The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-10-27

Nuc Cdiili uruWlHS ioItu VI u IOhieu
bit Of paper which held out toward
him. added, by the way, here is
something of yours"
His hand rose instinctively to take
II; tlen dropped.
II don't know what you mean," he
remarked. You have nothing of mine."
"No? Then John Judson Moore had
another brother" And l thrust the
paper back into my pocket.
lie followed it with his eye. 1t was
the memorandum I had found in the
old book Of memoirs plucked from the
library shelf within. and he recognized
1t for his and saw that did also. But
he failed to show the white feather.
"You are good at ransacking," he oh.
served. PITY that it cannot be done
to more purpose
I smiled and made fresh start
With my hand thrust into my pocket,
remarked without even so much as
= glance at him:
81 fear that you do some injustice
to the police. We are not such bad
fellows; neither do we waste rs much
time us you seem to think" And, draw
ing out my hand with the little filigree
ball In 1t. I whirled the latter inno-
Gently round and round on my finger.
AS it flashed under his eye cast a
penetrating look.
He tried to carry the moment off sue,
cessfully: I will give him so much
credit. But it was asking too much of
his curiosity, and there was no mis-
taking the eager glitter which lighted
his glance as he saw within his reach
this article which moment before he
had probably regarded as lost forever.
"For instance" went on, watching
him furtively. though quite sure from
his very first look that he knew no
more now of the secret of this little
ball than he knew when he jotted
down the memorandum had just
pock before his eyes. "a little thing.
such IA little thing as this" ! repeated.
giving the bauble another twist, may
lead to discoveries such as no common
search would yield in years. | do not
sny that II has; but such thing is
possible, you know-who better?'
My nonchalance was too much for
him. He surveyed me with covert dis
like and dryly observed:
Your opportunities have exceeded
mine, even with my own effects. That
petty trinket which you have presum-
ed to flaunt in my face-and OF whose
value l am the worst Judge in the
world, since l have never had it in my
hand-descended to me with the rest
90 NI,c of,
duct, therefore, strikes me in the light
of an impertinence. especially as no
one could be supposed to have more in
terest than myself In what has been
for many years recognized as family
talisman.'
"Ah," | remarked, lyon own to the
memorandum. then. 1t was made on
the spot, but without the benefit of the
talisman."
II own to nothing" he snapped.
Then, realizing that denial in this re-
gard was fatal, he added more genial
ly: what do you mean by memoran-
DUN? II you mean that recapitulation
Of old time mysteries and their accom-
panying features with which l once
whlled away an idle hour, ! own to
1t, Of course. Why shouldn't /? 1t is
only proof Of my curiosity in regard
to this old mystery which every mem
ber of my family must feel. That Gu
rlosity has not been appeased. If it
would not be indiscreet on your part,
may now ask II you have found out
what that little golden ball of mine
which you sport so freely before my
eyes IL to be used in connection with?"
''Read the papers," | said; read to-
Dorrow's papers. Mr.. Moore, or, bet
ter still, tonights Perhaps they will
inform you"
He was ns angry as ! had expected
him to be; but, as this ire proved con
clusively that his strongest emotion
had been curiosity rather than fear. ]
felt assured of my ground and turned
to re-enter the house. Mr.. Moore did
not accompany me.
Tie major was standing in the hall
The others had evidently retreated to
the parlor.
"The man opposite knows what he
knows" said |. but this does not in
clude the facts concerning the picture
In the southwest chamber or the devil
ish mechanism"
"You are sure?"
'As positive as one OF my inexperi-
ence can be. But, major, am equally
positive that he knows more than 10
shopld of Mrs. Jeffreys death. / am
even ready to state that In my belief
he was In the house when 1t occur
red"
HAS he acknowledged this?"
mot at ali.'
"Then what are your reasons for this
bellefT
"They are many"
"Will you state thcm?"
"Gladly. II you will pardon the pre-
sumption. Some OF my conclusions
cannot be new to you. The truth Is
that have possibly seen more Of this
old man than my duty warranted. ami
J feel quite ready to declare that he
knows more OF what has taken place
n this houso than ho Il ready TO ayow.. !.
! an eurp thet ~ has often vislted lt|
r. seeFot an1 knewD ahout 3 eertaiD
1Q>1e0 Wlu1ow - Vell - ~ ~ r
~ ms1;< <1.& - - - = - -.