Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-10

There aoere da&gsty footprints d4e the dust. other matters was Just entering the grounds. Jimmy Lamoine was the coachman, and Miss Jones was his pas senger.
 As the carriage drew up before the door I observed that Jimmy looked hot and dusty, and that Miss Jones was cool and fresh as a flower in a shady garden. It was characteristic of the young lady to look always as if she had just donned a new gown with the assistance of a dressmaker, a milliner and a maid, and yet I could hardly believe that nature had given her an amulet that was proof against seven miles of dusty road
 There is not the least bit of the de- tective in me, but ' am a fairly good investigator in laboratory. My work Is always based upon the cardinal prin- ciple that effects have causes, and that very little will ever happen without them. To state the matter more plain 1y, was upon this occasion moved to assume that there was some reason why Miss Jones had escaped the dust.
 She greeted me with somewhat form al cordiality, and yet the girl was not in the least given to affectation. If her manner was a trif1e noticeable, as of course 1t shouldn't be, judged that the cause might be sought in her scant experience with the country, for a drawing room manner under a tree is like a dress suit in church-it savers of profanity. Also, there was faint sug- gestion that the lady had something on her mind.
 In spite of all these thoughts I had room in my mind for a recognition of her beauty. She was certainly a per- feet illustration of something, even though MT. Scovel may have been mis- taken in giving England the credit of the type. For my own part, being a bit of a jingo, like Lucy Ann, would rather think Miss Jones to be thor Oughly American. However, neither her nationality nor her good looks could account for the absence of dust on her gown, or for the sprightly grace with which she rose from her seat when offered her my hand to alight.
 l oughtn't to mention it of course, but ones knees, even in youth, will St1ffen a bit when one rides seven miles on a straight backed seat with not too much room in front of it. There is no need that a fellow should be a born detective in order that he may note such matters.
 When the lady after a few agreeable words had gone into the house, lighted a cigar and strolled out to the gate The tracks made by the wheels of Mrs. Witherspoon's wagon were plainly to be seen in the dust of the road. I could trace them very conveniently, even when walking on the side path.
 At point where the road was low est, about 50 yards from the edge of the hill-a spot invisible from the With erspOon house-I observed that the wagon tracks exhibited a break in their steady course. A man with one eye, and that not of the best, could have read this record in the dust The wagon had stopped, the forward wheels had swung round, and some one had got in. Or out? In for a thouRnRd dol lars. There were dainty foOGplhAtB in the dust
 I returned to the house hastily, as If I had an errand, though really I hadn't. This discovery did not suggest any inn mediate action; on the other hand, it whispered of prudence. 1 seemed to have solved my riddle, but my ultimate course was as much in doubt as before.
 In the main porch I found Trask waiting, his sketching tools by his side. He had an air ef gentle distraction, as if he had heen. trying to think of sevaraJ