The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-12-30
CHAPTER XIV.
Continued.

No uc uclSuleuCO Wy tho ShSAoh<c u
this pair, when the first Of the two
darted out of the house more rapidly
than he had entered 1t, and hastened at
full speed down the street just as the
whistle of an approaching train was
heard. He was followed, but not i'm
mediately, by the second person, who,
hearing the train blowing off steam at
the station, rushed after him down the
street with all the determination, Of an
ardent pursuer, while from the great
front door through which the two had
come rushing there now issued a half
dozen or more curious individuals, anx-
ious to know the termination Of an en-
counter which had evidently aroused
their greatest wonder.
While he was noting these persons
and wondering what was taking place
at the station where the pursued and
fursuer were likely to come up, the art
fist felt q hand ON his shoulder and
heard whispered very quietly into his
ear:
II should like you to hear Mr.. De-
graw's story. 1t is very curious one."
With start he turned toward the de-
tective, and blindly obedient to the
signal which he gave rose and followed
him into the house. AS he did SO he
sufficiently subdued the fresh excite
ment which Mr.. Gryce's summons had
occasioned to remark:
'These people are watching a chase.
MT. Degraw's valet just put in an ap-
pearance here, but he was followed by
q man, who evidently frightened him
so that he ran out of the house again.
The other one started in pursuit, and
the two are now racing down the street
toward the station"
+, 'Is that SOP Well, Byrd is lively
one. We can safely leave him to his
own devices. Conner And he led the
way up stairs into large and comfort
ably furnished room, probably the best
which the house afforded.
Mr.. Degraw, Of Cleveland, was
awaiting them, standing in the middle
of the room, and what astounded the
artist was not only the ease and dig
nifty with which his namesake and ri
val greeted his appearance, but the un-
doubted respect shown him by the de-
tective, who first bowed and then OBJ
served mildly:
"There is no need of an introduction
here, / believe. Gentleman of equal
station understand each other. Be-
sides, I believe you have already met
to-day"
The artist, thrilled as well rs dazed,
for the other was looking at him with
strange and unexpected benignity,
bowed, wondering if he was in a. dream
while the gentleman from Cleveland
pushed forward chairs with such AN
air Of hospitality that it was easy to
see that Mr.. Gryce had not yet re-
vealed his business to him, or that in
revealing it he had found the tables so
completely turned upon him that there
was no longer question of arrest or
even suspicion. i'''
That the latter was the real case the
artist soon inferred from what the de
tective now said to him: e. ...::.l
"I have brought you here" he calm
Iy remarked, with the consent of this
gentleman, who has some strange rev.
e elations to make to us. Though the
interviews which you have hitherto
had together have not been marked by
the most pleasant understanding he is
so convinced by certain revelations
which have made to him that you
Had ample excuse for your distrust,
that he is disposed to regard you rather
in the light of a fellow-sufferer than in
that of an intentional enemy, the sim
jlarity of names having led to a SINH
larity of experience, both having been
arrested on a charge, which in both in
stances was a mistake deeply to be re-
GREETED by the inspector and myself"
"Then," began the artist, thrown en-
tirely off his balance by this sudden
and unlocked for issue to mysterious
affair, ''you have heard of third Ham
ilton Degraw, or found indisputable
evidence" here he glanced at the table
on which various documents lay scat
tered-"that this second holder of the
name is not the gentleman who has
lately made himself so inimical to girls
named Jenny Rogers"
ION the contrary" broke in the
other, ~ am unfortunately that very
person. But my interest in these girls
had its cause In motives 80 different
from those naturally aseribed to me by
the police that think should rather
be regarded with sympathy than with
distrust. Shall tell you my storyT
Certainly" responded the artist, his
more generous instincts coming to the
surface. Certainly, 1 shall be very
glad to hear our name completely ex-
onerated from all suspicion of evil"
And yet he could not forbear thinking
that whatever tale the other might tell
he could never explain away all the
doubtful circumstances that surround.
ed him with an atmosphere of crime
the box Of poisoned bonbons, for in
stance, and wondered why a man of
Mr.. Gryce's perspicacity and we'll
known discretion should be so easily
turned from suspicion so well
grounded in compromising facts. But
then the artist forgot that Mr.. Gryce
was not the others rival in matters
that, ever affect the judgment and
harden the preiudices. If he had he
might have doubted his own clearness
of vision.
1T is long story" the stranger OBJ
served, "and shall begin at the be-
ginning. Had known that by telling