The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-10-09

ira after years OF outdoor living and
Q long lack Of nice personal attention,
but not such as I saw and admired q
few hours ago on the neck of the won.
an bending over her work In the land.
lady's room. Oh, l recognized the
difference; have an eye for necks." {"
He paused, coming to q standstill
In the middle Of the room, to see what
effect his words had had on Ransom.
Il have that mans nams." he con.
tinued, "and can produce him II /
have time and 1t seems to be neces-
sary. But had rather come to my
own decision without any outside in.
terference. This 10 not an affair for
public gossip or newspaper notoriety.
Il 10 question of Justice to myself.
II this girl is Georgian" His whole
face changed. For Q moment Ransom
hardly knew him. The quiet, self-con.
taihed man seemed to have given way
to one Of such unexpected power and
threat that Ransom rose instinctiyely
to his feet In recognition Of q super.
iority he could no longer deny.
The action seemed to recall Haxen
TO himself. He wheeled about and
recommenced his quiet pacing to and
fro.
II beg pardon" he quietly finished.
III It II Georgian, she must stand my
friend. That II all I was going to
say. Il Il ID. against all reason and
probability. her strangely restored
twin. ] shall leave this house by mid.
night never probably to see any of
you again. So you perceive that It IL
incumbent upon us to work promptly.
Are you ready to hear what have to
proposef"
YEA
'Hazen paused again. this time in
front Of the door. Laying his hand
lightly ON one Of the panels, he
glanced back at Ransom.
"You are nicely placed here for OBJ
servation. Your door directly faces
the hall she must traverse In return.
lag to her ROOM"
That's quite true"
She's In her room now. All, you
know that?"
YES" Ransom seemed to have no
other word at his command.
"Will she come out again before
night to eat or to visit?" 81
There's no telling. She's very at.
ful. No one can prophesy what she
will do. Sometimes she eats In the
landlady's room, sometimes In her
own, sometimes not at all. II you
have frightened her. or she has boon
disturbed In any way by your com.
panion who shows such interest in
her and in me. she probably will not
come out at ALL"
but she must. I expect you to
see that she does. Use any mes
senger. any artifice. but get her away
from. this hall for ten minutes, even
II 1t Is only into Mrs. Deos room.
When she returns shall be on my
knees before this keyhole to watch
her and observe. TO see what, l do
not mean to tell you, but It will be
something which will definitely settle
for me this matter of identity. Does
this plan look sufficiently harmless to
meet with your approval?"
Yes. but looks cannot always be
trusted. ] must know Just what you
mean to do. will leave nothing to
Z mind and hand do not trust any
more fully than I do yours. You are
too eager for Georgian's money; too
little interested in herself: and you
are too oily In your ways"
"You will" ~
The words rang out involuntar:1y.
II almost seemed az II the man wonld
spring with them straight at tie 9th.
er's throat. But he controlled him.
self. and smiling bitterly. added:
II know the marks Of human st-uz.
gle. have read countenances from
my birth. I've had to. and only cns
has batded me-Ee-s. But we are 81.
ing to read that too and very soon.
We are going to learn, you and I,
what lies behind that innocent man.
ner and her rude, uncultured ways.
We are going to sound that deafnes..
] say we." he impressively concluded,
because have reconsidered my first
impulse and now propose to allow
you to participate openly, and with.
out the secrecy you object to, In all
that remains to be done to make our
contemplated test q success. Will
that please you? May count on you
nowY
Yes" replied Ransom, returning
to his old monosyllable.
VERY well, then, see IL you can
make q scrawl like this"
Pulling q piece Of red chalk from
his pocket, he drew a figure of
somewhat unusual character on tie
bare top OF the table between them:
then he handed the chalk over to Ran.
som. who received 1t with a sta OF
wonder not unmixed with suspicion.
I'm not On adept at drawing" said
he. but made his attempt. notwith.
standing. and evidently to Hazen's