The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-23


parlor" said Tom curtly.
He led the way hurriedly. The older
men kept pace with him valiantly. with
their own scandalged eyes they had cor
roborated the boys startled announce
ment that his fathers desk was being
tampered with.
A dim light showed through the ground
glass doors. STOPPING figure was
plainly discernible I'm front OF the large
table In the center OF the study, the table
at which Tom had seen his father sit
through what seemed TO his childish
fancy interminable hours Of pen work
A smaller door to the study was
reached by the circuitous passage OF the
drawing room suit II yielded TO Toms
impatient touch upon its knob and opened
inward-upon a room wrapped In utter
darkness.
Have any of you matches?" he asked
sharply
Three matches were responsively struck
against many boot heels, ana the room
was soon well lighted.
Scattered I'm reckless confusion over the
open desk were papers that had been
hastily drawn out from the pigeonholes
for inspection by whom and for what
purpose were the mysteries that con-
fronted Thomas and his friends.
This passes comprehension" said old
man Braddock with tremulous utterance
and protuberant eyes. THE study was
| i'm perfect order when | locked that door
| on this side Rufus would turn In his
coffin at such dlsarray. Howas so very
| orderly"
Some one has been tampering with my
| IA TIERS papers for purposes OF his own.
VIII you help me search the house for
| the miscrsant my friends? I should like
| just to discover the place OF ingress siad
egress After we have found II we can
| search the house inside thoroughly"
| An hour later he stood alone on the
| low flight of steps that led down into his
mothers flower garden. The first gray
| tints of dawn were resting pallidly on the
| trees OF the lawn and upon the tangled
riot OF blossoms which sweetened the cold
| chill air of early morning. Baffied and
| humIlia ted. ne had left his companions In
! "A futile search TO watch by the master or
| the house while he wrestled alone with
| his perplexity.
The circuit of Broxton hall had been
| made carefully by the four men. Its
| lower expanse OF broad yeranda. pierced
| by numerous doors and windows as ca
| pacious had been found guiltless OF one
| derelict lock or bolt. Securely fastened
| and untampered with. each had shown
| itself intact. The upper story OF the
| rambling old mansion had repeated the
/ same story--not tho swinging OF shut
ter nor tho yawning Of the smallest door
l
| search the mystery of that crouching
! figure and disordered desk was greater
| than at it's beginning.
| Weary OF conjecture that only con-
fused Of suggestions that did not sug
gest Tom had withdrawn himself and
now stood drinking I'm great drafts o
fresh air IL cooled the hot feverish-
ness of his body and spirit. The phan-
TASTES OF the night seemed to quail ano
shrivel before the pure. calm radiance
| of the morning star that still held sway
in the slowly flushing skies.
! Peace came to the boys troubled
| spirit as he stood there accepting heal
ing at natures benignant hands. The
| night just gone was one he should never
forget but II had not put him further
| away from that noble browed sleeper
from whose silent lips had seemed TO fal
| a gentle rebuke for his craven nerves
Then the sun arose above the horizer
in his chariot OF crimson and gold. ano
| new day was fairly installed. th'
| last day for him to be privileged TO lool
upon his beloved's face. He was glat
that the unnerved watchers had availeC
| themselves OF the earliest sun rays u
take their departure.
As he stood there alone on the broad
stops OF the house. overlooking the beau
| tlful expanse OF the Broxton lawn. 50
| he stood alone I'm all the wide world, no
one creature TO call kindred Small won
der that he clung with ravening tender
ness TO the silent sleeper I'm the house
| behind his back.
lie retraced his steps and re-entere'
the room where his father lay. III
flung open the windows and moved reso
lutely toward the casket. The ute
peacefulness the majestic repose OF thu
sleeper filled his soul with strang'
quietness.
At that moment he remembered tn
seal ring which his father had always
impressed upon the wax OF his letters
4 II was on his finger when he died. III
should like it for his very own. He drew
the white draperies from the broad ches
10 secure the ring. In the pallid claspe'
hands single white cosmos flower ha'
dropped 10 its death
Tho seal ring was not upon his fa
TIERS hand. The flower had not bcei
I'm his quiet clasp when they laid hin
I'm the caskct.
who would unravel the knot OF thi
twofold mystery?
(To bc Continued)