Morris tribune., 1904-06-04

than the whilom butt Of all the boys
between the capitol and the treasury
building, signaled and commanded him
to cross to his side. Nothing could in.
duce the nAastiff to bulge from thai
quarter of the street where he felt him
self safe.
Mr.. Moore, glorying in the prospect
of unlimited wealth, presented star
Ting contrast in more ways than one
to the poverty stricken old man whose
curious garb and lonely habits had
made him an object of ridicule to half
the town. / own that l was half
amused and half awed by the condo
scending bow with which he greeted
my offhand nod and the affable way in
which he remarked:
"You are making use of your prerog-
atives as a member Of the police,
see.'
The words came as easily from his
lips as if his practice in afability had
been of the very longest.
II wonder how the old place enjoys
its present distinction" he went on,
running his eye over the dilapidated
walls under which we stood, with very
evident pride in their vast proportions
and the air of gloomy grandeur which
signalized them. eff it partakes in the
slightest degree of the feelings Of it's
owner, can vouch for it's Impotence
at the free use which is made of it's
no Aro
intrusions necessary? Now that Mrs.
Jeffrey's body has been removed, do
you feel that the scene Of her demise
need hold the attention of the police
any longer?"
''That is question to put to the SUI
perintendent and not to me-" was my
deprecatory reply. '"The major has is
sued no orders for the watch to be
taken off. so we men have no choice.
am sorry if it offends you. Doubt
less a few days will end the matter,
and the keys will be given into your
hand. 1 suppose you are anxious to
move in?'
He cast q glance behind him at his
dog, gave a whistle, which passed IN
needed, and replied, with dignity, if
but little heart:
"When man has passed his seventh
decade he is not apt to be so patient
with delay as when he has a prospect
of many years before him. am anx-
ious to enter my own house-yes.
have much to do there"
I remounted the steps, carelessly re-
''I'll see you again after taking a
turn through the house. If 1 discover
ghost marks or human
marks which might. be Of interest to
you, I'll let you know"
1t was necessary for the success of
my plan that some time should elapse
before l reapproached Mr.. Moore I
therefore kept my word to him and
my own curiosity by taking a
fresh tour through the house. Natural
~, in doing this, visited the library.
still Illuminating the street failed to
penetrate here, / was obliged to light
my lantern.
My first glance was toward the fire.
place. Venturesome hands had been
there. Not only had the fender been
1rawn out and the CRATE set aside, but
the huge settle had been wrenched
free from the mantel and dragged into
the center Of the room. Rather pleas
ed at this change, for with all my ap-
parent bravado 1 did not enjoy too
close proximity to the cruel hearth
stone, 1 stopped to give this settle
investigation. The result was
disappointing. To all appearance-and
did not spare it the experiment Of
many thump and knock-it was per
'ectly innocuous piece Of furniture.
clumsy Of build, but solid and absolute
y devoid Of anything that could eX-
plain the tragedies which had occurred
70 near it. even sat down on it's
nusty old cushion and shut my eyes,
but was unrewarded by alarming vi
,ions or disturbance Of any Sort Nor
lid the floor where it had stood yield
my better results to the inquiring eye
Inspecting the
lShrapv e:reolacn