Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-03-06
"Watchlng
..NNn ntnhinr-u-aitin lkingn

II don't know what to think" mutter
ed Prier. springing up and taking
nervous turn up and down the room
before seating himself.
II suppose my-my-that is, MI
Barron's daughter, sent for you?"
well. no. In fact, when 1 went ther'
she would not allow me to be admitted
NV luggage was sent to the hotel.
could not so much as get slimpse be-
yond the door"
1t was Senn's turn to take a nervous
walk over the length of his small apart
ment. He took IT,
This is strange" he said.
"IneXplicable."
unexpected"
Unprecedented"
And what is the reason? Why dit
she do it?"
Because she's a fool! Because she:
always had her own way! Because sh'
has been spoiled and petted into the no.
ton that she's heroine! / had to nave
an interview with her; there was NJ
other way: there was as much likell'
hood of her having robbed the bank
considering the case abstractly anc
from a strangers standpoint, as there
was of-of-of your owning to having
done it. My half suspicion angerec
her: she declared she would be my act
i've and relentless enemy, and
Il pity you" cried Sem.
What? demanded Prier, in aston
ishment.
Nothing. Forget that 1 spoke.
meant nothing. But. seriously yor
have led me away from the one thing
which more than another interests me
lust now. Will you tell me all yor
know of Donald Barron's death?"
Willingly and promptly. l was or
the street last night, and all night, as
| have said. 1t isn't necessary for me
to say why found the street pleasant
er than a bed would be; a detective
isn't a mere machine; a detective may
have notions and fancies, as well as
another man: it is enough that l was
there. Early this morning 1 went uT
to the door; the house was still as
death-still as the grave. listened
There was no one stirring within.
rang the bell. There was no answer.
waited long-waited longer than
should have done when l was young
in the years before experience hao
taught me patience. hang again
There was no sound of moving foots-
steps below stairs; no sound from the
laggard feet of the lazy servants; but
I heard footsteps-light and soft, wo-
mans beyond doubt-run along an up
per hall. l heard door open, slowly
cautiously-almost oiselessly-listen-
ingly, if you can understand the sense
in which I use the word. You may
have noticed. possibly, that inanimate
objects. moved by human hands. give
out sounds that are true exponent OF
the feelings OF those who move them"
Prier stopped short.
The two men looked into each 9TH
ers eyes.
Sem said nothing.
Have you ever noticed that fact?'
persisted Prier.
POSSIBLY may 'have-I don't
know" said Sem; please go on with
your account"
Il will. The statement l made is a
true one, though. I would as soon lie
in an adjoining room and listen to a
suspected man, as to watch him. The
man outside has advantages"
For Gods sake go on with your sto-
ry," cried Sem, his face very white
again. Il must know all the particulars
and soon. Unless you tell me l must
find some one who can and will"
Prier laughed.
And l have been called the talkative
detective" he said.
Sem was becoming terribly impa-
tient.
You may be Il talkative detective
he replied, "but you're a very unsatis-
IdClOIS SOIl VI HlttIl, Sou say i4u~it "N
tell little"
"EXactly-eXactly-
And you know am anxious to know
all"
And you shall! spoke of the open
ed door. There was pause. Then the
door shut with a Slam-a harsh, horri-
BILE, despairing bang. And then
Sem leaned forward, eagerly.
And them" he whispered.
And then a shrek rang through the
house which l pray l may never heal
the like of again. Can you imagine
love and sorrow and despair and"
who shrieked? Whose voice was
it?"
His daughters; your wife's.'
Sem turned away his head-un'
doubtedly to hide something in his face
'T-I-I think my imagination may
be less vivid than yours is. | cannot
imagine the shrek that you heard
You should have heard it,"
Il would have given my life tt
have listened" said Sem. under hi:
breath.
Il rang again." continued Prier, "bu
no one seemed to hear me. The house
was instantly full of tumult. Door:
opened everywhere within. There were
excited questions, and incoherent an
SwerS. There were hurried footsteps
along the Railways and on the stairs
| tried the door, now; it was locked
put my shoulder against il; it was too
strong for my effort. Then | hear(
Mrs. Sem speak: she was giving al
order to a servant; her voice was re-
pressed and full of pain; standing out
side while she was within and at thu
head of the stairs. | could gather NJ
more Of what she said than that Sh'
was sending for a physician; the ser
want started down the stairs; she call
ed him back; there was a new tone il
! her .'Oice. What can kill woman:
IunreaSOning anger? Surely not death
Certainly not loss. | heard the Orde
she gave him: Mr.. Prier is not to pas!
the threshold of this house on any pre-
tense. Have his luggage sent to th'