The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-06-03

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strange ground.
house with quite as much warrant as
the other unless Kirkwood had drawn
a rash inference from the incident OF
the ragged sentry. The TWO OF them
were mutual II antagonistic trespass-
ers. Neither would dare bring about
the arrest OF the other. And then-and
this was not the least consideration 70
influence Neutrality-suspicious. the fell
low would die II he got 10 attention.
Light upon the subject. actual as
well as hguratiye. seemed to be tts
first essential His mind composed.
Kirkwood set himself in search Of II.
The floor be was on. however afforded
him no assistance.
After some mcmentary hesitation he
went upstairs. hts ascent marked by
single ard grateful Incident Halfway
70 the top he trod On an object that
clinked underfoot and. stopping. re-
trieved the lost purse.
The rooms on the second floor were
bedchambers. broad. deep. stately. In
habited by seven devils Of loneliness.
In one. on a dresser. kirkwood found
stump Of candle IA china candle
stick. The two charred ends Of
matches NJ It's base were only an irri-
tatIng discovery. observation-disclosures
that real matches had been the mode
IN No. o az some remote date
Disguised and oppressed by cumula.
tive inquisitiveness. be took the can
die end hack 70 the hall. He would
have given much for the time and
means 20 make a more detailed inves.
tigation into the secret Of the house.
Since his latest entrance his vision
had adjusted itself TO COPE with the
obscurity 20 some extent. and the street
| lights. meagerly reflected through the
windows from the bosom Of sullen
pail Of cloud low swung above the
city. had helped him TO piece together
many a DEAL Of decoration and fu-.
nIshlng. alike somber and richly dig.
rified. Klrkwood told himself that
the owner. whoever he might be. was
man Of wealth and taste Inherited
from another age. lie bad found little
OF meretricious today In the dwelling.
i much that was solid and sedate and
homely and-yictorian. He could have
wished for more. A box 81 early Vic.
torian vesfas had been highly accept.
able
Making his way downstairs 10 the
stricken man. who was quite rs be
had been. Kirkwood bent over and
thrust riaing fingers into his pockets
regardless Of the wretched sense q
guilt aud sneaklshness impaired by
the action. stubbornly needless o. The
possibility Of the mans awakening 81
find himself being searched and rob.
bed.
In the last place be sought. which
should. be realized. have been the FIRST
to Wit the fob pocket Of the white
waIsicoat--he found 4 small gold
matchbox packed tight with wax YES.
tas and. berating himself for Grass
stupldity-he had saved a deal Of time
and trouble By thinking Of this before
lighted the candle.
As its golden fame shot up with
scarce tremor. preyed upon by per
fectly excusable concern. be bent q
examine the mans countenance. Tho
arm which had partly hidden Il had
fallen back into a natural position. II
was a young face that CLEANED pallic
In the candlelight, a face unlined.
little vapid and Insignificant. with fea
lures regular and neat. betraying few
characteristics other than the purely
negative attributes of a character a
yet Uniformed. possibly unformable
much the sort Of face that be nigh
have expected 10 see. remembering
those thin and pouting lips that befor'
mad impressed him. It's owner wni
probably little more than twenty. II
his attire there was suspicion Of /
fop's preciseness. aside from It's acct
dental disarray.
II cant make him cut az alll'' de
riared Klrkwood II was most e1as
peratlng. the incongruity of the boy
appearance assorted with biz doubl,
role ~ prosecutor u distressed dam
sells and Nocturnal hOusebreaker
klFkwood bent closer above the mo
tlonless head. with puzzled eyes striy
Ing ~ pin down some elusive resem
blance that be thought " trace Il