Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-06-06
THE PERIL
RICHARD PARDON.
A VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
Bv B. L. -ARJ EON-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ooonoooooon OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

thoughts which 1t must Inevitably have
Inspired in her gentle breast would,
as it were. have revealed to her base
depths in my nature Of which she
did not believe me capable. had to
see my uncle on this morning, and J
would take the opportunity Of slipping
the ring somewhere in his room, or OF
dropping 1t upon the floor, and thus
avoid suspicion. So resolving, went
down to my wife and daughter with
my guilty secret in my pocket, ready to
my right hand.
Mr.. Mortlock was with them at
breakfast, and Mile. Rosalie. Mr.. Mort
lock gave me good morning.. and with
q hatred in my heart which, had l
not held myself in moral and physical
control, would have impelled me to
strike him in the face, returned the
salute, despising myself the while for
my contemplate weakness and lack
OF manhood. Mile. Rosalie raised her
eyes shyly to my face, softly said,
good morning, SIR" and then lowered
them again. What was the meaning Of
her shy. tlmid. singular loOk7 Did she
know my secret? Or was 1t that was
in the mood to place extravagant con.
structions upon the most insignificant
details of social intercourse? l chose
the worse view, and. gazing with per.
turbed looks at them all, took my seat
Mt the table.
"You do not seem we'll this morning."
observed Mr.. Mortlock.
Again Mile. Rosslie raised her eyes
to mine with the same strange look;
again she lowered them Immediately.
II am quite well, Mr.. Mortlock," !
said, and in no courteous tone. "What
makes you think otherwise?
Mr.. Mortlock simply said, II beg your
pardon" and proceeded with his break
fast.
"Have you seen Mr.. Fleetwood this
morningT" asked Mile. Rosalie.
The question was not directed to
anyone in particular, and my wife an
swered no, that she had not seen him.
Then, once more, Mile. Rosalle looked
at me. And now in her strange glances
I seemed to detect hidden meaning
which irrItated and confused me, be
cause could not interpret 1t.
"Do you wish particularly to know II
l have seen him2" l asked.
"No, sir" she replied, quietly. :"
was asking generally. I observe that
he has not placed the usual flowers
on the table"
This was a reference to a mark OF
affection and graceful attention which
Samuel Fleetwood was In the habit
of paying my wife and daughter. Ev
cry morning, when they came down to
breakfast there was a posy for each OF
them placed before their accustomed
seats at the table. and they knew that
the flowers came from this faithful
servant. On this morning there were
none. My wife had noticed the omis'
sion, but had made no remark upon IT.
and IL Mile. Rosalie spoke spitefully
respecting It, natural cause might
be found In the circumstance that
Fleetwood never honored her by such
q mark of attention. In reply to her
comment my wife simply said:
"Mr. Fleetwood is too busily engaged
in his duties with Mr.. Wilmot."
"I dare say" responded Mile. Rosaliei
and the conversation dropped.
A couple of hours after breakfast, II
being then about half-past II o'clock.
Mile. Rosalie remarked that Mr.. VIII
mot was later than he was on the
preceding morning, and my wife con.
cured, but added that he must on nc
account be disturbed. AS she looked
toward me for confirmation. l said
that he had given explicit instructions
that no one should 60 to his bedroom
until he summoned them. 1t was an
evidence of the wretched state of my
nerves that l should feel annoyed by
Mile. Rosalie's simple repetition of my
words, until he summoned them"
She was busy with piece Of embroid.
cry, which she was making for Eu'
nice.
Another hour passed without sign
from my uncle, and, with the intention
of seeking Samuel Fleetwood, l left
the ladies and proceeded in the direc.
ton of my uncle's apartments. On the
way I entered my own bedroom for q
clean handkerchief, and casually oh.
served a piece of thin whipcord, the
end of which was hanging down from
beneath the pillow Of the couch upon
which had slept. 1t did not further
attract my attention, and, without re.
moving 1t, I went in search Of Fleet
wood. He was not to be found. !
questioned the servants, but not one
of them had seen him. asked whether
he had had his breakfast, and the an
swer was that he had not presented
himself at the breakfast table, and
that his absence had been commented
on. Knowing that he was suffering
from acute heart disease, and that my
doctor had said he had not long to
live, proceeded to his room, adjoining
that of my uncle, fearing that he might
be III. But Fleetwood was not In his
room. His bed had been made and
the apartment was in clean and
orderly condition. / sought the cham.
bermaid whose duty 1t was to attend
to the bedrooms, and ascertained that
she had attended as usual to Fleet
woods room.