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

them in my mind, and when l saw
this combination Of lines again, re.
membered 1t. That is why lent my.
self so readily to this experiment I
lent that what you said about her ac-
quaintance with this odd arrangement
Of lines was true"
Hazen's hand stole up to his neck,
token Of agitation which Ransom
should have recognized by this time.
"And her account Of the use we
made of it tailed with mine?"
She gave me no account of any
use she had ever made Of it,"
THAT was because you didn't ask
her."
Just so. Why should l ask her?
1t was small matter to trouble her
about"
"You are right" acquiesced Hazen.
wheeling himself away towards the
window. Then after a momentary
silence, 1T was SO then, but it is
likely to proye of some Importance
now. Let me see If the hall is empty"
AS he bent to open the door, the
lawyer, who had not moved nor spok.
en- till now, turned quick glance on
Ransom and impulsively stretched out
his hand. But he dropped it very
quickly and subsided into his old at
titude of simple watchfulness, as Haz-
en- glanced back with the remark:
There's nobody stirring; now's
your time. Ransom" q
The moment for action had arrived.
Ransom stepped into the hall. As
he passed Haxen, the latter whisper.
ed:
Don't forget that last downward
Quirk. That was the line she always
emphasized"
Ransom gave him an annoyed look.
His nerves az well as his feelings were
on keen stretch, and this persistence
OF Hazen's was more than he could
bear.
"I'll not forget the least detail" he
answered shortly, and passed quickly
down the hall, while Hazen watched
him through the crack of the door,
and the lawyer watched Hazen.
Suddenly Mr.. Harper's brow wrink.
led. Hazen had uttered such a sigh of
relief that the lawyer was startled.
In another moment Ransom re-enter.
ed the room.
She's coming" said he. striving to
hide his extreme emotion. II heard
her voice in the hall beyond"
The door Ransom had carefully
closed. Harper watched through the
keyhole. The remaining two stood at
his side breathless, waiting for his
first word. 1t came in whisper:
She's approaching her room. She
looks tired. Her eyes are stealing
this way;-no, they are resting on
her own door. She sees the sign. She
Glands staring at it, but not like a
person who has ever seen it before.
It's the stare of an uneducated WON.
an who runs upon something she does
not understand. Now she touches it
with one finger and glances up and
down the hall with doubtful shake
OF the head Now she Is running to
another door, now to another. She is
looking to see if this scrawl is to be
found anywhere else; she even casts
her eye this way-I feel like leaving
my post. If do. you may know that
she's coming-No, she's back at her
own door and--gentlenen. he- bring
ing up or rather coming up asserts it.
self. She has put her palm to her
mouth and is vigorously rubbing of
the marks"
The next instant Mr.. Harper rose.
"She's gone into ter room," said he.
Listen and you will hear her key
click in the loc,1"
Ransom sank into a seat; Hazen
had walked to the window. Present
ly he turned.
Il am convinced" said he. II will
not trouble you gentlemen further.
Mr.. Ransom. oondole with you upon
your loss. My sister was a woman Of
uncommon gi.ts."
Mr.. Ransom bowed. He had no
words FOR this man at a moment Of
such extreme excitement He did not
even note the latent sting hidden in
the others seeming tribute to
Georgian. But the lawyer did and
HAGEN perceived that he did, for paus
ing In his act Of crossing the room
he leaned for q moment on the table
with his eyes down. then quickly rails.
ing the-c rs.---....:eS 10 TIA. gentleman:
Il am going 70 leave by the mid
night train Cor New Yoc1. Tomorrow
/ shall be on the ocean. Will 1t be
transgressing all rules of propriety
for me to ask the purport of my sis.
tors will? It is a serious matter to
me. sir. II she has left ne anything"
"She has not" emphasized the
lawyer.
A shadow darkened the disappoint-
ed mans brow. His wound swelled
and his eyes cleaned il Ironically as he
turned them upon EAnsom.
Instantly that gentleman spoke.