Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 31, Number 344, 14 January 1907 — Page 7

The Richmond Palladium, Monday, January 14, 1907.

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"1 don't know wny I obeyed, ror It was late and I did not know the voice. but something la the Impatient rattling tit the door which accompanied the words affected me In spite of myself, and I slowly opened my shop to this midnight customer. " 'You must be hungry,' I began. But the person, who had crowded In as roon as the opening was large enough, wouldn't let me finish. "'Bread! I want bread or crackers or anything that yoa can find easiest. tie gasped, like a man who had been running. 'Here's money.' And he poked into my hand bill so stiff it rattled- 'It's more than enough,' he hastened to say as I hesitated over It, 'but never mind that. I'll come for the change In the morning.' 'Who are you?,, I cried. "You're not Blind Willy, I'm sure.' "But his only answer was, 'Bread! while he leaned so hard against the counter that I felt it shake. "I could not stand that cry of 'Bread,' so I groped about In the dark and found ' him a stale loaf, which I put Into his arms with a shout: 'There! Now tell me what your name Js.' "But at this be seemed to shrink Into himself, and muttering something that might pass for thanks he stumbled toward the door and rushed hastily out. Running after him, I listened eagerly to his steps. They went up the hill." "And the money? What about the money?" asked the coroner. "Didn't lie come back for the change?" "No. I put It In the till, thinking It a dollar bill. But when I came to look at It In the morning it was a 20. Yes, sirs, a 20!" This was startling. The coroner and , the constable looked at each other be fore again looking at him. "And where Is that bill cow?" asked the former. "Have you brought It with you?" "I have, sir. It's been In and out of It he till 20 times today. I haven't Known what to do with it I don't like to think wrong of anybody, but when I beard that Mrs. Webb, God bless her, ,was murdered last night for money I couldn't rest for the weight of this thing on my conscience. Here's the bill, sir. I wish I had let the old man rap on my door until morning before I Lad taken it from him." They did ,not share this feeling. A distinct and valuable clew seemed to lie afforded them by the fresh, crisp bill they saw in his hand. Silently Dr. Talbot took it, while Mr. Fenton, with a shrewd look, asked: "What reasons have you for calling this mysterious customer old? I thought it was so dark you could not eee him.". , The man. who looked' relieved since be had rid himself of the bill, eyed the constable in some perplexity. "I didn't see a feature of his face," eald he, "and yet I'm sure he was old. I never thought of him as being any thing else." "Well, we will see. And Is that all you have to tell us?" His nod was expressive, and they let him go. An hour or so later Detective Knapp made his reappearance. "Well," asked the coroner as he came quietly in and closed the door behind liim, "what's your opinion?" "Simple case, sir. Murdered for money. Find the man with A. flowing beard." CHAPTER XI. THE ZABEL BROTHERS. There were but few men in town 'who wore long beards. A list was made of these and handed to the coroner, who regarded it with a grim smile. "Not a man whose name Is here would be guilty of a misdemeanor, let alone a crime. You must look outside of our village population for the murderer of Agatha Webb." "Very likely, but tell me something first , about these persons," urged Knapp. "Who is Edward Hope?" "A watch repairer. A man of estimable character." "And Sylvester Chubb?" "A farmer who; to support his mother, wife and seven children, works from morning until sundown on his farm and from sundown until 11 o'clock at night on little fancy articles he cuts out from wood and sells In Boston." "John Barker, Thomas Elder, Timothy Sinn?" , "All good men. I can vouch for every pne." "And John Zabel, James Zabel?" "Ah! You might as well ask about ourselves. Irreproachable, both of them. Quite famous shipbuilders once, but the change to Iron shipbuilding has quite thrown them out of that. Pity, too, for they were remarkable builders. By the by, Fenton, we don't eee them at church or In the docks any more." "No. They keep very much to themselves. Getting old. Ilka ourselves, Talbot." "Lively ioys once. We must hunt them up.; Fenton. Can't bear to eee old friends drop out of good company. But this isn't business. You need not pause over their names. Knapp." But Knapp bad slipped out. We will follow him. Walking briskly down the street he went up the steps of a certain house and rang the beU. A gentleman with a face not entirely unknown to us came to the door. The detective did not pause for preliminaries. "Are you Mr. Crane." he asked, "the gentleman who ran against a man coming out of Mrs. Webb's house last night?" '.:; "I am Mr. Crane," was the slightly surprised rejoinder, Vand I was run against by a man there, yes." "Very well," remarked the detective quietly. "My name Is Knapp. I have been sent from Boston to look Into this .matter, and I have an idea that rou

yster y of Agatha Webfe,

By Anna Katharine Green. Anther of X3xo ieavrnwcrtSa Caaa," liost San'a Tane, "Haad

Ccpyiit, 1900, by Ansa Katharine Green. can neip me more tnan nuj su here in Sutherlandtown. Who was this person who came in contact with yoi so violently? You know, even if you have beencareful not-to mention any names." "You are mistaken. I don't know. 1 can't know. He wore a sweeping beard and walked and acted like a man no longer young, but beyond that" "Mr. Crane, excuse me, but I know men. If you had no suspicion as to who that person was. you would not look so embarrassed. You suspect or at least associate in your own mind a name with the man you met. Was It either of these you see written here?" Mr. Crane glanced at the card on which the other had scribbled a couple of names and started perceptibly. "You have me," said he. "You must be a man of remarkable perspicacity." The detective smiled and pocketed his card. The names he thus concealed were John Zabel, James Zabel. "You have not said which of the two It was," Knapp quickly suggested. "No," returned the minister, "and I have not even thought. Indeed I am not sure that I have not made a dreadful mistake In thinking it was either. A glimpse such as I had is far from satisfactory, and they both are such excellent men" "Right! You did make a mistake of course. -1 have not the least doubt of It. So don't think of the matter again. Knapp was not to be awed by her small, keen eye or strident voice. I will find out who the real man was, rest easy." And with the lightest of bows Knapp drew off and passed as quickly as he could, without attracting attention, around the corner to the confectioner's. Here his attack was warier. .Sally Loton was behind the counter with her husband, and they had evidently been talking the matter over very confidentially. But Knapp was not to be awed by her small, keen eye or strident voice and presently succeeded In surprising a knowing look on the lady's face, which convinced him that in the confidences between husband and wife a name had been used which she was less unwilling to impart than he appeared to be. He consequently turned his full attention toward her, using in his attack that older and most subtle weapon against the sex flattery. "My dear madam," said he, "I see what a good heart you have. Your husband has told you who he thought this man was, but, fearing that he may be mistaken, you do not like to repeat the name. A neighborly spirit, ma'am, a very neighborly spirit, but there should be bounds to your goodness. If you simply told us whom this man resembled, we would be able to get some idea of his appearance." "He didn't resemble any one I know," growled Loton. "It was too dark for me to see how he looked." "His voice, then? People are traced by their voices." "I didn't recognize his voice." Knapp smiled, his eye still on the woman. "Yet you have thought of some one he reminded you of?" The man was silent, but the wife tossed her head ever so lightly. "Now, you must have had your reasons for that. No one thinks of a good and respectable neighbor in connection with the buying of a loaf of bread at midnight with a $20 bill without some positive reason." "The man wore a beard. I felt it brush my hand as he took the loaf." "Good! That is a point." "Which made me think of other men who wore beards." "As for instance" The detective had taken from his pocket the card which he had used with such effect at the minister's, and as he said these words twirled it 6o that the two names written upon it fell under Sally Loton's inquisitive eyes. The look with which she read them was enough. John Zabel, James Zabel. "Who told you It was either of these men?" she asked. "You did." he retorted, pocketing the card with a smile. "La, now, Samuel, I never spoke a word," she insisted. In anxious protest to her husband as the detective slid quietly from the store. CHAPTER XII. PAT OR STAFFER EXPOSURE. The Hallidays lived but a few rods from the Sutherlands. Yet as It was dusk when Miss Halliday rose to depart Frederick naturally offered his services as her escort. She accepted them with a slight blush, the first he bad ever seen on her face or at least had ever noted there. It caused him such surprise that he forgot Amabel's presence in the garden until they came upon her at the gate. "A pleasant evening." observed that young girl in her high, unmusical voice. "Very," was Miss Halliday's short reply, and for a moment the two faces were In line as he held open the gate before his departing guest. They were very different faces in eaara. and exnressjoiu. and inn.tlfct.hat

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tot and Hint," 2tc, Z5c night he had never tLought cf cor ing them. Indeed the fascination which beamed from Amabel Page's far from regular countenance bad put all other faces out of his mind, but now as he surveyed the two the candor and puri ty which marked Agnes features came out so strongly under his glance that the countenance of Amabel lost its charms, and he hastily drew his young neighbor away. Amabel noted the movement and smiled. She had no fears of Agnes HaUidav. Perhaps she might have felt less con fidence if she could have seen the short glances he cast his old playmate as they proceeded slowly down the road Not that there was any passion In them. He was too full of care for that, but the curiosity which could prompt .him to turn his head a dozen times In the course of so short a walk to see why Agnes Halliday held her face so persistently away from him had an element of feeling in it that was more or less significant. As for Agnes, she was so unlike her accus tomed self a3 to astonish even herself. Whereas she had never before walked a dozen steps with him without Indulging in some sharp saying, she found herself disinclined to speak at all, much less speak lightly. In mu tual silence, then, they reached the gateway leading Into the Halliday grounds. But Agnes, having passed in, they both stopped and for the first time looked squarely at each other. Her eyes fell first, perhaps because his had changed In his contemplation of her. He smiled as he saw this and In a half careless, half wistful tone said quietly: "Agnes, what would you think of a man who, after having committed lit tle else but folly all his life, suddenly made up his mind to turn absolutely toward the right and to pursue it in face of every obstacle and every dis couragement?" "I should think," she slowly replied. with one quick lift of her eyes toward his face, "that he had entered upon the noblest effort of which man Is capable and the hardest. I should have great sympathy for that man, Fred erick." "Would you?" he said, recalling Amabel's face with bitter aversion as he gazed into the womanly countenance he had hitherto slighted as uninterest ing. "It Is the first kind word you have ever given me, Agnes. Possibly it is the first I have ever deserved' And without another word he doffed his hat, saluted her and vanished down the hillside. She remained, remained so long that It was nearly 9 o'clock when she en tered the family parlor. As she came in her mother looked up and was startled at her unaccustomed pallor. "Why,. Agnes," cried her mother, "what Is the matter?" Her answer was inaudible. What was t bp matter? She dreaded, even feared, to ask herself. Meantime a strange scene was taking place in the woods toward which she had seen Frederick go. The moon, which was particularly bright . that night, shone upon a certain hollow where a huge tree lay. Around it the underbrush was thick and the shadow dark, but In this especial place the opening was large enough for the rays to enter freely. Into this circlet of light Frederick Sutherland had come. Alone and without the restraint imposed upon him by watching eyes he showed a countenance so wan and full of trouble that it was well it could not bo seen by either tof the two women whose thoughts were at that moment fixed upon him. To Amabel it would have given a throb of selfish hope, while to Agnes it would have brought a pang of despair which might have somewhat too suddenly interpreted to her the mystery of her own sensations. He had bent at once to the hollow space made by the outspreading roots just mentioned and was feeling with an air of confidence along the ground for something he had every reason to expect to find when the shock of a sudden distrust seized him, and he flung himself down in terror, feeling and feeling again among the fallen leaves and broken twigs until a full realiza tion of his misfortune reached him, and he was obliged to acknowledge that the place was empty. Overwhelmed at his loss, aghast at the consequences it must entail upon him, he rose in a trembling sweat, crying out in his anger and dismay: "She has been here! She has taken it!" And realizing for the first tim the subtlety and strength of the antagonist pitted against him he forgot his new resolutions and even that old promise to Agatha Webb and uttered oath after oath, cursing himself, the woman and what she had done until a casual glance at the heavens overhead, in which the liquid moon hung calm and beautiful, recalled him to himself.' Ceasing his vain repinings and silencing with a fierce but determined effort the fierce demon in his breast, he turned from the unhallowed spot and made his way with deeper and deeper misgivings toward a home made hateful to him now by the presence of the woman who was thus bent upon his ruin. . He understood her now. He rated at its full value both her determination and her power, and had she been so unfortunate as to have carried her imprudence to the point of surprising him at that moment In one of the hollows of that midnight copse It would have taken more than the memory of that day's resolves to have kept him from using his strength against her. But 6he was wise and did not Intrude upon him in his hour of anger, though who could say she was not near enough to hear the sigh which broke Irresistibly from bis lips as he emerged from the wood and approached his father's house. ; A lamp was still burning in Mr. Sutherland's study over the front door. .tMLtlbe fcicht of it seenaedt-cb.aiure

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ror a moment tlie current or iTei crick's thoughts. Stopping with the gate in his hand, he considered with hlm-s-lf and then with a freer countenance And a lighter stti was about to proceed inward when he heard the sound of a heavy breather coming up tho hHl and paused, why he hardly knew, escept that every advancing step occasioned him more or loss apprehension. The person, whoever It was. stopped before reaching the brow of the hill and vantinz heavily muttered an oath Wuicb Frederick tard. Though it was no more prtfane than those which had just escaped his own lips in the forest, it produced an effect upon Frederick which was only second in inten

sity to the terror of the discovery that the money he had so safely hidden was gone. Trembling in every limb, he dashed down the hill and confronted the person Ftandiug there. "You!" he cried. "Your' And for a moment he looked as if he would like to fell to the ground the man before him. But this man was a heavyweight of no ordinary physical strength and adroitness and only smiled at Fred erick's heat and threatening attitude. "I thought I would be made wel come," he smiled, with just the hint of sinister meaning in his tone. Then, before Frederick could speak, he naid: "I have merely saved you a trip to Bos ton. Why so much anger, friend? You have the money. Of that I am positive." "Hush! We can't talk here," whis pered Frederick. "Come Into the grounds, or, what would be better, Into the woods over there." "I don't go into the woods with you,' laughed the other. "Not after last night, my rriend. But I will talk low. That's no more than fair.- I don't want to put you into any other man's pow er, especially if you have the money.' "Wattles Frederics s tone was broken, almost unintelligible. "What do you mean by your allusion to last night? Have you dared to connect me" "Pooh, pooh!" interrupted the other good humoredly. "Don't let us waste words over a mischance word I may have let drop." "I don't care anything about last night's work or who was concerned in it That's nothing to me. All I want. my boy, is the money, and that I want devilish bad or I would not have run up here from Boston, when I might have made half a hundred off a coun tryman Lewis brought in from the Canada wilds this morning." "Wattles, I swear" But the hand he had raised was quickly drawn down to the other. "Don't," said the older man shortly. "It won't pay, Sutherland. Stage talk never passed for anything with me. Besides, your white face tells a truer story than your lips, and time is precious. I want to take the 11 o'clock train back. So down with the cash. Nine hundred and fifty-six it is, but, being friends, we will let the odd six go." "Wattles, I was to bring It to you tomorrow, or was it the next day? I do not want to give It to you tonight. Indeed I cannot, but Wattles, wait, stop! Where are you going?" "To see your father. I want to tell him that his son owes me a debt; that this debt was Incurred In a way that lays him liable for-arrest for forgery; that, bad as he thinks you, there are facts which can be picked up in Boston which would make Frederick Sutherland's continued residence under the parental roof impossible; that in fact you are a scamp of the first water and that only my friendship for you has kept you out of prison so long. Won't it make a nice story for the old gentleman's ears?" "Wattles I oh, my God, Wattles, stop a minute and listen to me. I have not got the money. I had enough this morning to pay you, had It legitimately. Wattles, but It has been stolen from me; and" "I will also tell him," the other broke in as quietly and calmly as if Frederick had not uttered a word, "that in a certain visit to Boston you lost $500 on one hand; that you lost It unfairly, not having a dollar to pay with; that to prevent a scandal I became your security, with the understanding that I was to be paid at the end of ten days from that ni-ght; that you thereupon played again and lost $400 and odd "I leant to tell h im that his son is a scamp oj tnejirsi water." more, so that your debt amounted to $955; that the ten days passed without payment; that wanting money I press ed you and even resorted to a threat or two and that seeing me In earnest you swore that the dollars should be mine within five days; that instead of remaining in Boston to get them you came here and that this morning at a very early hour you telegraphed that the funds were to hand and that you would bring them down to me tomorrow. He may draw conclusions from this. Sutherland, which may make his position as your father anything but grateful to him. He may even Ah, you would try that game, would you?" The young man had flung himself at the older man's throat as if be would choke off the words he saw trembing on his lips. But the struggle thus be gan was short. In a moment both stood apart, panting, and Frederick, with lowered bead, was saying humbly: "I beg pardon. Wattles, but you drive me mad with your suggestions and conclusions. I have not got the money. but 1' will'try and get it ' Wait "here." 'Ten minutes. Sutherland. No lon ger!" .The moon is brie lit. and I can see

ti quarter to 10 I wui receive me money from jou here or seek it in your father's study." Frederick made a hurried gesture and vanished up the walk. The next moment he was at LU father's study door. "

CHAPTER XIII. A VTOilAX IX KIS TATH. Mr. Sutherland -ras busily engaged with a law paper when liis son entered his presence, but at sight of that son's face Le drepped the paper with an alacrity which Frederick was too much engaged with his own thoughts to notice. "Father," he began without preamble or excuse, "I am In serious and immediate need of $950. I want it so much that I ask you to make me a check for that amount tonight, conscious as I am that you have every right t deny me this request and that my debt to you already passes the bound of presumption on my part and indulgence on yours. I cannot tell you why I want it or for what. That belongs to my past life, the consequences of which I have not yet escaped, but itat you will not be the loser by this iterial proof of confidence in me 1 rfl bound to state, as I shall soon be in a position to repay all my debts. among which this will necessarily stand foremost." The old gentleman looked startled and nervously fingered the paper he had let fall. "Why do you say you will soon be In a position to repay me? What do you mean by that?" The flush which had not yet subsid ed from the young man's face ebbed slowly away as he encountered his fa ther's eye. "I , mean to work," he murmured "I mean to make a man of myself as soon as possible." The look which Mr. Sutherland gave him was more Inquiring than sympa thetic. "And you need this money for start," said he. Frederick bowed. lie seemed to be losing the faculty of speech. The clock over the mantel had told off five of the precious moments. "I will give it to you," said his fa ther, and he drew out his checkbook. But be did not hasten to open it. His eyes still rested on his son. "Now," murmured the young man "There is a train leaving soon. I wish to get It away on that train." His father frowned with natural dis trust. "I wish you would confide in me,' said be. Frederick did not answer. The hands of the clock were moving on. "1 will give it, but I should like to know what for." "impossible!" groaned the young man, starting as he heard a step on the walk without. "Your need has become strangely im perative," proceeded the other. "Has Miss Tage" Frederick took a step forward and laid his hand on his father's arm. "It Is not for her," he whispered. "It goes into other hands." Mr. Sutherland, who bad turned over the document as his son approached. breathed easier. Taking up bis pen he dipped It In the Ink. Frederick watch ed him with ever whitening cheek. The step on the walk had mounted to the front door. "Nine hundred and fifty?" inquired the father. "Nine hundred and fifty," answered the son. The Judge, with a last look, stooped over the book. The hands of the clock pointed to a quarter to 10. "Father, I have my whole future in which to thank you," cried Frederick, seizing the check bis father held out to him and making rapidly for the door. "I will be back before mid night." And be flung himself down stairs just as the front door opened and Wattles stepped in. "Ah!" exclaimed the latter as his eye fell on the paper fluttering in the otb er's hand, "I expected money, not pa per." "The paper is good," answered Fred' erick, drawing him swiftly out of the house. "It has my father's signature upon it." "Your father's signature?" "Yes." Wattles gave It a look, then slowly shook his head at Frederick. "Is it as well done," said he, "as the one you tried to pass off on Brady?" Frederick cringed and for a moment looked as if the struggle was too much for him. Then he rallied and eying Wattles firmly said: "You have a right to your distrust. but you are on the wrong track. Wattles. What I did once It would be im possible for me to do again, and I hope I may live to prove it. As for that check, I will soon prove Its value In your eyes. Follow me up stairs to my father." His energy the energy of despair no doubt seemed to make an impres sion on the other. "You nv'ght as well proclaim your self a forger outright as to force your father to declare this to be bis signature," he observed. "I know It." said Frederick. "Yet you will run that risk?" "If you oblige me." Wattles shrugged his shoulders. He was a magnificent looking man and towered in that old colonial hall like a youthful giant. . "I bear you no ill will." said he. "If this represents money. I am satisfied, and I begin to think It does. But listen. Sutherland. Something has happened to you. A week ago you would have put a bullet through my head before you would have been willing to have so compromised yourself. I think I know what that something Is. To aave yourself from being thought guilty of a big crime yon are willinglo Incur suspicion of a small one. It's a wise move, my boy, but look cut! No tricks with me or my friendship may not hold. Meantime I cash this check tomorrow." And he swung away through the night with a grand opera selection on his lips. Frederick looked like a man thoroughly exhausted when the final echo of this hateful voice died away on the hillside. For the last 20 hours he had been the prey of one harrowing emotion after another, and human nature could endure no more, but demanded rest. But rest would not come. The position In which he found himself between Amabel and the man who had just left was of too threatening a nature fov hkn dwell upon any thought

amrt tmr4it nMr,,

mm. rua.ug nimseir in ms room, ue sought a way of escape. But one presented Itself. It was a cowardly one, but anythiag was better than to stand his ground against two such merciless antagonists as had arisen In his path. So he resolved upen flight. Packing up a few necessaries and writing a letter, which he left on his table to be given to his father in the morning, he made his way down the stairs of the now darkened house to a door opening upon the garden. To his astonishment be found It unlocked, but giving little heed to this in his excitement he opened It with caution and. with a parting sigh for the sheltering home he was about to leave forever, stepped from the house he no longer felt worthy to inhabit.. His Intention was to take the train at rorchestcr. and that he might reach that place without inconvenient encounters he ha decided to make use as far as possible of the path throujrh the fields. This led him north and along the ridge that overlooks the road running around the base of the hills. But he d!d net think of this or Indeed of anything but to step on quickly, for it was too desirable for him to leave on the early morning train for him to forfeit this chance of doing this by any unnecessary lagging. But he was not destined to take that or any other train out of Porchester at present, for when he reached the fence dividing Mr. Sutherland's grounds

from those of his adjoining neighbor he saw drawn up in the moonlight just at the point where he had intended to leap the fence the form of a woman with one hand held out to stop him. It was Amabel. CHAPTER XIV. THE DAGGER THAT RILXEO AGATHA WEBB. Confounded by this check and filled with an anger that was nigh to dangerous, he fell back and then immediately sprang forward. "What are you doing here?" he cried. "Don't ycu know that It is 11 o'clock and that my father requires the house to be closed at that hour?" "And you," was her sole retort. "What are you doing here? Are you searching for flowers in the woods, and is that valise you carry the receptacle In which you hope to put your botanical specimens?" Writh a savage gesture he dropped the valise and took her fiercely by each shoulder. "Where have you hidden my money?" he hissed. "Tell me or" "Or what?" she asked, smiling into his face in a way that made him lose his grip. "Or or, I cannot answer for myself." he went on. stammering. "Do yon think I can endure everything from you because you are a woman? No; I will have those bills, every one of them, or show myself your master. Where are they, you incarnate fiend?" It. was an unwise word to use, but she did not seem to heed it. "Ah," she said softly and with a lingering accent, as If his grasp of her had been a caress to which she was not entirely averse. "I did not think yon would discover its loss so soon. When did you go to the woods, Frederick, and was Miss Halliday with you?" He had a disposition . to strike ber, bSt controlled himself. Blows would "VThere have you hidden my moneyr' hs hissed. not avail against the softness of this suave yet merciless being. Only a will as strong as her own could hope to cope with this smiling fury, whom he was more than ever determined never to marry. "A man does not need to wait long to miss his own." said be. "And If yoa have taken this money, which you do not deny, you have shown yourself very shortsighted, for danger lies clos er to the person holding the money than to the one you may vilify by your threats. This yon will find. Amabel, when you come to make use of the weapon with which yoa have thought to arm yourself." "Tut. tut!" was her contemptuous reply. "Do you consider me a child? Do I look like a babbling infant, Frederick?" Her face, which she had lifted to his in saying this, was so illumined, both by her smile, which was strangely en chanting for one so evil, and by the moonlight which so etherealizs all it touches, that he had to think of that other purer, truer, face be had left at the honeysuckle porch to keep down a last wild Impulse toward her, which would have been his undoing, both In this world and the next, as he knew. "Or, do I look simply like a woman?" she went on, seeing the impression she had made, and playing upon it. . "A woman who understands herself and you and all the secret perils of the game we are both playing? If I am a child, treat me as a child; but If I am a woman" "Stand out of my way!" he cried. catching up his valise and striding furiously by her. "Woman or child, yon shall know that I will not be your plaything to be damned in this world and the next!" "Are you bound for the city of de struction?" she -laughed, not moving. bnt showing such confident In her powerto 'jxbfA hiack that, he stop ped In spite of himself. "If so, you are taking the direct read there and have only to hasten. But you had better remaina yr father's house, even it Tab arajknaetbine? of &ziioar

tnere in company witn my very "insignificant self. The outcome will bo more satisfactory even if you hare to share it with me." "And what course will yon take," he asked, pausing with his band on the fence, "if I choose destruction without you rather than perdition with yon?" "What course? Why, I shall tell Dr. TaIoot just enough of what I know to prove you to be as desirable a witness in the impending Inquest as myself. The result I leave to your judgment. But you will not drive me to this extremity. You will come back and"t"Woman. I will never come back. I shall have to dare your worst In two weeks, aud I will begin by daring you now. I" But he did not leap the fence, though he made a move to do so, for at that moment a party of men came harrying by on the lower road, one of whom was heard to say: "I will bet my head that we will put our band on Agatha Webb's murderer tonight. The man who shoves $20 bills around so heedlessly should not wear a beard so long it leads to detection." It was the coroner, the constable, Knapp and Abel en route to the forest road on which lived John and James ZabeL Frederick and Amabel confronted each other and after a moment's silence turned as if by a common Impulse toward the house. "What have they got in their heads?" queried she. "Whatever it Is It may serve to occupy them till the two weeks of your probation have passed."

He did not answer. A new difficulty had entered bis already overcrowded life. Let us follow the party now winding up the hillside. In a deeply wooded spot on a side road stood a little house to which John and James Zabel had removed when their business on the docks had terminated. There was no other dwelling of greater or lesser pretension on that road, which may account for the fact that none of the persons now approaching It bad been In that neighborhood for years, though it was by no means a long walk from the village In which they all led such busy lives. The heavy shadows cast by the woods through which the road meandered were not without their effect upon the spirits of the three men passing through them, so that long before they reached the opening in which the Zabel cottage stood silence had fallen upon the whole party. Dr. Talbot especially looked as If he little relished this late Tisit to bis old friends and not till they caught a glimpse of the long, sloping roof and heavy chimney of the Zabel cottage did not shake off the gloom Incident to the nature of his errand. "Gentlemen," said he. coming to & sadden halt, "let us understand each other. We are about to make a call on two of our oldest and most respectable townsfolk. If In the coarse of tbst call I choose to make mention of the $20 bill left with Loton. well and good, but If not yoa are to take my reticence as proof of my own belief that they, had nothing to do with It" Two of the party bowed. Knapp only made no sign. "There Is no light In the window," observed Abel. "What If we find them gone to bed?" "We will wake them, said the eonstable. "I cannot go back without being myself assured that no more money like that given to Loton remains In this house." "Very well," remarked Knapp, and going up to the door before him he struck a resounding knock that was startling In that place of silence. But loud as the summons was It brought no answer. Not only the moonlighted door, but the little windows on each side of It remained shut, and there was no evidence that the knock had been beard. "Zabel! John Zabel!" shouted the constable, stepping around the side of the bouse. "Get up, my good friends, and let an old crony In. James! John! Late as it Is we have business with you. Open the door. Don't stop to dress." .But this appeal received no mor recognition than the first, and aftei rapping on the window against whicn be bad flung the words he came bsci and looked up and down the front of the house. It bad a solitary aspect and was much less comfortable looking than bs bad 'expected. TndeedT' "tnere" "wera signs of poverty or at least of neglect about the place that astonished him. Not only bad the weeds been allowed to grow over the doorstep, but from the unpainted front itself bits of board had rotted away, leaving great gaps about the window ledges and at the base of the sunken and well nigh toppling chimney. The moon flooding the roof showed , up all these Imperfections with pitiless Insistence, and the torn edges of the green paper shades that half concealed the rooms within were plainly to be seen as well as the dismantled knocker which hong by one nail to the old cracked door. The vision of Knapp, with his ear laid against this door, added to the forlorn and sinister aspect of the scene and gave to the constable, who remembered the brothers in their palmy days, when they were the life and pride of the town, a by no means agreeable sensation as he advanced toward the detective and asked him what they should do now. "Break down the door," was the uncompromising reply. "Or wait! The windows of country houses are seldom fastened. Let me see if I cannot enter by some one of them." "Better not." said the coroner, with considerable feeling. "Let us exhaust all other means first," And he took hold of the knob of the door to shake It, when to hi3 surprise it turned, and the door opened. It had not been locked. Rather taken aback by this, he hesitated. But Knapp showed no such, scruples. Without waiting for any man's permission be glided in and stepped cautiously, but without any delay. Into a room the door of which stood wide open before him. The constable was about to follow when he saw Knapp come stumbling back with a face whiter than his own. "Devilish work," he muttered and drew the othem In to see. (To Be Continued.) Start the New Year with a resolution to save something. One of Dickinson Trust Company's Savinas Banks will

help you. ' tl-U