The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-10-07
By Anna Katharine Grsn Author Of %Ens fs

Il suppose You nave no epJcCt'oh "
letting me have that"
"None whatever"
"And now for a minute description
of this Italian"
II only saw him for an instant, but
in that instant / got the impression or
a tall, slim man, of decided dark COM
plexion and lowering glance. He wore
a black mustache and had a sinister
and uncanny expression that made
most disagreeablc impression upon the
beholder. Yet his form was not bad,
and by some people he might even be
called a gentleman, though l should
never describe him as such. But then,
hate him, and with reason, for l be-
lieve him to be the cause OF the signor-
ina's abrupt departure"
IL wish your description had been q
little different. I wish it had tailed
more with that given Of the gentleman
haunting the other three girls. SIMS
Ter. eh? and dark? That is not what
is said Of the urbane stranger who Wis
tied Miss Hadden's school and lay In
wait to view Mr.. Rogers young daugb-
ter"
What are you talking about?" OK
claimed Degraw, getting excited. us
there"
But Byrd with q gesture stopped all
questioning.
81 let my thoughts out somewhat
carelessly," be acknowledged. "Mon-
tell is, undoubtedly, what the Portu-
guese describes him to be. I only
wished to make sure. Do you think
you could, by few strokes, give me
an idea of his face"
Degraw shook his head.
II fear my impressions are too vague"
said he. But let me have that paper"
And taking the note which he had pre-.
viously given to Byrd he attempted by
few lines Oh its back to give some
idea of the Italians features. He sue
ceeded imperfectfy, while Byrd, who
was no mean artist himself, employed
his time in waiting by roughly, but not
inaccurately. copying into his note book
the face of the ,signorina.
For my own use," he explained,
showing it to the wondering Degraw.
| And taking the other sketch he but
toned them both mp in his pocket, with
look that forbade further question
Ing. "And now, goodbye" said he.
"As soon as I get hold of anything def
mite l will let you know. Till then be
easy. Remember that twenty dctec-
tives besides myself are on the track
Of the unknown man who seems to be
making all this mischief"
"Wait! don't go, Byrd, till you have
made one thing clear to me. You have
hinted to me that you thought that
Montelli and he might be one and the
same. If so the signorina would be but
one of the several involved in plot, of
which, 1 dare say, even you do not
know either the, motive or workings"
You are not far wrong"
"But two Of the victims of this plot
have died?"
Natural deaths, Degraw."
Natural deaths? Are you sure?'
"Sure of one and as sure Of the
other as 1 can be till after the autopsy
that will be made to-day"
But"
eco to the inquest, Degraw. 1t will
take up your mind and keep you from
too great impatience. I will write you
in two days whether I have news or
not"
But the artist was not yet ready to
see the other go. D..
II want to give my opinion" said he,
"before say goodbye. I DO not think
Montelli IS interested in any one but
the signorina, and as for the unknown
I do not think he Is near as much to be
feared as the deceivipg Portuguese"
I'VE will see, we will see. Meantime
every minute that linger here puts
Off by so much time the hour Of her
discovery"
''Then go; would not detain you an
other minute" And rs eager now to
see the detective dc irt rs he had hith-
erto been to det,in him he fairly
pushed him toward the door.
But now Byrd chose to halt mo-
mcnt.
why, whom have we here" he
asked, pointing to the picture which
Degraw had denominated "Thc Poets
Dream" 1T looks us If you had been
trying to paint Miss Aspinwall."
Miss Aspinwall:"
"Old Lemuel Asp;nwalls daughter,
the beauty of upper Fifth avenue"
well. perhaps have. Do you rec
ogniZc the face!'
Perfectly"
have always wished TO know my mod
els name. l saw her in a crowd and
this is the result. But I never found
any one before who could tell me who
she is. Not that have made any
strenuous efforts TO find out, for, as
you see, The picture is not yet of my
easel"
well, I congratulate you; it Is 4
beautiful painting. but"
Degraw stopped him just at the door.
Your knowledge of the original OF
this picture has given another interest
to it. Miss Aspinwall-sincc you say
that it is her name-is the lady whom
saw strewing 1owcrs over the sisnor-
ina when first went into the room."
"YC1 don't say SO. Well. must hear
about that
There is not nuch to hear. We in
| terchanged no words. 70" was TOO