The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-02-12

found the place deserted. I shall be
very much surprised, however, if it Is
still so when he reconnoitres it this
evening. What do you think of my
theory?"
ut is all surrnise."
But at least it covers all the facts.
When new facts come to our knowl-
edge which cannot be covered by it, 1t
will be time enough to reconsider it.
We can do nothing more until we have
a message from our friend at Nor
bury"
But we had not a very long time
to wait for that. 1t came just as we
had finished our tea. 1.-THE cottage is
still tenanted." it said. Have seen the
face again at the window. VIII meet
the Z o'clock train, and will take no
steps until you arrive.
He was waiting on the platform when
we stepped out, and we could see in
the light of the station lamps that he
was very pale, and quivering with agi-
tation.
'They are still there. Mr.. Holiness
said he, laying his hand hard upon my
friends sleeve. Il saw lights in the
cottage as I came down. We shall set
tie it now nee and for ALL
What is you plan, them" asked
Holmes, is he walked down the dark
tree-lined road.
Il am going to force my way in and
See for myself who is in the house. l
wish YOU both to be there as wit
nesseS."
you are quite determined to do this,
in spite of your wife's warning that it
is better hat you should not solve the
mystery"
Eyes, 1 am determined"
well I think that you are in the
right. Any truth is better than in
definite doubt. We had better go up
at once. OF course legally. we are put
ting ourselves hopelessly in the wrong;
but l think that it is worth it,"
1t was a very dark night, and a
thin rain began to fall as we turned
from the high road into a narrow lane,
deeply rutted, with hedges on either
side. Mr.. Grant Munro pushed i'm
patiently forward, however, and we
stumbled after him as best we could.
There are the lights of my house."
he murmured, pointing to q glimmer
among the trees. And here is the
cottage which ] am going to enter"
We luIlHeu d COIJltI III Tie ldlit DIS IN
| spoke, and there was the building
close beside us. A yellow bar falling
across the black foreground showed
that the door was not quite closed, and
one window in the upper story was
brightly illuminated. AS we looked,
we saw a~dark blur moving across the
blind.
There is that creature!" cried Grant
Munro You can see for yourselves
that some one is there. Now follow me,
and we shall soon know ALL"
We approached the door, but sud-
denly a woman appeared out of the
shadow and stood in the golden track
of the lamplight. / could not see her
face in the darkness, but her arms
were thrown out in an attitude of en-
treaty.
For Gods sake, don't, Jack!' she
cried. II had a presentiment that you
would come this evening. Think better
of it, dear! Trust me again, and you
will never have cause to regret it,"
II have trusted you too long. Effie,"
he cried, sternly. Leave go of me! 1
must PASS you. My friends and 1 are
going to settle this matter once and
forever!" He pushed her to one side,
and we followed closely after him. AS
he threw the door open an old woman
ran out in front of him and tried to
bar his passage, but he thrust her
back, and an instant afterwards we
were all upon the stairs. Grant Munro
rushed into the lighted room at the
top, and we entered at his heels.
1t was a cosey, well-furnished apart
ment, with two candles burning upon
the table and two upon the mantel-
piece. In the corner, STOPPING over a
desk, there sat what appeared to be
a little girl. Her face was turned away
as we entered, but we could see that
she was dressed in a red frock, and
that she had long white gloves on. AS
she whisked round to us, l gave a
cry of surprise and horror. The face
which she turned towards us was of
the strangest livid tint, nd the fea-
lures were absolutely devoid of any eX-
preston. An instant later the mys-
terry was explained. Holmes, with a
laugh, passed his hand behind the
child's ear, a mask peeled off from her
c~ountenance, and there was a little
coal-black ncgress, with all her white
teeth flashing in amusement at our
amazed faces. 1 burst out laughing,
out of sympathy with her merriment,
u Grant Munro stood staring, with
his hand clutching his throat.
my Godi' he cried. what can be
the meaning of this?"
II will tell you the meaning Of it,"
cried the lady, sweeping into the room
with a proud, set face. "You have
forced me, against my own judgment,
to tell you, and now we must both
make the best of it. My husband died
at Atlanta. My child survived"
Your child?"
She drew a large silver locket from
her bosom. You have never seen this
OPEN"
Il understood hat it did not open"
She touched q spring, and the front
hinged back. There was q portrait
within of a man strikingly handsome
and intelligent-looking, but bearing I'M
mistakable signs upon his features of
his African descent.
THAT is John Hebron, of Atlanta"
said the lady, land a nobler man never
walked the earth. 1 cut myself off
from my race in order to wed him, but
never once while he lived did / for an
regret it. 1t was our misfor-
tune hat our only child took after his
people rather than mine 1t is often so
such matches, and little Lucy Is I