The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-10-22

inc, h6tplHS wen III the SUduDW u
the cliffs. There were dozens Of
places where a man might hide. The
bay was strewn with huge rocks and
boulders. Some OF them looked like
big chunks Of cliff that had been bit
ten off In a bygone age and dropped
Crayton'G point was to get to the sea
ward side of all those hiding places
1t took him some considerable time
TO get from one side of the bay to the
other, and to look behind all the rocks
that might screen any n who was
hiding. When he had completed his
search, he lifted his wide-awake and
wiped his forehead. Nevins was no.
where to be seen, nor was there any
trace OF wreckage.
This is Disappointing" Grayton
said 10 himself, as he looked at the
wedge of cliff that separated st. Chloe
Bay from Penny Forth.
For a moment or two he hesitated;
then he attacked the face of the cliff.
Time was precious. The day was de-
clining fast, and any moment the fog
might roll in from the sea and obscure
everything.
IF | can climb over IL will save me
a mile at least" he said to himself,
and he began the ascent with all the
zest of a mountaineer. Fortuna civ,
to a strong nan with a steady head
the task was not a difficult one, In a
few minutes he had reached TIE jag
ged and uneven summit, and was mo-
ing cautiously towards the descent IN
10 Penny Forth.
AS he moved warily along the slop.
ing and ~treacherous edge of the cliff,
looking for a way CT descent, a souid
reached him from below which
brought him TO a sudden halt; and,
leaning cautiously over a pinnacle of
rock, he saw, fifty feet below him,
the figure Of a man stopping over a
large trunk that had been br0'len
open. busily engaged ransacking its
| contents.
That the mar was Nevins he had no
doubt, though he could not see his
face. That the box was Marion Vests
he felt equally sure. After long
watching and waiting his search had
been rewarded. He had evidently
seen the trunk that morning in com
paratively shallow water, and had sue
ceeded in towing il into this sheltered
place. 1t would be a task Of no small
difficulty, and would easily account for
his half-drowned appearance when he
returned to lunch. Since then the
tide had reiterated and left the trunk
high mand dry, and he had been able
TO examine its contents at his leisure
and without fear of being disturbed.
Grayton watched him with a kind of
fascination. He had practically com
pleted his search, and was now chuck
ling over his discovery. All round him
were scattered articles Of female at
tire. which he had evidently flung
aside at the beginning of his search.
Grayton was at a loss to know what
to do for the best. The thing he
would have prevented had already
happened. Nevns had deliberately
riHed the trunk, and had pocketed
such ~valuables as il contained. A
small. dark box that might at that dis
lance have passed for a box If cigars
stood on the sand by his side. Doubt
less that was the main object OF his
~search-the silver box, now almost
black with its coating Of salt. which
contained the clue to the mystery sur
rounding Marion West.
He was too late to prevent the fell
ony that had been committed. Nevins
would have now to pay the penalty.
The best thing he could do would be
to go back at once and inform Police
Constable Blight and get the thief ar
rested before he had time to get away
with his booty.
There was not much likelihood that
he would attempt to decamp at once.
He would be quite unsuspioious. Most
likely he would return to his evening
meal in the usual way and then in
form Mrs. Dyer that he had been sum
moned 70 London, or somewhere else,
on the following day.
Grayton chuckled to himself as he
thought how cleverly he would be
caught. He was sorry for the notori-
ETY. that he would be brought to st.
Chloe. But that could not be avoided
now. The law would have to take its
course.
While these thoughts Tare passing
through his mind a very simple and
unexpected thing happened. Grayton
gave a sudden and terrific sneeze. He
could not have helped 1t to v his
life. Nevins sprang to his feet and
looked up. and before Grayton could
withdraw his head their eyes met.
Whether he recognized the curate
or no is not known. 1t was growing
dusk rapidly. but he realized that he
was discovered, and that his only
safety was in fight. Grayton saw the
position with equal c~learness, and act
ed on the impulse Of the moment.
Don't attempt to run away, Mr..
Nevins." he called. You're found out,
and you had better make the best
Of it."
Nevins seemed undecided for a mo-
ment whether to answer back or run,
but his desire to justify himself
gained the mastery.
"You mind our own business, Mr..
Citrate" he retorted. angrily. and I'll
mind mine."
Il am minding my own business"
Grayton retorted. "You know you
| bova NJ r;uht - torcl a ~tr~ro -.