The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-10-06

haCSOm.
The latter met the implied accuse.
ton with singular calmness.
ANY assistance will be Welcome"
said he. which will enable us to solve
this very serious problem"
II will explain myself to you," said
Hazen. "but not to this crowd. And
not to you till am sure of the facts
which 90 yet have reached me only
through the newspapers. Let me hear
full account Of what has transpired
here since you all came to town."
Follow me-" was the quiet reply.
There 10 room on this very floor
where We can talk undisturbed."
Hazen stepped after Ransom into
the small room where the latter had
held his first memorable conversation
with the lawyer.
Now" said he a. the door swung
TO behind them. plain language, and
not too much Of II. have no time
to waste. but the truth about Georgian
I must know"
Ransom settled himself. He felt
bound to comply with the others re-
quest but he wished to make sure Of
not saying too much, or too little.
Hazen's attack had startled him. II
revealed one Of two things. Either
this man Of mystery had assumed the
offensive to hide his own connection
with this tragedy, or his antagonism
was an honest one. springing from an
utter disbelief In the circumstances
reported to him by the press and such
gossips a. he had encountered on his
way TO Sitford.
\ With the first possibility he felt
himself unable to cope without the
Aid Of Mr.. Harper; the second might
be met with candor. He decided upon
candor at all costs. It suited his ma
tufe best, and Il also suited khe
strange and doubtful situation. Meet
ins the latter's eye frankly. he re-
marked:
II have no wish to keep anything
back from you. am as much struck
90 you are by the mystery of this
whole occurrence. I was as hard to
convince"
Then he told his story without sub
terfuge or suppression. One thing,
and only one thing. caused a move.
ment- in. the set figure before him.
When he mentioned the will which
Georgian had made few hours prior
to her disappearance Hazen's hand
slipped aside from the wound It had
sought to cover. and Ransom car-ht
sight Of the sudden throb which deep.
ened its hue. It was the one infa!li.
BILE sign that the man was not wholly
without feeling. and 1t had sprung rc
life at an intimation involving money.
When his tale was quite finished, he
rose, SO did Hazen.
Let us see this GIRL" suggested the
latter.
1t was the first word he had spoken
since Ransom began his story.
She ts upstairs. will 60 see"
mo. we will 90 see. / particularly
desire to take her unawares."
Ransom offered no objection. Per.
haps he felt interested in the expert.
ment himself. Together they left the
room. together they went upstairs. A
turmoil OF questions followed them
from the throng OF men and boys
gathered In the halls, but they re.
turned no answer and curiosity re.
mained unsatisfed.
Once in the hall above, Ransom
stopped a moment to deliberate. He
could not enter Anitra's room unan.
nounced, and he could not make her
hear by knocking. He must find the
landlady.
He knew Mrs. Deo's room. He hac
mad more than one occasion to visit
1t during the last two days. With a
word OF explanation to Hazen, he
passed down the hall and tapped on
the last door at the extreme left. No
one answered, but the door stand .ns
ajar, he pushed 1t quietly open, being
anxious TO make sure that Mrs. Dec
was not the,s.
The next moment he was beckcn.
Ing to Hazen.
Look" said he, holding the door
open with one hand and pointing with
the other to a young girl sitting on
low stool by the window, mending. or
trying to mend, rent in her skirt
why. that's Ceorgian." exclaimed
Hazen. and hastily entering he ~.
preached the anxious figure laboriusly
pushing her needle In and out of the
torn goods, and pricking herself more
than once In the attempt.
"Georgian!" he cried again and vet
more emphatically. as he stepped up
In front Of her.
The young girl failed to notice.
Awkwardly drawing her thread out 20
Its extreme length. she prepared 10
insert her needle again, when her eye
caught sight Of his figure bending over
her. and she looked up quietly and
with an air Of displeasure, which
pleased Ransom.-be could hardly tell
why. This was before her eyes reach.