The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-01-27

sured, by all he saw, that the man to
be most feared at this time was the
| valet and not the master, that he set
himself the task Of following the for
mer on all his peregrinations, and as
the Wallets conduct grew hourly more
suspicious, had even dropped his usual
precautions and openly kept the fellow
in sight. The consequence was that,
on this very evening he had been so
| fortunate as to come upon him In Mr..
Degraw's studio, just as he was pour.
ing something into that gentleman's
liquors. Convinced that this something
was poison he bounded upon him and
| tried to seize him, but the fellow was
| slippery as an eel and swift as deer,
| and was out Of his hands and even out
of the window before he could recover
bis own equilibrium.
Satisfied that an attempt had been
| made upon Mr.. Degraw's life. Mr..
| Byrd had not dared to leave the room
till he had emptied the decanter of its
| dangerous contents. But in doing this
| he lost moment Of valuable time, for
when he was ready to recommence the
chase he found the man had got sufti-
cient start of him to make it difficult
| for him to do more than keep him in
sight. But this he could do, and did,
though the fellow led him a pretty
chase through the woods and brambles
that encumbered the hillside at this
point, and afterward through the
streets of the village, where he tried to
elude his pursuit, first by lodging in
and out of the hotel, and next by try
ing to board train that was just start
ing away from the station.
But the fellow failed in both at
tempts, and was just on the verge Of
yielding himself up, when a happy
thought appeared to strike him, for be
slipped like lightning into a street so
full of shadows and so complicated by
secret passages and by-ways that pur-
suit became impossible, and the chase
| terminated without the man being
caught.
THAT is, for the present." explained
the detective, as he made this unwill-
ing confession. HE cannot get away
from town, for have warned the sta
ton master against him, and he cannot
| long remain concealed in place so
small as this. Tomorrow, then, We
shall have him, only he may do some
mischief, in the meantime, for his tenn
per is rife for mischief, and revenge is
| always easy"
II am not 80 sure about that" eX-
claimed Mr.. Gryce. "He may make an
attempt to satisfy his hatred, but l
don't think it will amount to much
more. An hour ago I thought myself
tired man, but somehow I feel re-
markably fresh and vigorous just at
present"
The two Degraws said nothing. but
their eyes cleaned and their steps
rang ominously on the sidewalk.
When they arrived at Miss 'Aspln-
wallis house they halted. AS the hour
for retirement had long passed, they
expected to find the premises darkened
and the gates closed, and they were
were not disappointed. Nowhere, in
house OF grounds, was there any light
visible. All was dark and all was
quiet
What shall we do?" queried Mr..
Degraw, of Cleveland. 1--WE have
scarcely excuse enough for arousinG
the house; and yet"
II have already matured my plan"
interposed Mr.. Gryce, firmly. I'VE
must arouse the house, at least sufti-
GENTLY to procure ourselves an inter-
view with Miss Aspinwall. If" and
here he turned to the artist-"Mr
Degraw thinks he can send her a mes
sage without unduly alarming her, let
him do so. AS the servants know him,
it will, perhaps, be better for him to
show his face at the door than for Us.
What do you think, sir?''
THAT it will be we'll enough for me
to try" was the artists rejoinder. IF
James comes to the door, we are all
right; he is discreet and will indulge
in no unnecessary remarks; but If it
is one Of the other servants, cannot
promise as much"
There is always risk in everything"
remarked MIR. Gryce, Ring, and let
US hope that it will be James who an
| swers the summons"
The artist obeyed, giving that sharp
double ring which always suggests a
telegram, while Mr.. Gryce improved
| the opportunity to post his remaining
companions in positions he thought
best calculated to command full view
of the house, placing Mr.. Degraw in a
| cluster Of trees near the front door and
Byrd in an arbor that overlooked both
| the back of the house and that side of
it containing, as he had been told, the
room occupied by Miss Rogers. He
himself intended to accompany the art
ist, if they were so frotunate as to gain
an entrance at this late hour.
The summons. which had sounded
| only too loud and shrill, brought more
| than one head to the windows above,
but when the door was opened it was
James they saw, and to him MI. De-
graw found it possible to say:
Don't he alarmed, James. I do not
want to disturb the house, but have
message for Miss Aspinwal. that will
not keep till morning. Will you ask
her to come down."
The servant, who had been valet to
his mistress father, bowed without a
shade of surprise on his respectful
face, and ushering the two gentlemen
in, carefully shut the door and glided