The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1909-10-16
PAGES From PATRICIA'S JOURNAL
THE FATE OF THE UNION SPY"
(For The Sea Echo)

so, as you see, it was seldom that any
one approached the old library.
At last, Beatrice consented, and to-
gether we descended the second time.
What was our delight upon finding an
old, rusty ak, probably left there by
some careless workman years before.
We hastily assembled, and, with one
mighty effort, I hurled the ak against
the panel. The force of the blow car
ried it from my hands, and it went
crashing through the panel.
Beatrice and I, with glad cry of
thanksgiving, rushed through the gap
ing aperture into the bright light of day
again, to be confronted by my father
and Mr.. Edwards, who, had supposed,
was in Baltimore. Never will forget
the look of astonishment and surprise
that overspread their features on be-
holding us, and, indeed, as father said
afterwards, it was enough to give any
one a turn to see two such dusty, grimy
apparitions come bursting through what
he had always considered solid vain
scoting, at an hour when he had thought
us both in bed. He told mother that he
never would be surprised again at any
thing Patricia might do. 1t seems that
he and Mr.. Edwards had entered the
library Just at that moment for a very
secret and private conference q wonder
what aboutD on some business that had
brought Mr.. Edwards all the way back
from Baltimore almost as soon as he had
arrived there.
Father has teased me great deal
since then, and says he intends having
a balloon hitched in the back yard, so
that he can go up among the clouds
when business men come to conhde Sc
crets in him. He says that La Grange
undoubtedly has walls with wide-open,
listening ears.
One time Mr.. Edwards heard him
teasing me, and when father mentioned
business secrets, he turned beautiful
ck-red, and, after hastily mumbled
excuse, left the room. How father did
roar with laughter!
But, to resume: When Beatrice and
rushed into the library, stood for few
moments yainly trying to speak; then
everything swan round and round,
darkness seemed to close in upon me,
and, to my shame, I confess l tainted
| dead away. Beatrice, plucky little soul,
assisted in putting me to bed and then
related to father our adventures.
He, accompanied by M. Edwards and
some of the serving men, took lanterns
and went down to explore. They found
near the skeleton handkerchief, on
which were a few words scrawled in
blood.
Time had almost obliterated them,
but they managed to decipher enough
to tell that Philip Manley had written
them while dying from the wound in
his shoulder shortly after his entrance
there. -
We were glad to think then that he
had not perished for want of food and
water. His lawyers successors were
notified, thA bones identified, an inquest
held, and, at last, after so many long
years of waiting, they were laid to rest
in the pretty little Dunlap cemetery,
twelve miles north of "La Grange.
1t seems that when Mr.. Edwards got
back to Baltimore he found that he had
inherited from wealthy bachelor uncle
down in Australia an immense fortune,
so when the Manley fortune was placed
in his hands he promptly turned it over
to various charitable institutions.
He continues to stay on here at ola
Grange, and | received letter from
brother James, who has returned to
Baltimore, in which he strongly hints
tndt L am the cause OF MS stay mere.
The idea! l wrote to James and plainly
made him understand that n, Edwards
was here purely on business n tives.
Before mailing the letter /, ave it to
mother to read. When she came to
that part of it I saw that she was having
difficult time to smother her laughter.
was very much surprised and asked
her if it wasn't business, whereupon she
kissed me and said, "Why, of course it
is, my dear, very important business,
too"
l don't see what there is so funny
about it. Every one seems to be in the
secret except me. Even Beatrice knows
about it. and, sometimes, when she
doesn't know I'm watching her, she
looks at me out of the corner of her eye
and chuckles, and one time l heard her
say to herself, Business, Oh, good
Lord, business!" I can't understand
why they all act like lunatics. What if
he is here on business! there is nothing
about that that everyone should act so
daffy (excuse the expreSsion) about.
1t makes me mad,