Year: 1869

quest.


II can not, Mr.. Field" With a look
Of hatred the minister bowed to the
captain, and left his room. When he
was gone. Dorney indulged in hearty
laugh. The visit of this man had re-
moved his doubts, and with renewed
interest he looked forward toward the
further development of the drama in
which he was about to play such an i'm
portant part.


Several days elapsed. Ellen Fuller
did not go back TO the doctors house,
but was received at Mr.. Burns with
open arms. Eckert. seeing that further
resistance was useless, gave up the
point. In spite Of the trouble his
brethren of t-e Celestine took to palli-
ate his conduct 10 the young girl, peo-
pie talked a good deal about it, aud
rather more than lie liked. Perhaps
the efforts OF his brethren would have
been crowned with more success, had
not the man whom Ellen had chosen a.
| her protector been member OF the
police. for this had given the whole
matter an official character


Eckcrt tried to conceal his wrath by
being as cool aud collected as usual
bu; once or twice. happened 10 meet
Dorney. he glanced at him with look
OF inexpressibe disdain and hatred.
which made our brave officer lauhg.
lie did not fear the doctor nor all the
members of the religions society.
though they dii their best 10 slander
him as much rs they could. They
stick fast 10 one another like clot-
burs." he said one day 10 his friend,
Moiiat when he met him. Though
think that none OF them like Eckcrt,
still they feel themselves injured as a
body. and wherever 20, meet with
sullcn faces. This society il a regular
wasp's nest. If you provoke one of
them, the whole swarm rushes at you
with their horrid stlngs"


did they sting yon." the attorney
said laughing.


"Oh no; nature has provided me
with a very thick. impenctrablc skin:
no sting of theirs can harm mc. But 4
that j. just what annoys them. | am
sure that they would poison me il they /.
had the courage Eckcrt alone would .
not shrink from doing il il hc had a
fair chance.


Even Judge simmons took part .
against Dorney. He could not forgive .
him FOR his having mcddlcd IN matters .
that did not. as he thought, concern
him. thereby exposing the doctor 10 the
greatest annoy vance possible-thc gos-
sip of bad tongues. Dorney did not
trouble himself much about all that.
Without looking either 10 tho right or
70 the LETT. he pressed forward 10 the
goal OF all his wishes. The suspicion
that Eckcrt was in some way connected
with the murder had set firm root IN
his mind. and he occupied all his spare
time, and even part of the night. in
watching him. for he knew too well that
only perseverance would give him the
victory.


One dark, stormy night. he stood
again in the doctors park, leaning
against tree. and gIancing at the illu-
minated windows in the doctor. office
lie would have preferred 70 have been
quietly sitting in his warm room or near
his beloved Anne but. feeling convinc-
ed that the doctor would surely choose
such night a. this if he had To execute
some culi able act, he had come To his
post as usual.


The interchangeable police officer stood
there thinking of the day when the wo-
man Of his heart should become his be-
troihod in the sight Of the whole world
But when was this day. and with it
Fred's freedom, to come. HIS honor
and happiness were at stake if he could
not accomplish the task he had under
taken To do. Longer than usual the
light continued To burn in the doctors
room. and he saw the shadow moving
TO and fro. which he did not observe
Ter left the house. What did it mean:
Presently the light was extinguished.
Shortly afterward Dorney left his post
to 20 home. His clothes were 5 aked
with rain. and he felt chilly and misera-
Bile. suddenly he heard the door Of





thing was quiet again. Had he been
mistaken: Noiselessly he placed him
self again behind a tree. and listened
a few minutes afterward he heard steps 1
coming toward him, and he saw a man
with a long cloak proceeding along the
road with stealthy steps. 1t was the
same figure. the same gait as that of
the person he had seen on n previous |
occasion in the little lane behind the |
garden of Mrs. Hills house. The night |
was not as dark as then, and he recog-
nized the doctor, who passed him at not |
three yards distance. He carried a
spade in his left hand. What did he in
tend to do in such night as this:


The doctor had not observed the Off
Ger. who followed him on his way to the
forest. Dorney had hard work to keep
up with him, for he had to dodge from
tree to tree in order to remain conceal
ed. But Eckert seemed not to suspect
any thing. Only once, and that only
for few moments, he stood still and
listened. Then he went on again. As
often as he stopped, Dorney did the
same. He could not see much, and had
therefore to listen to the doctors steps
with the greatest possible attention.


Nearly an hour the doctor walked on.
Presently he took a side path leading to
the foresters' house. Dorney's heart
was wild with excitement. At last he
was on the point Of making an import
ant discovery. To be able to move


more easily and quietly he threw away


his cloak what did he care whether he


was wet or dry! The excitement kept


him warm enough. 1t was no easy