Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-03-19

me abotE him; but Ike him better
even than / thought should nov I've
met him"
Later on. in the retirement Of the
best spare bedroom, DR. Cartwright
MAS communing with himself
Il had an idea she'd be a nice girl,
and wasn't far cut II ia said an ua-
commonly nice girl. / should hays
been nearer the mark Seems sensi-
bic girl, too. this one / should say
her waist was quite twenty-five inches
and an appetite To match, And her
names May. Pretty name that
short and sweet"
At the same moment that the doe
tor vas pursuing these reflections.
Ted Burritt was inserting the key
into the lock Of the study door. Dur
ing all this time. he had allowed none
TO enter the room except himself II
seemed to him TO be fun Of rnysteri-
Gus associations, which no outside
influence should be allowed TO dis
turb.
Nothing had been moved. HIS faith
err chair. pushed back against the
wall. remained just as he had left Il
on the last time he had entered the
room The pen lay beside the blot
ting pad. and the dust had Rceumulat-
ed over everything. He placed the
lamp upon the table and drew up
chair
Then he unlocked that same com
partment. removed the bundles of pa.
pers as before. touched the spring
which opened the secret reeesses and
took from It the burnt letter.
Again he took a sheet Of paper and
a pen from the dcsk-he would not
Use that other which lay beside him.
with the INK dried upon it-and be
gan again TO write and re-write the
words which he knew by heart:
Have not forgotten 80. of twenty
years 49,. on receiving this letter -.
at once for Dover 80. expect to reach
... There IS that between us which
... not allow you to deny -. ask
... and many -. you alone can -. II
you refuse. shall -. that you 80. as
the criminal -. Of your youth 49,.
j."
After working at this for about half
an hour. without being able to add so
much as a single syllable to what he
had already deciphered. he threw
down his pen
4 would give anything 20 be able
70 discover the missing words. but II
Is quite beyond tbs bounds of possi-
bility. And there Is no hope this timo
Of any interVeutioH-an guiding in.
auenee to direct me-io point out the
way-of any spirit voice to speak 10
me and tell me"
Taking up the sheet Of paper again
on which he had been employed. he
saw. 10 his surprise. as he turned II
over. that Il was the same on which
his father had written those words
My dear" The letter which had
never been finished: Il was strange
he had not observed this before.
Then he took up the pen which his
father must have last used. with the
traces Of ink dried upon IL. Should
he put II away carefully as a relief
or should IL remain where II was a
little longer? He dropped II and gave
expression to something between a
yawn and a sigh. I'm uncommonly
sleepy" he said. and yet / don't feel
In the least inclined to go To bed. I
have a sort OF feeling as though !
had TO sit up for someone" He gave
a short laugh. Suppose turn in on
the sofa for a bit? | wonder what
makes me so sleepy? | didn't take
anything at dinner but little.
His eyes closed. and In few minutes
he was sound asleep. A clock outside
in the hall struck the half-ho with.
out any change taking place in his
condition. Another interval of time
passed and then the clock struck
again One-fwo-three-f -four-fiye-
six-seyen- eight-nine - ten - elev.
en-tweivei As il gave the last stroke
he started up.
IT. - continued