The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-01-20

show herself to be arrested. Her &C.
complice, on the contrary, has had full
swing, and if we have not found him
in your valet"
But we have" now broke in the
artist. why else should he have de-
cei0ed me by saying be was detec.
tivew
"A detective? repeated Mr.. Degaw,
of Cleveland.
Yes, and thus excusing himself for
the curiosity he showed over letter
which I was reading. If he has not
meddled with your paper, Mr. Degraw,
he certainly has shown disposition
to do so with mine.'
"The scamp! And have intrusted
him with notes to Miss. Rogersw
Did you send him to my rooms to-
night?"
mo"
"Yet he has been there. Did you
ever utter threats against my life?"
Against your life, Mr.. Degraw! Do
I hear you rightly""
"Yet this man told me that was in
danger from your jealousy; swore that
he had overheard you mutter threats
against me-"
''Sir, you overwhelm me! I, the most
peaceable man alive! do not wonder
you looked askance upon me. Is it
necessary for me to say that this vii
lain has belied me; that, for purposes I
dare not fathom he wished to raise an
enmity- between us?"
"Say, rather" continued the other.
"that he aimed at driving me out OF
town. He did not like the surveillance
1 kept over Miss Rogers; it interfered
with his schemes"
True" replied the other, turning
pale. IF he is the conspirator you
deem him he has another victim in
prospect. Whittier has the man gone!
l cannot rest till l see him in custody"
"That we may hope to do soon," as
serted Mr.. Gryce. ever since we
knew that the Signorina Valdi, other
wise Miss Rogers, had come to this
place unprotected we have kept a de-
tective here to guard her. Though you
do not know Mr.. Byrd, who under
stands his business too well to make
himself conspicuous, he knows you
and this other Mr.. Degraw and all the
rest Of the persons connected with this
affair. That he should have suspected
your valet and followed him into this
other gentleman's rooms tonight (as
we know he did adds to my own con-
viction Of your valet's guilt. My COL
league is now upon this fellows track,
and if nothing unforeseen occurs we
shall presently have the pleasure OF an
introduction to him under circum-
stances that will make his escape i'm
possible
This was encouraging, yet the gentle
man he addressed still showed that he
was very anxious.
"And, meanwhile" he suggested,
"who is watching over Miss Rogers"
At. this question, so forcible and un-
expected, the artist started and thrill
of emotion disturbed the countenance
of the detective.
'If," continued their host, "a conspir-
acy has been formed Of the nature you
describe, and every girl who seems to
stand in the way Of its success is liza
BILE to death or dishonor, how shall we
measure the peril now hanging over the
head Of this beautiful woman, who, as
any one can see, has not only attracted
my admiration, but so won my regard
that no doubt can remain in the mind
Of any one acquainted with my pur-
poses, Of the direction which this trust
money will take when it definitely
leaves my hands. Barton has been
frightened and is running away, you
say, but Barton may not be the only
enemy she has in town. A plot inVolV-
ing so much money is sure to have
more than two persons concerned in 1t.
How can we tell, then, that the woman
who brushes her hair has not sworn to
kill her before morning?"
"True," asented the detective, there
is no telling from what quarter the
blow may come"
"She does not fear any blow" put
in the artist, with increasing agita-
ton, land that makes her position only
less secure. This villain-Barton, l
mean-has so convinced her that the
peril which surrounds girls Of her
name is in her case directed not toward
herself, but toward one whom she hon
ors with her regard that she is abso'
lutely reckless as to her own safety,
and will court any danger unfinch-
ingly."
"Then," declared Mr.. Degraw, with
firmness, 1--WE must dispel this danger
by decisive act. Once let her be
known as the legal owner of these
millions, and there will no longer be
any motive for injuring her. 1t is only
while they remain in my hands and
subject to the peculiar disposition
which I am under promise to make Of
them, that the cause Of these conspira-
tors can be helped by her injury or de-
struction."
THAT is so," quoth the detective.
To be continued.