(M UL
VOL J J.
LINCOLNTON, N. C, FRIDAY, APRIL 2G, 1889.
NO. 50
BY JOHN K. BARRETT.
COPTIUOIITED It-. 11T COLLIfcrt'S "ON'CE
WKIK." "ALL RIGHTS KE8HRVED " PUB
LISHED BY SPECIAL A Kit A N'(jK,IKNI
WITH TUB PROPRIETOR o
"ONCK A WKKK."
Tho biandy. howover, ioou put new
life into him, and putting on a bold face,
h hitrtened to the house of mrxiniin in
which ho ought to ho the chief mourner.
How tl-.-4oliito it seemed a he drew
ueur. The shilling hlant was einiiinfr a
weird son;, that sounded to Clarence's
tar like a requiem, as he approached
the stately building, that had rec ently
been the eene of a cruel crime, and in
which tho millionaire Steel king, Philip
-Citrron, now lay cold in death.
Clarence entered the mauion by u
rear door, and wa so impressed by tho
oppressive silence that h could almost
hear the beating of his own heart. He
icbired to see hi-? cousin Zelda, and learn
from her, if possible, the particulars of
his uncle's death, so that he might be
fully acquainted with tho tragio details
and in a position to speak of the sad
twry intelligently to any one who might
converso with him on the subject. Ana
o he moved about quietly and noiseless
ly until he caught a glimpse of Zelda en
tering her late father' study.
It was the room in which the tragedy
had occurred, and Zclda'a visits there
were not many, but she had promised
to meet the detective, Isaac Sawyv,
there at a certain hour, and she wanted
to bo ahead of time, ao that she would
ntt have to be culled when . he came.
Sawyer had been importuning her for a
private interview for some time, and
the had put him off on one pretext or
auother until now; but he insisted at
length, that although her trrlef was sa
cred, and such as ought not to be dis
turbed or invaded for outside affairs, the
interests of justice were equally sacred,
und it was absolutely necessary to obtain
her htory without further delay.
How Zelda feared and hated this inter
view ! She looked upon it aa a great or
deal which fine would give almost any
thing to shun, but from which, she was
firmly but gently told, there was no get
ting away.
Ohuenee aw his cousin entering the
etudy, and lost no time in following her.
Zelda had left the door partly open when
he entered, and crossed the room al
most to the opposite side, where she saw
hr face relle ted in a mirror. Present
ly she saw another face there, and her
own turned white with fear. At tirt
6he thought it must be a delusion. She
felt that her cousin Clarence was far
away, and this mut be some strange
conjuration of her throbbing brain.
hut the spell was soon broken, as she
heard her name called, anil, turning
about, stooi face to face with her sus
pected cousin.
"Zelda!" !
i "Clarence!" j
This was all that wls wild. Hr brain
fvfftui, and she fell in a dead faint upon
the flow. The shock was too much for
hmi onidering the fearful thought that
had ben uppermost in her mind con
oerning this same cousin, whose guilt
TomEekort had threatened to prove if
Zelda preited in her refusal to become
hi wife. Clarence w appalled by th
thrilling effect which hia appearance. In
that room had upon Zelda, and he ncarce
ly knew what to do. lie was bending
oyer her in ditfrnay, when he heard foot
step? at the door, ami looking up, saw
Tom Eckert and Isaac Sawyer, the in
surance man, standing there.
"I believe my cousin has fainted," said
Clarence, adding, " Mr. Eckert, you know
the house; I wish you would call some of
the ladies to her assistance."
Eckeit obeyed, and in a short tim
Ze Ida was taken to her room, where
with proper attention, she soon regained
consciousness; but her promised inter
view with Detective Sawyer had to be
put oft to another time, and the return of
her cousin Clarence had given her fresh
cause for fear and anxiet)-.
CHAPTER XVII.
ELD.V A'D CLARENCE CARSOJf.
LARENCE CAR
ft-JL Grimsby was most
unwelcome to three
persons. Edith Ed
wards, over whose
life the shadow of a
hateful marriage
hung like a palj, had
hoped that he was
gone far away,
to return; and hU fair cousin
who dreaded tho awful thought
never
Zelda,
suggested by Tom Eckert that he was
concerned in the terrible tragedy and
robbery which deprived her of a dear
lather, was pained to seo him back again,
because she feared the horrible disgrace
that would result from hw arrest for sucli
a crime. But Eckert, himaelf, who
might be expected to rejoice secretly
over Clarence's return, Bince it would
give him an opportunity to drive a
harder bargain than ever in his wooing
of the fair Zelda, was even less pleased
than either of the other two that Philip
Carson's nephew had returned to Grims
by and threatened to remain there.
As soon as Zelda regained sufficient
ftrength to see him, she sent for her
oousln to her room, for the purpose of
letting him know tho more than painful
rumors that had reached her ears, and
egginjs hijn to lesye Up rjft.? j& once
for some foreign land, before a deeper
sorrow than a father's death should fall
upon the family in the arrest and punish
ment of their Cous'n Clarence for this
great crime Hie felt lhat such an in
terview would le inot painful to her,
and poAcibly to her cousin, of whoso
guilt she was not certain; but she could
not bear to pi it off, lent Eckert might
can y out his threat, and cunso Clarence a
a n est.
When Clarence vihited Zelda he found
her in tuprs, and his heart was deeply
touched. He took his chair beside her,
and was silent for a few minutes. In the
ruetflitimo Zelda wua at a loss how t
broaoh the awful subject to him. There
was n fueling of pity and of loathing
against him in her heart. She was tab
bing violently. He took her hand In hu
caressingly, and iu a low voice bade her
calm her great borrow; but the plucked
it from him a if there was a plague, in )
his touch. She felt that it was cruel to
treat her cousin thus, but how else could
she treat the man who was supposed to
be the slayer of her dear father?
He looked at her in wonder. H
thought it possible that she had lost or
was losing her reason,. but in this he was
mistaken.
"You have sent for me, Zelda," he be
gan. "Is there any particular matter
about which you want to see me ? "
"Oh, yes," she said, "it is a matter of
life and death, I have sent for you, Clar
ence, to warn you, to beg that you will
leave this place at once."
" I leave this place ! Why, Zelda, what
madness is this? Why should I leave this
place ? "
" Oh, don't ask me, Clarence ! Don't
ask me. It wrings my heart to think of
it. You know aa well as I do alas ! much
better tho reason why you should go
away and avoid the great disgrace that
must follow our present grief if you stay.'
Clarence was perplexed by her tone
and manner. He thought it possible that
she had heard of his marriage with Edith
Edwards, and regarded that as a dis
grace, because the Carson family was
always proud, yet he did not know and.
he said:
" Zelda, you speak riddles. What great
disgrace can you refer to? I am re
sponsible for my own conduct, and shall
not involve my relatives in anything I
do."
Zelda looked at him hi amazement.
If he was really guilty of the great crime
alleged against him by Tom Eckert, he
was certainly very cool about it cooler
than he supposed it possible for any
man to bo under such a blistering
shadow of sin and shame.
"You do not seem to understand, Clar
ence," she said. "Can it be possible that
your conscience, your heart, your soul,
does not speak to you and tell you what
I mean?"
"Upon my soul, Zelda, I do not under
stand you ! "
Then her spirit shrank no longer from
the ordeal, and she confronted him with
flashing eyes and blanched chec ks.
" You do not understand me ! " she said
in a mocking tone. "You do not under
stand me, Clarenoe. Great heavens,
cousin if such I may call you still does
not the spirit of my dead father whispoT
aught of my meaning to your guilty
heart ? Has it not your hand that ftruck (' u
down, for the sake of the miserable mon
ey you wanted to pay your great gam
bling debt with Oh! if vou were any
one eUe but mv own cousin and old play
fellow, I would take delight in siiangling
you myself for the precious life you took;
but you are rny cousin, and I dc n't want
to Bern you die an ignominious death,
SUCh as you sui ely shall if you stay here.
Then, for Heaven's sake, goa A-ay: go at
once and save yourself and us from the
foul blot that will fall on the family
name, which has been stainless till nowl"
Clarence rose tremblinj to his feet.
"My God, Zelda ! " he cried, " can it be
that you or any one else suspects me of
the monstrous crime of taking my o wn
allele's life? Who dares to hint such
vjlack infamy against me? Were you
Sot a woman, and my own cousin, I
would kill you for daring to hint so fear
ful a calumny. Tell me the name of my
accuser, that I may confront him now,
and clear myself of this great stain."
Clarenco was quivering with passion
and excitement.
"Ah, I see now," he continued, "why
you fainted at sight of me when I enter
ed the study. Well, if you had this hor
rible thought in your mind, I can scarce
ly blame you; but, Zelda, why should you
believe this fearful story against me,
even if an angel from heaven should
come down and become my accuser?
I loved your father as dearly as if he
were my own."
" And, Clarence, do you, can you deny
this terrible charge ?" she asked eagerly,
a new light beaming in her eyes.
"As heaven is my witness, Zelda, I am
innocent of this great crime!" he ex
Claimed. "Thank Heaven! Thank Heaven for
that ! " she cried fervently, with uplifted
eyes. "You have lifted a great load
from my heart. But they will arrest
you, Clarence. They will connect your
name with the deed, and show that the
money with which you paid your gam
bling debt at Dick Dawson's was cover
ered with blood. How will you be able
to explain this? Besides, we saw you
leave the study."
"The money with which I paid the
debt you speak of, was taken by me out
of the cash-box which stood on the desk
In the study. I knew it was there, and I
came to get it. I knew your father
was preparing to pay the men, and that
I could put my hand on the amount I
wanted. I found the room in darkness.
I groped my way to the cash-box, and
grasping all the bills I could hold, I hasti
ly left the place and ran away. That
was when you saw me leave the study.
I heard my name called, but I could not
return. That is the truth, as Heaven is
cay witness, and during that visit I did
not meet or see your father. I had been
drinking, and did wrong, but did not
commit tX horrible rj me you frjeakof."
" When we entered his study we found
him unconscious on the floor, with the
murderous marks of violence upon him,
and what other inference could we draw
but that you were hH assailant ? It
looks bad against you, Clarence, and it
will look bad if you are arm-ted aud
pushed for this crime, notwith funding
your explanation and den'a!," amwvred
Zelda.
" I will admit that it look bad, Zelda,
but I never saw the matter" in that light
before. Still I cannot go away nnd let
this terrible stigHna stand aKaiust my
name. I must hold my gr ound, and de
Vote myself, as soon as the funeral takes
place, to the work of running down the
real murderer."
"And if you stay they will surely
arrest you," said Zelda, "as all the cir
cumstances connected with your con
duet that night are known to the au
thorities alivady. Why not go away, and
thus avoid the disgrace, of arrest? In a
short time the real murderer may be
broutrht to light."
" Do you believe me iuncocent, Zelda ? "
he asked suddenly interrupting her.
"I do," she aid. "I do beliee you
innocent, but how will you be able to
satisfy the authorities in regard to your
conduct tlt;t wight? You were seen
running away from the rom in which
the tragedy took place. a:id a few
miiiPtes later turned up at a gambling
room with the money which doubtless
proved the great motive for the crime.
Oh, Clareii' e, think! Think well of all
you did that night! Was your head
clear? Can you remember everything
that happened when you took the
money ? Was there no resistance ? Did
auybody stand letweeii you and the
amount you wanted to pay that unholy
gambling debt, out of which you were
undoubtedly cheated ? "
" Noliodv interfered; there was no re
sistance. Not a voice nor a hand was
raised against ran, and I did not strike a
blow. Under these circumstances, Zelda,
hadn't I better stand my ground, and re
main right here in Grimsby ? An inno
cent man need have nothing to fear. I
will admit that I took the money, but
that is all. Were I guilty of any greater
crime, I would not return."
Zelda scarcely kuew what to think.
Her cousin had already convinced her
i.hat he was innocent, but in view of the
suspicious circumstances connected with
the case, could he possibly convince any
body else of this fact?
In her opinion it would be almost im
possible for him to do so, and in any
event the disgrace of his arrest would
undoubtedly follow in case he remained
in Grimsby. She was, therefore, firmly
of the belief that, in view of the net
work of circumstantial evidence that
could be woven about him, in connection
with the blood-stained money, his pre
cipitate flight from the study, just before
the wounded man was discovered, and
many other matters that pointed with
almost unerring prec''on to him as the
criminal, it would be prudent lor him to
quit the scene for a time, at least until
the authorities could run down the real
murderer. She told Clarence this, but
he would not listen to it for a moment,
because he held that his disappearance
at that juncture would be construed as
positive proof of his guilt.
" You have not yet told me who is my
accuser, or who told you the story about
that gambling debt," said Clarence. "I
would like to know who it is that takes
so much interest in my affairs."
Zelda hesitated a moment.
"You might as well tell me," he added."
"We may be able t! trace up his interest
in this matter Probably he is not en
tii ely unselfish. There is no reason why
you should not give me his name"
"I have no reaon ro disguise it," she
replied. " It is Tom Eckert.''
"And why is he so deepiy interested ki
this affair? Do you know what led him
to center his suspicions on me? Are you
aware, or do you suspect any motive on
his part ? '
"I know of one thing that might
possibly make him active in trying tc
fix the crime on you, and then magnify
ing the disgi a e of the arrest hi m
mind, be told me if I should consent t
become his wife he would not pr
i.ur arrest, but that if I refesr
i;ld place all the inform:: ti
possessed in the hands of his authorities,
and it was sufficient to hang you."
"And what did you tell him?"
"I told him I would never become his
wife, and defied him to do his worst. I
thought then that you were beyond his
reach, but now '
"Say no more, Zelda. I am beyond
his reach even here, and I defy the
scoundrel. He wanted you for a wife,
eh? The miserable coward, to propose
himself for a husband at such a time and
on such terms! I'm glad you rejected
him, and I have a good notion to ham
mer the conceit out of him on sight, the
first time we meet."
"Don't do that; it would make matters
worse," said Zelda. "Besides, there's a
detective here now, and I think he is in
the confidence of Eckert already. His
name is Isaac Sawyer, and he is passing
himself off as an insurance agent."
" Ive seen the animal. It has gimlet
eyes, and they have already been direct
ed against me; but, Zelda, I tell you they
have no terrors for me. I am guiltless of
this great crime, thank Heaven ! I know
I have been a bad, wild boy, but hand or
tongue was never raised by mo against
my poor unole, and I'll face the world on
this issue against Eckert and all the
rest."
For the first time since his meeting
with Zelda, Clarence was moved to tears,
and burying his face in his hands, he
wept bitterly.
"Is it not painful enongh to lose so
good a friend in such a fearful manner,"
he sobbed, "without being suspected of
such a horrible crime ? "
Zelda felt more and more convinced of
his innocence as she witnessed his grief,
and the thought of his possible arrest
now was even more distressing to her
thin it would be did she deem hira guilty
of the crime.
"May Heaven pity us in this dark
hour ! " she said, earnestly, " and give us
light for our guidance. Come, let us
join our frjends. Be tme to yourself,
aud soler, and whatever fate Itefalls, you
can count on a cou-in's love aial devo
lion, at all tinier, as long as I ku w you
an1 in'itoi-ent .f this crime."
They left the ro .111 together, hand in
haud. She did u A shrink from him now.
f Whatever the world might think, she
was convinced of th truth of Clarenoe's
story, and if F.-kert should ever ap
proach her again with any of his sneak
ing suggestions of marriage, in considera
tion of his silence, she would boldly tell
him t do his worst, as her cousin was no
criminal. This thought lightened the
great load that had lain on Zelda's heart
ever Miice the lateful night when the
found her father lying in ltally wound
ed on the tloor of his study.
As they turned slowly int.) the hallway
after descending the stairs from Zelda's
room, they wer-iddenly confronted by
Detective Sawyer and Chief of Tolioo
Ward.
" I beg your pardon." said the chief ot
pol'u'e, addressing Clarence, "but if jou
will kindly ex'-use yourself to your cous
in, there is a little business matter about
which we desire to ee you."
"Ihave no business, gentleman," re
joined Clarence, "that my cousin may
not hear or witness."
Something told Clarence that this was
no ordinary business transaction, but he
resolved ou maintaining his equilibrium
as well as possible. Zelda, too, realized
that a crisis of some sort was at hand, and
she resolved to meet it bravely, what
ever it might be.
" In this case, Mr. Carson," said the
chief, still speaking in a pleasant voice
" we would prefer to see you alone."
"Zelda will excuse me," he said, and
she left them to ether.
"The fact is," said the chief, after Zel
da was gone, "we have an unpleasant
duty to perform. Information has been
lodged against you on the charge of mur
der, aud we shall be under the painful ne
cessity of taking you into custody."
Clarence never winced. His interview
so recently held with Zelda had prepared
him for this ordeal, and he simply asked,
in a clear, firm voice:
" Who i my accuser ? "
" That you shall learn iu good time,"
said the chief. " I trust you will accom
pany us quietly and obviate the neces
sity of a scene."
" Certainly, gentleman,'" said Clarence,
"certainly; but I should like very much
to see my cousin Zelda alone, and quietly
break this matter to her. . She is so dis
tressed that a shock mightprove serious.
I will return in a few minutes."
The request seemed so reasonable that
neither Sawyer nor the chief interposed
any objection. They wished to do their
duty with as little friction as possible in
the house of mourning, and they agreed
to wait for Clarence until such time as
he could tell Zelda of his arrest. '
When Clarence entered the room where
Zelda sat awaiting him, he found the
light turned low and the window leading
out on the porch half open.
"You are arrested," she said, "but
don't be taken into custody for this crime.
See ! there's the window ; fly for life, and
you will be out of their reach before
they realize that you are gone."
" But I can prove my innocence. Why
should I go ? "
"To escape the disgrace of arrest, im
prisonment, and trial for so black a
crime. It is enough for me to know that
you are innocent. I will move heaven
aud earth, and never rest until I find out
the guilty man, and then you can come
back with no stain on your name. Now,
iu Heaven's name, ko ! I suspected they
were after you, and have provided mon
ey. Here it is; don't lose a moment,"
and as she spoke she placed a large roll
of bills in his hand.
"Heaven bless you!" he said; "I be
lieve yo'i are right. Were it any other
crime but this I'd face the consequences!
but it is feai ful to think of being arrest
ed, even in the wrong, for such a fearful
deed. I'll go, and trust to Heaven and
you for a speedy return with a stainless
name."
Zelda turned out the light, and as she
did so her fugutive cousin fled through
the open window and was gone. In a
few minutes the light was turned on
again, aud twenty minutes later, when
the police chief and the detective
knocked at Zelda's door to inquire lor
their prisoner, they were amazed and
chagrined to lind that he wa not there
" Miss Carson, what does this mean?'
ssked the chief, in a severe tone of voice.
" It means that he is not guilty, and
that I could not suffer the disgrace ol
his arrest while the real culprit is at
large," said Zelda.
The chief and detective looked at each
other, but said nothing. They felt that
they had been outwitted by a woman,
and that there was no help for it, and
then they hastened from the place, de
termined to capture the runaway, if the
electric wires could aid them,
CHAPTER XVIIL
IN THE SLOPE.
told you it was not
yet time to make an
arrest," said Detec
tive Sawyer to Chief
of Police Ward, af
ter thev left the Car
lson mansion. " In a
jcase of this kind
I lie I t 13 uiutu iv
done, and it is best
not to be iu a hurry.
Never arrest the
wrons man. As soon
as you legin to ar
rest people you put every man on his
guard."
" It's all the fault of that fellow Eck
ert. He in. isted on having Carson ar
rested without delay, and said his guilt
was beyond question," said the thief of
police.
"Ami yet he knew nothing more than
we do. " replied the detective. " It looks
k strong circumstantial evidence, I
Admit, but it is not, alter all, pnof ined
live of the young man's guilt. I have
u more mi picious circumstance come
1 1 naught iu a good many cao before
now. "
"But you will admit that the young
man's running away is against him?"
" N t a bit of it. Can't you see that
be acted in that matter entirely on thfl
advice of his proud cou.-in ? He would
rather stay and prove his innocence of
that I am certain but she would not
have it so, because she could u t endure
the disgrace of his arrest for such a
crime. Didn't she Miy so? She uttered
the truth when she sMke those w.nds
und what's more she believes in his inno
cenee. So far as I am concerned, 1 am
almost convinced that the work of fer
reting out Philip Carson's murderer ha
yet to be done. "
' I cannot quite agree with you. said
the chief of police; " at any rate- the fact!
are so stroun againl Clarence Carson
that I would like to see him have a
chance to prove himself clear of thi
fearful crime before the court, and so 1
shah send telegrams out after him. "
The two men sauntered leisurely aloii
the street leading from the telegraph of
lice, until th y came within a short di
tance of the home of Noel Ed wards
which was one of the particular point
concerning which Detective Sawyer had
made a special entry in his diary. lit
thought it might yet prove an important
piece of testimony in " the great cast
which he expected to work out success
fully without the assistance of the Grim
by policei
" That little house is the home of Noe
Edwards, of whom you heard me speak,"
said Sawyer to Chief of Police Ward,
pointing in the direction of the dwelling
indicated. "By the way, I think I hav
some business there now, and you will
please excuse me if I say 'good even
ing,'" added the detective, who saw a
small loj whom he wanted to talk witt
going that way.
" Sam, I want to see you, " he said, see
ing lhat it was his little friend Sair
Sharp, the newsooy.
"I hain't got time, Mr. Sawyer, "saic
the little fellow, whose suspicious move
incuts at once struck the keen-eyed de
teotive as being somewhat strange. " IT
nee you s'mother time, " he added.
' But I want to see you now, Sam, '
said the detective, taking him by th(
arm. " I have something very important
to say to you, and I want a good deal oi
your time and attention, but I'll pay yot
well for it. " Noticing that the boy hac
something in his right hand which h
tried to conceal, Sawyer added, "By th
way, Sam, what's this you are trying t(
hide in that way ? "
"It's nothin' at all; sir, only a little bil
of a note from a gentleman to a lady.
guess it's a secret, but he didn't say so
He only paid me well for carryin' it tc
her. "
" Would you mind letting me look at it
Sam ? " said the detective.
"Ah, that wouldn't be fair, sir, " and
the boy clutched the paper tighter.
"Oh, yes, it would be fair enough. Sam
I have an idea that it's a note for a gir
I like very well myself, and I want tc
see what it is. "
That's why you ehouldn see it," saic
Sam.
" Very well, then j you need not brini.
me any more newspaper. I ll get then
from some other bo y, " retorted the de
tective, as a clinching argument.
To be boycotted by so good a customer
was more than Sam Sharp could endure
and he compromised with his conscience
by saying to himself that the writer oi
the note had said nothing to him about
secrecy, and that, therefore, there wat
no harm in letting this inquisitive in
surance agent take a sly glance at it. Sc
he said:
"Well, there it is sir; be quick r.nd
read it, and let me give it to her. "
The note was hastily scrawled on a
piece of paper, folded carelessly, and
said:
' Dear Editk; Should anyone question
you about the night at Dawson's, say
nothing. I have met with great aud un
expected trouble, and am compelled to
leave Grimsby in a hurry to avoid dis
grace. I can say to you, however, that
upon my life I am inno; ent of the grave
and terrible charge alleged against me,
and in Heaven's irood time I'll come back
to prove it. Yo.i shall hear from me
again. "Clarence "
"And who gave you this, my little
man? "said the detective, after reading
the note.
" The party what wrote it, sir, " replied
the boy.
" Where is he now ? "
Sam looked at his questioner closely
and said ;
I feint no detective, He stopped on
the street in a big hurry and gave me the
bit of paper. Sam, ' says he, ' give this
to Edith Edwards, and here's a half a dol
lar for you ! ' Then he run off. That's a
good bit ago, because I had to do a few
errands for myself since then. " .
" What'll you take to let me deliver the
message ?" said the detective.
"Well, I couldn't do it, nohow."
"Why, nobody will be any the wiser.
I have a harmless object in view, and
thw will give me the opportunity I eek.
Here's half a dollar, Sam," he said, pla
cing a silver piece in the lKy's hand, and
addiner: " Now you may wait hen; untfc
I come back, because I want to talk tc
you on important business, '
Sawyer's breezy and apparently candid
manner won the boy's confidence com
pletely. Sam had known him for several
days, because he delivered the leading
New York daiiy newspapers at his in
surance office, and whenever tho oppor
tunity afforded, they had many a chat
together. Without being aware of the
fact, the newsboy had given the detec
tive many an important hint.
"All right, sir," Sam replied. "ITl
wait, provided you don't be long."
Mr, IsaaoJjawyeT then hastened for
ward wuii he note. Sain felt slightl
guk'it foi -letting him do mi, but he had
mail.- the bargain almo t be fun he wa?
aware of it, and he realized that there
was no use now in any ivgrets. All he
cou d do was to make sure the note was
delivered, and this lie did.
Sawyer's knoek at the door of Noel Ed
wards' house was answered by Edith.
The deteetivesaluted her very polih ly
and presented the msie, aiug:
"A gentleman, who seemed to be in a
hurry, handed rue this note at the cor
ner and requested that I should deliver
it to Miss Edith Edwards. She lives here,
I presume. "
"Yen. Tain the person," iwtd Edith.
Fomew hat mystified that this tlne-looklng
and well-dresM-d young man should play
messenger-boy.
His keen eye watched the color come
and go in her fine fuo as she scanned the
hastily written message, and he knew
that it eontaiued a world of meaning for
her, although he wrs somewhat surprised
to cee that t-he was not more deeply af
fee ted.
His mental comment was: "She either
does not love him. or has more than a
woman's control of her emotions."
Then speaking aloud, he said: "1 beg
your pardon, Miss Edwards, is there any
answer? "
"None. 1 thought you said the gentle
man was in a hurry. Where could you
take an answer?"
" Excuse me; 1 had forgotten, " the de
tective replied. He had been studying
Edith's face so eagerly that his accustom
ed shrewdness deserted him, and he felt
really embarrassed. His only whv out
of it was to bid Edith "good evening,"
and get away as speedily as possible.
This he did, but just as he was about to
go, he was surprised to find himself faoe
to face with Zelda Carson, who stood at
the door, and who, in an unguarded mo
ment, had pulled aside the heavy cloak
by which her features were hidden a
she came along the street.
If Sawyer was surprised at seeing
Zelda at Noel Edward's house, she wa
even more so to find him in such an un
expected place, and for the moment the
power of speech deserted her. She
would gladly have turned back, but that
his eyes were upon her, and there was a
nameless fascination iu them, to those
who knew what Mr. Sawyer's business
J was, that prevented dissimulation.
" Good evening, Miss Carson," he said,
bowing low aud manifesting a disposi
tion to enter into a conversation, but her
cold reply and freezing manner notified
him at once that she desired nothing fur
ther to say to him, and the astonished
detective, taking the hint, hastened off
to rejoin Sam Sharp.
"Sam, you said a few minutes ago that
you are no detective. How would you
like to be one ?" said Sawyer, as he re
turned to the boy.
"First-rate," replied Sam, "so it was a
good, brave detective, and no sneak.
When I say a sneak, I mean those fel
lows as plays detectives on married men,
and trots around saloon door to see how
many glasses of beer dry-good clerks
drinks of an evenin', and that sort of
thing. Now I'd like t: be a detective
what would keep an eye on (Treat rob
bers, and briuii burglars, and murderers,
and such fellows to time.''
"Well, I can help you to a piece of
amateur detective work right in your
line," said Sawyer, " if you'll agree to
take hold."
' What's the game " n-ked Sam.
"It's to help ic unraveling the Carson
mystery."
"I wouldn't ruin 1 l.dvin' a hand," said
Sam, "but I ain't had any experience
in the detective line."
"You never will until you begin, my
boy," said Sawyer-, as they walked along
slowly.
"Mr. Sawyer-, are 3011 a detective?"
asked the boy, abruptly.
"I don't mind telling you, now, that I
am," said Sawyer; "but, Sam, you must
not breathe a word of this matter to any
one. Henceforth you shall act as my
office boy, and bo my first assistant.
Now that we are out together, I wish you
would show me were you said, tho
other day, you saw Tom Eckert coming
out of the mine, the morning of Mr.
Carson's murder."
Sam stopped short and looked steadily
at his companion for a moment, its if he
discovered some new meaning in what
he had hitherto regarded as a common
place though somewhat trance inci
dent. "It is all right, my boy, ' said Sawyer;
"just come along and show me the
place. We can pass by it carelea-dy,
without exciting suspicion."
"It's only about three blocks away, 1
said Sam. "Let's hasten up, ami we
will be thtre in a jiffy."
Sam Sharp led t lie way across u num
ber of vacant lots, then down a some
what steep d ciivity, un:il he came di
rectly in front of a low and r .tlier dismal-looking
tunnel.
"That's the slope, sir. that b ads into
the Grimsby mine, but th mine's been
Idle since the explosion at the it ill, and
it was here 1 saw Ton.' t coming
out that morning. Hush! tep adde.
Here's some one ! "
Aa the boy spoke he pulled his compan
ion into the shadow of the slope, where
they crouched low beside ova of the
tout abutments.
f To be Continued
EUPEPJiY.
This is what you ouzht to have, in fact,
you must have it, to fully enjoy life. The
Thousands are searching for it daily, and
mourning because they find it not. Thou
sand? upon thousand of dollars are spent
annually by our peop'e in the hope that
tl.ey mtiy attain this ton. And yet it may
be had by all. "We guarnntee that Elec
tric Bitters, if used scenrdin to directions
and the use persisted in, will bring you
Good ligfstion and oust the demon Dys
pepsia and intal' instead Eupeppy. We
recommend Elctrc Bitters for Dygpepei
nd all disaaesof Liter, Stomach and
Kidneys. Sold at 50c. and fl per bottle by
J. 31. Lawiog, Physician and Pharmacist..
The KimI of I le World.
Aecnnlinfo C tnlinal XicoIah do
Cu, this NhouUl have occur, ed in
1704. Hp demon-drates it thus:
The deduce liMppe0t., j tnM thjrty
fwurtb juhiU't ot tlty years from the
creation (a. m. 1700) and therefore
the end of ihe world should
occur on the thirty fourth year
of the Christian era, or A. I). 17U.
The four gntee years are added to
compensate for the hluuder of
rhroiiohtfiKts lesjuctiu the first
year o riirc.
The ni't popular d for the
end rf the woijd. or what is praiv
ticiIU the saiiie thing, the millen
nium, are the following: l7f7, Swe
den-hoik; lS3h Joharm Allmcht
Beng' i ; lsi;. Win. Miller, of Amer
ica ; lsbtj. Dr. John Cu turning; 1881,
Mother Shipton. It was very gen
eially In licvod in France, Germany,
etc , that the end ot the wor'd would
happen in the thousandth year
afier Chris'; therefore much of the
land remained uncultivated, and a
general famine ensued. Luckily it
was Dot agreed whether the thou
sand years should date from the
birth or death of Christ, or the des.
olatioa would have he n much,
greater. Many charters begin with
these words: "As the world is now
drawing to its close.' Another
hypothesis is thn : As one day with
God equals 1,000 yors (lsltn xc ,
4) and God labored iu creation sir
diy, therefore the world is to labor
0,000 years and then forest. Ac
cording to this theory the end of
the world ought to occur A. M. C,
000, or A. 1). 199G (supposiug the
world to have been created 4004
years before the birth of Christ).
This hypothesis, which is widely
accepted, is quite safi tor another
centuty at least.
The Other Way.
JJuriug a wordy war which oc
curred between two hack men m
front of the City HaU, the other
dny, one of them observed :
"You iihv get bck there if you
don't look out."
"Back where ?"
"State prison.''
"Was I ever in state prison f"
"I've heard you were sent theru
io 1S70 for stealiug au overcoat."
"Oh I you have! Well, let me
show you how sadly you have been
fooled. Here is the case aa pub
lished and pasted into my memo
rand um book. You can see that I
was sent to the insane asylum for
not stealing a whole suit of clothes
left in rny hack by a man so dtunk
he couldu't remember the circum
stance.' IIorseM in Spectacle-
In a paper on near sightednesa
read before lh 1 Nv York Conuty
Medi-al Society, Dr. W. F. Mitten"
dorf told of a line horse in Berlin
that became intivic'ab'e, and on ex
amihrt'ion proved to be suffering
from myopia. The. owner had a
pair of hpectaclfs nude for if, and
it hecame as tractable as ever.
American stodenrs, Dr. Mittendorf
said, are not so subject to near
sightedness as Germm students.
Sedentary occupations and waut of
exercise develop myopia, and worn
eD, therefore, are liklier than men
to contract it. It generally gets in
in childhood ; rarely appears after
twenty. one years ol age. Blind-
ness often follows neglect of it.
Glasses should be worn early m life
ro prevent its progress. They
should be rather weak than strODg,
and a slight blue tint is desirable.
Practical Education.
A novel branch of learning has
been introduced into the higher
grades of the public schools of New .
Haven. It consists of a bulletin
toard, upon which is pasted each
day clippings of important home
and foreign news, taken from the
newspapers. Special attention is
given to matters wrought up in con
nection with the study of history
aud geography. The pupils take
a great interest in the 4,bailetiu"
and vie with one another in bring
ing the greatest number ot items
which are suitable to be pasted.