Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-10-05

lie tried to carry the moment OIL suc-
cessfully; 1 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 a 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
pocketed before his eyes, "a little thing,
such n 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
say that it has; but such n thing is
possible, you know-who bcttcr?'
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 am the worst judge in the
world, since have never had it in my
hand-descended to me with the rest
Of Mrs. Jeffrey's property. Your con-
duct, therefore, strikes me in the light
Of an fmpertincQce, especially as no
one could be supposed to have more in
terest than myself in what has been
for many years recognized as q family
talisman."
"Ah," 1 remarked, "you own to the
memorandum, then. 1t was made on
the spot, but without the benefit of the
talismnn."
81 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? If you mean that recapitulation
Of old time mysteries and their accom-
panying TEXTURES with which ] once
whiled away an idle hour, own to
it, of course. Why shouldn't 1? 1t is
only proof of my curiosity in regard
to this old mystery which every men,
Der of my family must feel. That Gu
riosity has not been appeascd. IL it
would not be indiscreet on your part,
may now ask If you have found out
what that little golden ball of mine
which you sport SO freely before my
eyes is to be used in connection with?"
"Read the papers," l said; "rend to-
morrow's papers, Mr.. Moore, or, bet
ter STILL tonight's. Perhaps they will
inform you"
He was as 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.
The major was standing In the hall.
The others had evidently retreated to
the parlor
"The man opposite knows what he
knows" said 1, "but this does not in
clude the facts concerning the picture
in tho 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 he
should of Mrs. Jeffrey's death. / am
even ready to state that in my belief
he was in the house when it occur
red"
'Hns he acknowledged this?"
"Not ut ALL"
"Then what are your reasons for this
belief?
"They are many"
"Will you state them?"
"Gladly, If 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, and
feel quite ready to declare that lie
knows more Of what has taken place
in this house than he is ready to avow.
am sure that he has often visited 1t
in secret and knows about certain
broken window as well as we do.
am also sure that he was here ON the
night Of Mrs. Jeffrey's suicide He
was too little surprised when l in
formed him of what had happened not
to have had some secret inkling of 1t
beforehand, even If we had not the
testimony of the lighted candle and the
book he SO hurrledly replaced Besides,
he is not the man to drag himself out
at night for so simple cause as the
one with which he endeavored to i'm
pose upon us. He know what we
should find In this house."
Every good. II Mr.. Jeffrey's present
explanations ore true, these deductions