The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-01-12

N y
table near which we were standing, |
took out an envelope from my pocket |
and. shaking it gently to aud fro, re.
marked:
an an upper room of the Moore
housc-you remember the southwest
chamber, sir?"
All. didn't he! There was no mis-.
doubling the Quici cmot!on-the
shrinkin ing and the alarm with which
he heard this room mentioned.
ut was in that room that I found
those
Tipping up the envelope. ! scattered
over the face of the blotter Il few of
the gllstening particles had collected
from the place mentioned.
He bent over them. astonished; then,
as was natural. brushed them together
in heap with the tips of his fingers
and leaned to look again just us I
breathcd heavy sigh which scattered
them far and wide.
Instlnctlvcly he withdrew his hand,
whereupon embraced the opportunity
of turning the blotter over, uttcring
meanwhile the most profuSc apologies.
Then. as II anxious not to repeat my
misadvcnturc, l let the blotter lie
where it was. and, pouring out the few
remaining particles into my palm,
held them toward the light in such
way that he was compelled to lean
| across the table in order to see them.
Naturally, FOR | had planned the dis
lance well. his finger tips, white with
the chalk he had uncOnscOusly han.
died. touched the blue surface of the
blotter now lying uppermost and left
their marks there.
could have shouted in my elation
at the success OF this risky mancuver,
but managed to suppress my emotion
and to stand quite still while he took
a good look Mt the filings. They seemed
to have great and unusual interest for
him. ana it was with no ordinary emo
ton that he finally asked
what do you make out Of these, and
why do you bring them hereT"
My answer was written under his
hand, but this II was far from my pol
Icy to impart So. putting on my friend
Hest air, | returned, with suitable re-
spcct;
IL don't know what to make Of them
They look like gold, but that Is for you
to decide. DO you want them, slrF'
mo" he replied, starting erect and
withdrawing his hand from the blot
ter. ITS but trltle-not worth oul
attention. But thank you just thu
, same for bringing it to my notice"
: And again his manner became plair
dismissal.
, This time accepted 1t rs such with
ont question. Carelcssy restoring thu
. piece of blottlnG paper 10 the bool
from which had taken it, made !
: bow and withdrew toward the door
, He seemed 10 he thinking. and the dcel
} burrows which I am sure had beer
lacking from his brow n week previon
) became stnrtlingly visible. Finally h
I observed.
l "Mrs Jeffrey was not in her RICH
o mind when she so nnhappily took he
\ life | see now that the change In he
] dates back to her wedding day; couSc
Z quently any little popularity she ma
r have shown Mt that time is not to b
p wondered at"
I Certainly not" | boldly venture(
@ "if such peculiarites were shown at
n er the fright given her by the catn'
: trophe which took place in the library,
J, His eyes. which were fixed on min'
flashed, aud his hands closed convu
@ slvcly.
4 1--WE will not consider the subject,
he muttered, reseating himself in I'll
/, chair from which he had risen.
It bowed again and went ont. | dl
P. not dwell on the interview In my ow
n mind, nor did allow myself to dra'
any conclusions from it till / had ca
e ried the blotter into the southwe
y chamber Of the Moore house and car
N fully compared the impressions mao
* on 1t with the marks had scratchC
D. on the surface Of the mantelshel
r This | did by laying the one over Il
n other after having made holes whe
y, his finger tips had touched the blotte
" The holes In the blOtter and Il
III marks outlined upon the shelf coinci
y ed exactly.
M