Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-08-22
XXI.
An Amphibisn Mystery.

Cla1I0eu.
what do you mean by that? Ex-
plain yourself at once!"
You know well enough what l
mean, and who | mean, sir" she re-
piled In q whisper, placing her mouth
c,ose to my ear as she spoke. "As
you love Miss Carney, and as you
value her happiness. sir, you must
trust me and ask no questions now"
pondered deeply for a moment be-
fore | answered her and then | said
In n low tone:
"You are asking a great deal of me,
Mrs. Bruce. You must remember that
] am Miss Carney's legal adviser and
that | am in duty bound TO look out
for her interests. This thing has gone
quite far enough already, and yet
matters are growing more and more
mysterious. heard jerks tell you
that | was up on the hill this norm
ing, and | have nc wish to deny II,
but | saw something there that must
bo explained at once or ! shall notify
the authorities; and, for my part. ]
do not see how It can be explained at
ALL"
What did you see, sir?" she gasped.
ms, II in great mental distress.
We'll" | replied, slowly, II saw a
peared to be SUCH"
"Oh, my Cod" she moaned, cover
ing her face with her hands, II did
not think anything like that could
happen! | should have burned them,
sir. Oh, why didn't | burn them!
1t would have been much safer!"
jerks had skunk into the house,
leaving us to ourselves, and ! was
enabled to. talk more freely.
Look here, woman!" | exclaim.
ed. what in the name Of heaven
does all this mean? Speak, or by all
that's holy I'll have you in Jail before
morning."
My impassioned words had no effect
upon her other than to make her
weep piteously. and | waited until she
had regained her composure some
what and was able TO talk coher.
emily.
You misjudge me, Mr.. Ware" she
said, Indeed you do, sir. | have com
mittcd no crime. sir. and | am doing
all in my power to prevent one; for
1t would be a crime II 1t happened,
although the law wouldn't call it SO,
sir"
She laid her hand on my shoulder
respectfully and then, the old-fashion.
ed, motherly way coming over her,
she continued In a choking voice:
you must do as | ask, Mr.. Ware.
DO not distrust me, ! beg Of you,
sir, for | have so much to bear ami ]
have borne 1t all so patiently and
so willingly, too, sir. Remember, |
have no fault to find, and I am glad
TO have been able to do what l have
done, sir, but the end is so neal
now that | cannot bear to have every
thing go for nothing at the last"
Her eyes were filled with tears, and
do what ] might, | could not doubt
her honesty and sincerity. Before
could speak, she went on hurriedly
looking about her in an apprehensivt
way:
Just believe in me for a few days
sir, won't you? DO this for your owl
sake and for Miss Carney's and the
other young lady's. You will never
regret 1t, sir, | promise you: / sweal
it, sir, on everything l hold sacred
and God knows | am a churchwomaI
and live in fear of Him and His love
sir"
For my life I could do no more thar
she asked, and, after a moments
hesitation, | said slowly:
Il must trust you, Mrs. Bruce, bu
must tell you that | do so agains
my best judgment. / do not sec how
all these things can be explained sat
isfactorily and they must be ex
planned soon in every way. Still,
believe hat you are sincere in wha
you tell me, and. for the present a
least, | will ask no more questions ant
rely upon you to fulfill your protesta
tons of good faith when the prope
time comes. You will understand, o
course, that in spite of this promise
| shall feel perfectly free at any tint
TO take such steps in this matter a
! may deem necessary, and, while
am wi...ng TO let things stand a
they are now for n short time,
shall act promptly and effectively |
any new or otherwise suspicious cir
cumstances arise"
With these words | turned an
walked down the path in the direc
tIon OF C~arney-Croft, leaving he
standing by the gate, crying softly
The next afternoon | took a boat o.
the river and padded aimlessiy up an,
down trying o. kill time and watching
for an opportunity to speak to Mis-
Carney, whom | had not seen for tw,
days. Miss Weston's. condition wa
growing steadily worse and the arriy
al Of the nurses from town and thci
close attention to their patient
coupled with the frequent and ana
ious visits of the village physician
served as n sufficient EXCUSE for tn
hurried departure Of all of Miss Ca
ney's guests except myself, who re
manned from a sense of duty as We
as a desire to be lear at hand an
in a position to set myself right wit
my hostess on the first occasion tina
offered.
| did not 90 far from the house, bu
rowed up and down the stream wit
no particular objective point in min
and only thinking of what | might d
in regard to Mrs. Bruce, and, most {
all. how | could hope to again gal
Miss Carney's good will, If nothin
more. and explain, in the slightest d.
gree, my outrageous beha ior.
1t is needless to say tnat n rs in 4
happy frame of mind and, as + llowe
the boat to drift slowly down Neal
with the current, I leaned oN, \
side and peered into the depths Oh II
TAKES PLUCK