The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-07-19

| III lne meantime every eHOrt was
made to discover a solution of the
mystery, but all to no purpose.
Harry Cummings found the coast
clear, so to speak, and in few days
he ventured to tell Miss Marr how
tenderly he loved her, and how long
he had done so. To his great delight
he found that his affection was re-
ciproSated.
The excitement at the sudden disap-
pearance of Frank Osgood in no way
abated.
Suddenly 1t was remembered how
bitter an enmity had lately sprung up
between him and young Cummings.
The officers of the law even referred to
the proposed duel which had been pre-
vented by the interference of the au-
thorities, and it was more than hinted
that possibly Harry Cummings might
throw some light upon the matter.
In his absence from home one day,
a detective called at his house with a
search warrant, much to the conster-
nation of the family. This officer had
with him a measure representing the
footprints under the missing mans
windows, and he found that Harrys
shoes just fitted the impression, which
seemed to him to be such conclusive
evidence of his having been present
beneath the window that he sought the
office of the district attorney at once.
Strange whispers were heard about
the neighborhood. Harry Cummings
was kept under close surveillance by
the local police. All his incomings
and outgoings we're carefully observed,
but nothing suspicious could be found
against him except the fatal accuracy
with which his shoes fitted those
marks under the missing mans win
dow, and also the fact that he was
SO bitter an enemy of Frank Osgood.
The sentiment of jealousy supplied a
motive, and altogether a rather sus-
picious case began to grow up against
young Cummings.
Though on examination it appeared
that Frank had left no money in his
room, 1t was also remembered that he
usually carried pocketbook with him
containing the most, if not all, of his
available cash. He was in the receipt
of a regular salary from his father,
and, as his habits were economical, he
must have had a considerable sum in
his pocketbook. But still there was
no reason to suspect that a robbery
had taken place. The missing man
must have been induced to leave his
room voluntarily, that was plain,
though why or wherefore was a pro-
found mystery.
| In their researches, the detectives
learned another fact, which, as link
in the chain, looked very important to
them, and very suspicious. There was
no latchkey to the door of the Cum
mings house and anyone desiring en-
trance after a certain hour, when the
front door was always locked, would
be compelled to ring and summon
one of the servants. 1t was remem-
bered by the maid, whose duty it was
to answer the doorbell that on Tues
| day night when Frank Osgood had
disappeared, her young master, Harry,
had come home very late, long after
she had retired and she was obliged to
get up and put on wrapper to open
the door fer him. She was very sleepy
she said, and just remembered the
fact, but nothing more. She could
not even tell the time, but thought it
was after midnight. She did not no
ice her young masters appearance on
the occasion, as she was half asleep
at the time. Such was the girls SIM
pie evidence.
Harry Cummings was now arrested
and thrown into prison. Evidence suf-
ticient was thought to exist to impli-
cate him, and the cry once raised, pub
lie opinion gradually set against him.
The proposed duel, the known bitter
ness existing between him and the
missing man, the footprints exactly
fitting those of his own shoes, his ab-
sence from home on that special night
at an unusual hour, all seemed to point
to completely in his former friends
disappearance, nearly as strongly as
circumstantial evidence could do.
OF course, the accused procured the
best possible legal assistance, and
found no difficulty in convincing his
counsel of his innocence of the charge
brought against him, but at the same
time the legal gentleman was conf
PEELED to admit that there was con-
siderable ground for case against his
client. Harry explained to his law
yer that he had taken a long walk that
evening into the country, and in an
absorbed frame Of mind had gone fur
ther than he knew of, and that when
he turned to come home, he was him
self surprised at the distance he had
walked. This was the cause of his not
getting home that Tuesday night until
just after midnight.
What we're you thinking about to
absorb you so?" asked his lawyer.
Miss MARI" said Harry, frankly
81 was making up my mind to propose
to her, and was weighing the proper
course to pursue in case l found her
Indifferent, or if there should be any
obstacles raised. 1t may seem a slight