Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1906-09-27
CHAPTER X.

Throughout the days following the
return to town OF Nalerius Galbraith, all
| his energies were expended in striving
to penetrate the mystery which STIR
rounded David Dumbarton's death.
Hours of his time were spent in con-
sultation with George Coris and the
counsel instructed by him; while Valer-
| ius had several interviews with Mack
worth, who listened to his suggestions
without revealing his own ideas regard
| ing the man he suspected OF the motive
| he believed to have caused the crime.
And no day was allowed to pass with
| out Olive Dumbarton seeing her cousin,
whose sympathy in this hour of need
was welcome to her, whose efforts to
give her hope and bring her cheer she
gratefully appreciated; and that he now
made no reference, as he had often done
in recent times, to the affection he felt
for her, or dwelt on all that might have
been had she long years ago accepted his
love, she felt more grateful still.
He was to her a friend, her next OF
kin. and nothing more, and as such She
willingly accepted the services he placed
at her disposal, the companionship he
gave her.
1t was Galbraiths habit to avoid Bos-
took when possible, but it happened one
afternoon when the former was spend
ing the afternoon with his cousin, that
the publisher called Valerius, who was
too well bred TO show dScourtesy to-
ward a guest OF his hostess and his
kinswoman, rose and greeted Bostock
formally and with an air Of restraint OF
which Olive was painfully conscious, and
of which the publisher was likewise
| aware
Olive Dumbarton sat in a deep chair
| beside the fire, her black dress contrast
| ing the pallor of her face, her thin hands
| with their long, sensitive fingers lying
listlessly in her lap, her large, gray-blue
eyes fixed absently on the fire when not
raised in question to those with whom
| she conversed. Veronica, seated at a
little table apart, made tea for their
| visitors.
George Bostock was narrating the lat
est literary gossip to his hostess, for,
knowing the interest she always felt in
her fellow-workers, he strove by this
means to Danish for awhile the dark
and troubled thoughts that forever faced
| LlCI Mis-. lIlONGu HeT Hcdu
until she faced the window, the blind of
which had not been drawn. AS she did
she started violently, her eyes became
fixed, her face grew ashy white, and her
hands clutched the arms of her chair
| They who stood beside her saw with
fear the sudden change which had come
upon her, and without questioning her
turned simultaneously in the direction
| in which her gaze was yet fixed And
as they looked they were startled by the
sight of a face pressed close against the
| glass, its outlines lost in the darkness
surrounding it, the eyes large, dark and
luminous, filled with fixed determine
tion and eager purpose there was no mis-
taking
The second of profound silence which
followed seemed an age, during which
they suffered from stupefaction which
held their senses in abeyance; then Va
lerius, who was first to recover, rushed
from the room and out of the house
AS he did the dark eyes, which had
noted his movements, withdrew from
the window and disappeared in the black
ness without
AS if relieved from gaze that had
fascinated her against her will, Olive
Dumbarton drew long breath, closed
her eyes and rose to her feet.
Mother, dearest, who can this be ?'
Veronica asked, in frightened, appeal
ing voice.
God knows" Olive Dumbarton re-
Piled, in the tone of one ready to meet
whatever calamity fate had yet in store
for her.
Ito be continued.)