The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-14

week had passed. But at the end OF
that time an incident occurred which
surprised and alarmed her not lit
I tie.
One morning, hearing the door-beIl
ring, Mrs. Hamilton opened it herself
lilly being busy, and was surprised to
see Tony Osborn standing there, idly
Ticking the dust from his boot with a
small cane.
''Ah, good morning, Mrs. Hamilton.
Jolly weather. isn't it?'
Very pleasant. VIII you come in,
I Tony?"
Thanks, no. I just want to see MIR
Hamilton"
Mr.. Hamilton! Surely you have
forgotten that he is away"
But hasn't he got homer"
Certainly not. I don't expect him
for a week"
He was at the bank last night. Mrs.
Hamilton. OF that. am certain"
Then where can he be now?''
Il don't know. I supposed he was
here. and I called over to see him as
he didn't come to the bank. Perhaps
he is at the mill"
Young Osborn bit his lips and thought
deeply, but each moment grew more
| bewildered.
Did you speak to him?" asked Mrs.
Hamilton.
Yes, and he spoke to me. Banking
hours are over at four, you know, and
it was just after dark that I saw him
going into the bank as I was passing.
Hullo' I said. 1t was the first thing
Z 7 10 I 14-oz
to see him so soon. 'Hullo,' he said,
and laughed a little. Didn't expect
me back so soon. did you?-No.' 1
said, I didn't Then he went in and
shut the door after him. and 1 went
home"
Tony. that couldn't have been Mr..
Hamilton"
I heard, and his form, features. gait,
everything. I couldn't have been mis-
taken"
Tony" said Mrs. Hamilton, i'll a
low, terrified voice, Il am afraid you
have been deceived. 1t must have been
a burglar
ooh. no. there isn't the least doubt
in the world that It was Mr.. Hamilton;
none at al
was everything right this morn
ing?"
Nothing missing"
No, nothing at all. All that sur
prises me is that he isn't here"
He would certainly have been If
he had come home. That makes me
think you have been deceived"
For answer Tony took from his vest
pocket 2 small shirt-stud of unique de-
sign and handed it to Mrs. Hamilton.
Il found it on the desk just as It
would have fallen if it had become
loosened from his shirt 'front.'"
20 Tony! What does it mean?"
cried Mrs Hamilton. with white lips.
What can it mean? 1t is his. I gave
him the set myself. and had them
marked with his initials. See, this Is
V"
81 noticed it," said Tony. quietly.
land 1 was sure it was his. Now. how
did II happen to be on his desk this
morning, unless it dropped out last
night?'
Perhaps it has laid there. unnoticed,
since he went away"
impossible. I have busted and put
everything in order daily"
Tonys habits of order were incon-
trovertible. Cannot you recollect
whether he spoke of missing one be-
fore he went away. Mrs. Hamilton? p"
NO, he said nothing about missing
one
Then you will find that am right"
said Tony Mr.. Hamilton was at
the bank last night at about 8 o'clock.
He must have been detained some
where, and will. no doubt. be here
shortly. You may expect TO see him
coming up the street AT any moment"
he concluded. reassuringly, for he saw
that she was terribly shaken.
IT hope you are right, but / have felt
worried ever since he went away"
"Oh. he's all right, sound as a trump.
I wouldn't worry, if 1 were you" and
Tony went down the stairs, but paused
TO ask. Shall 1 go around to the mill
and ask Mr.. Carter If he has seen any
thing of him?"
Yes, please do. and ask Uncle Car
ter TO come up to see me, Vane isn't
there
"All right" and he turned away. 81
wish everything were all right, but Tn
afraid il isn't" he muttered.
Continued in Next Sundays NewE.)