The Lamar register., 1904-02-24


window of the carriage and then drew
in his head. sank back into his seat
with sigh and began to review the
events of the last few days.
"Wilful murder against some person
or persons unknown!"
And he had to break this. as well
as all that went before it, to those
two women at home. A grewsome
task!
Well. so much the worse for the
man who had been the cause of 1t all.
So much the worse for him when the
day came for reckoning up accounts:
the day that would see him In the
criminals dock; the day that would
place a moose round his neck. And
the young man felt that that would
be day well worth waiting for, even
though 1t might be indefinitely pro-
longed.
But he would never rest and never
give up. until he had helped to bring
1t about: for it seemed to him that
revenge would be incomplete and
robbed of half its sweetness unless it
were his foot that helped to dog tho
murderer and his hand that helped
to hurry him to a felon's doom. oh,
yes. he must be an agent, If not the
chief, at any rate an important one.
He hoped among his fathers letters
,0d papers-contained in sealed
packet. which he carried about his
person-to come upon something
which might help to set his feet in
the right track.
Then the thought struck him, If he
could find that letter, The one that
came less than week ago, If it had
not been destroyed! And why should
it have been? Unless-and he re-
called that at the time. distasteful al
lusion of DIR. rtwright's-unless
there were something compromising
in 1t,
But he rejected the idea now. as
he had then. No doubt he would be
able to find the letter. 1t was most
probable that it was included among
those other papers which were even
now in his possession.
Meanwhile. at Magnolia Lodge the
days had dragged heavily along Mrs.
Burritt having once taken to her bed
Ia recumbent position being looked
upon by her as the most proper and
becoming one in which to encounter
afiction) Immediately upon receipt
of the sad tidings had not since sufi-
ciently recovered herself to leave 1t
again. Grief" she said, always had
a peculiar effect upon her spine, and
she didn't know whether 1t was the
blinds being down, or the sight of her
widows cap. but she couldn't help
feeling that she was not long for this
world. Anyhow. they must not grieve,
but be sure and bury her by the side
of their dear father" All this could
scarcely be said to add to her daugh-
ter's spirits. only, there was so much
to be done. that she had, fortunately,
little time in which to indulge in
morbid reflections on her own behalf.
There were letters to be written.
dressmakers to be interviewed, and a
host of other things. which must be
done whether the house be one of
joy or mourning.
1t was about halfpast seven on
Tuesday evening when she heard the
sound of wheels. She hastened into
the hall and met her brother. The
first glance showed her the alteration
that had taken place in him. He
looked very worn and fun of trouble,
much older, and she thought, much
stcrner. She had been in the habit
of regarding him as a boy-was he
not barely three years her senior?-
now he looked man, every inch of
him. hasty greeting passed be-
tween them, and then she went to
prepare her mother for his arrival.
Mrs. Burritt was dozing. and her
daughter hesitnted for a moment be-
fore rousing her AS she stood, wait.
ing, she heard heavy footsteps ascend
ing the staircase-footsteps of men.
who were carrying something of great
weight. She knew what it was. They
came on slowly past the door of the
room in which she was. Then. after
a short time, she heard them descend
ing the stairs again; the door of the
house was closed, and at the same
moment her mother woke.
ITO be continuedD