answer. her uEclc dismissed
her from the room with 4 by no means
gentle reminder that IL was no bust
ness of hers.
The visitor. in spite of the import.
ance of his commission. seemed TO be
in no great hurry to push on with his
Journey: for on the following day, as
the wind was still cold. and the sky
still gloomy. he remained ut the Blue
Lion.
George ClariS had shrewd sus-
picion that 1t was the blue eyes of his
pretty niece which made the stranger
so dilatory. and he took care that the
girl should he invisible throughout the
whole of the day As he had expected.
the young man grew evidently uneasy,
and presently found occasion to ask
IL the young lady had left the house.
No" answered George shortly. she
is in the house right enough but you
won't see no more of her My niece
is IL lady. sir. for all she is my niece.
and she don't ave nothin' TO do with
my business
The young man. rather 10 the land
LORDS surprise. appeared entirely sat
isiied with this explanation.
Indeed. he had every reason to he so.
for he was friend OF Otto Cony-
bcare's. whom that young gentleman
had sent down to do a little amateur
detective work in the supposed interest
of Clifford King. but without. of
course. informing Clifford of his ben
cvolent intention.
To be Continued.