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THE MYSTERY OF AGATHA WEBB. By Anna Katharine Green, Jivtlu i <>.) "7Lc LaivcuwMh Cu-e," "Dixt Mun'x Lr,vr," "Hand and Iliim," Htc., Lie. OOPYIMOHT, l'.»lO, m ANN V KATMAKISEORKrW. i *f rar. down tin* hill recltlessl}’. 1 on my oituiuI and not at all iS.ezhl of tin* dark. When 1 readied |>nrt of the road where the streets :iiich olT, 1 heard footsteps in front rf Die. 1 had overtaken some one. •'4s»rltenlns my pace so that 1 should rpass this person, whom 1 instinc- t~~-ry-ty kiH*w to be a man. 1 followed '.mi till 1 eame to a hit'll hoard fence. , rxrj; that surrounding Agatha Webb’s t uai.Mte. and when 1 saw it 1 could not AiWy comu'cting the rather stealthy of the man in front of me with a i «.>.»?• had lately heard of the large of money she was known to have ! w to-*T bouse. Whether this was before jr tfij r this person disappeared round ; ■ Tv corner 1 cannot say. but no sooner | . icni s become certain that he was bent x|}4^n entering this house than my im- , wiY.*' to follow him became greater '.him my precaution, and, turning aside Y- ; |pf WA. 17, il; 1 ! %L t, ,i f I ■ ; >\x 1 1 '. N =<4^ .1 &mccr rvorn by yen at the Ounce teas j tound near tUitxy'x nhlrtH.” he direct path to the Zabels’, 1 i jnu-iiisl down High street Just in time ! :a •«'** the man enter Mrs. Webb’s front -rgaf cxvay. was a late hour for visiting; but, ■:.* ti.’.e house had lights In both its low- ] -<'-raivl upper stories. 1 should by good 1 -hrh's have taken it for granted that he | f'wx* •m expected guest and gone my ' vati way to the Zabels’. Hut 1 did not. I r*v softness with which this person | <rr jvp-.'d and the skulking way in which •i>- beaitnted at the front gate aroused i >v*, worst fears, and after he had open- | *G5 Tliat gate and slid in 1 was so pur- 1 =r*;w<} liy tin* idea that he was there for i Jtr thii; i supped inside the gate and took my stand in the deep Wa ji/W cast by the old pear tree on 'jo? riglit hand side of the walk. Did .-me speak?” T3'. re was u unanimous denial from live gentlemen before her, yet she I ii?. not look satisl’n d. • "1 thought 1 heaid some one make r. ! rv»y»jfi\rk.” she said and paused again • * .(.g a half mlinue. during which her •ssYie was a study. It was so cold and -ueh startling eontrast to the vivid fSurmrs she threw everywhere except ■el., id her on the landing where Fred- 1 ■ -* .*■’/. stood listening to her every word. •We are very much interested.” re- r'ctrWed Mr. Courtney. •’Fray go on.” i 'rawing her left hand from the hal- UiOr ole where i had rested, she looked of her lingers with an odd buck- TTwrvl gesture. 'i will,” she said, and her tone was and tin* awning. “Five minutes, jix longer, passed when 1 was startled . ry a loud and terrible cry from the -•oms *. and, looking up at the second -•2s> y window, from which the sound ; .'-vw- eded. 1 saw a woman’s figure Auaging out in a seemingly pulseless •mulii ion. Too terrilied to move, I g. trembling, to the tree, hearing aan! not hearing the shouts and laugh- * ii.'r of a dozen or more men who at that xiiume passed by the corner on their 3vi> to the wharfs. I was dazed, i ■ choking, and only came to myself vfMm sooner or later. I do not know soon or how late, a fresh horror uaypened. The woman whom I had - r 3s4 seen fall almost from the window vt?A a serving woman, but when 1 j.Arm'd another sen am I knew that the ■r. -i.vss of the house was being at- wi? v»i*<l, and, riveting my eyes on those vivdows, I beheld the shade of one of thrown hack and a hand appear. Trsgiwg out something which fell iu 'In*' grass on the opposite side of the f m'wn. Then the shade fell again, and. scaring nothing further. I ran to where object flung out had fallen and. * cerJtng for It, found and picked up an •iti fashioned dagger, dripping with Ami]. Ilorritied beyond all expression. liropped the weapon and drew hack. fl*Aai>llng, Into my former place of con- ■wsfcmont. "ii&ut I was not satisfied to remain Here. A curiosity, a determination •w*. to see the man who had eommlt- this dastardly deed attacked me •w’tk such force that I was Induced to <r*rt*»«r my hiding place and even to ch at I be house where In all probability ttus counting the gains he bad Just *ata!t>ed at the price of such precious v<•»«*]. The door, which he had not i»rfi***tly closed behind him, seemed «j ilnrlte me In, and lm*fore I had real- r*n} my own temerity I was standing w rh«* hall of this 111 fated house.” TJw* interest which up to this moment m»l lh*en breathless now expressed It- #*f in hurried ejaculation* and broken mini*, and Mr. Sutherland, who had '•Coned like or e n a dream, exclnltned Msptrfy and In a tone which proveil . *Vu»t tie for the moment at least be- Aiotod this more than Improbable tale; ’"Tijen_ yop cau tell us If, IMii!ein«*n was in the little room at the moment when you entered the house?” As every one there present realized the Importance of this question, a general movement took place, and each and all dr*w nearer as she met their eyes and answered placidly; “Yes; Mr. Webb was sitting In a chair asleep. He was the only person I saw.” “Oh. I know he never committed this crime.” gasped bis old friend, in a re lief so great that one and all seemed to share it. “Now I have courage for the rest On on. Miss Page.” Hut Miss Page paused again to look at her Huger and give that sidewise toss to her head that seemed so un called for by the situation to any who did not know of the compact between herself and the listening man below. ”1 hate to go back to that moment." said she. “for when I saw the candles burning on the table and the husband of the woman above sitting there in unconscious apathy I felt something ri?" in my throat that made me death ly sick for a moment. Then I went right in where he was and was about to shake his arm and wake him when l detected a spot of blood on my finger from the dagger I had handled. That gave me another turn and led me to wipe off my Huger on his sleeve." “It’s a pity you did not wipe off your slippers, too,” murmured Sweetwater. Again she looked at him; again her eyes opened in terror upon tl** face of this man. once so plain and insignifi cant in her eyes, but now so filled with menace she inwardly quaked before it. for all her apparent scorn. “Slippers,” she murmured. “Did not your feet pass through that blood in the grass, as well as your hands?” She did not answer. She held him possibly in too much scorn. “I have accounted for the blood on my hand." she said, not looking at him. but at Mr. Courtney. "If there is any on my slippers, it can be account ed for in tbc same way.” And she rapidly renewed her narrative. “I had no sooner made my little Huger clean— I never thought of any one suspecting the old gentleman—when I heard steps on the stairs ami knew that the mur derer was coming down and in an other instant would pass the open door before which I stood. “Though 1 had been courageous enough up to that minute, I was seized by a sudden panic at the prospect of meeting face to face one whose hands were perhaps dripping with the blood of his victim. To confront him there and then might mean death to me, and I did not want to die. but to live, for I am young, sirs, and not without a prospect of happiness before me. So I sprang back. and. seeing no other place of concealment In the whole bare room, crouched down in the shadow of the man you call Philemon. For one. two minutes. 1 knelt there In a state of mortal terror, while the feet descended, paused, started to enter the room v. here 1 was. hesitated, turn ed and finally left the house.” “Miss Page, wait, wait.” put in the coroner. “You saw him. You can tell who this man was?" The eagerness of this appeal seemed to excite her. A slight color appeared In her cheeks and she took a step for ward. but before the words for which they so anxiously waited could leave her lips, she gave a start and drew hack with an ejaculation which left a more or less sinister echo in the ears of all who heard it. Frederick had just shown himself at the top of tin* staircase. “Good morning, gentlemen.” said he, advancing iuto their midst with an air "For one, two minutes 1 knelt therein a state o) mortal terror.” whose unexpected manliness disguised his inward agitation. “The few words I have just heard Miss Page say are of so important a nature I find it im possible not to join you.” Amabel, upon whose lips a faint com placent smile had appeared as he step pod by her, glanced up at these words iu secret astonishment at the Indiffer ence they showed aud then droppinl her eyes to his hands with an intent gaze which seemed to affeM him un pleasantly, for he thrust them imme diately lM*hiud him, though he did not lower his head or lose Ids air of deter mination. "Is my presence here undesirable?” be inquired with a glance toward his father. Sweetwater looked as If he thought. It was. but he did not presume to say anything, and. the others being too In- terested iu tin* developments of Miss Page’s story to waste any time on lesser matters, Frederick remained, greatly to Miss Page’s evident satis faction. "Did you see tills man’s face?" Mr. Courtney now broke iu In urgent in quiry. Her answer came slowly after an other long look iu Frederick's direc tion. "No, 1 did not dare to make the ef fort. I was obliged to crouch too close to tin* floor. 1 simply heard ids foot steps." “See now,” muttered Sweetwater t but m so low a tone she did not hear turn. “She condemns herself. There isu't a woman living who would fail to look up under those circumstances even at the risk of her life." Knapp seemed to agree with him, but Mr. Courtney, following Ids one Idea, pressed Ids former question, saying: “Was It an old Man's step?” "It was not an agile one.” "And you did not catch the least glimpse of the ma.i's face or figure?” "Not a glimpse.” “So you are in no position to Identify him ?” "If by any chance I should hear those same footsteps coming down a flight of stairs. I think I should he able to rec ognize them," she alh wed iu the sweet est tones of her command. "She knows It is too late for liet to hear those of the two dead Zabels.” growled the man from Poston. “We are no nearer the solution of tills mystery than we were iu the be ginning.” remarked the coronet. “Gentlemen. I have not yet finished my story.” Amabel sweetly intimated. “Perhaps what 1 have yet to tell may give you some clew as to who this man was.” “Ah. yes. Go on. go on. You have not yet explained how you came to be in possession of Agatha’s money.” “Just so,” she answered, with an other quick look at Frederick, the last she gave him for some time. “As soon. then, as I dared I ran out of the house into the yard. The moon, which had been under a cloud, was now shin ing brightly, and by Its light 1 saw that tiie space before me was empty and that I might venture to enter the street. But before doing so I looked about for the dagger I bad thrown from me before going in. But 1 could not find it. It had been picked up by the fugitive and carried away. An noyed at the cowardice which had led mo to lose such a valuable piece of evi dence through a purely womanish emo tion, I was about to leave the yard when my eyes fell on the little bundle of sandwiches which I had brought down from the hill and which I had let fail under the pear tree at the first scream I had heard from the house. It had burst open, and two or three of the sandwiches lay broken on the ground. But those that were Intact I picked up. and. being more than ever anxious to cover up by some ostensible errand my absence from the party. I rushed away toward the lonely road where these brothers lived, meaning to leave such fragments as remained on ! the old doorstep, beyond which I had been told such suffering existed. “It was now late, vety late, for a girl like myself to be out. but under the excitement of what I had just seen and heard I became oblivious to fear and rushed into those dismal shadows as into transparent daylight. Perhaps tin* shouts and stray sounds of laughter that came up from the wharfs where a ship was getting under way gave me a certain sense of companionship. Perhaps—but it is folly for me to di late upon my feelings; it is my errand you are interested in and what hap peued when I came up to the Zabels' dreary dwelling." The look with which she paused, os tensibly to take breath, hut iu reality tu weigh aud criticise the looks of those about her, was one of those wholly in describable ones with which she was accustomed to control the judgment of men who allowed themselves to watch too closely the ever changing expres sion of her weird yet charming face. Hut it fell upon meu steeled against her fascinations, and. realizing her in ability to move them, she proceeded with her story before even the most anxious of her hearers could request her to do so. “I had come,” said she, “very quietly along the road, for my feet were light ly shod, and the moonlight was too bright for me to make a misstep. I^ut as I cleared the trees and came into the open place where the house stands I stumbled with surprise at seeing a figure crouching on the doorstep I had anticipated finding as empty as the road. It was an old man’s figure, and as I paused in my embarrassment he slowly aud with great feebleness rose to liis feet and began to grope about for the door. As in* did so I heard a sharp, tinkling sound, as of something metallic falling on the doorstoue. and. taking a quick step forward, I looked over his shoulder and saw iu the moon light at his feet a dagger so like the one I had lately handled iu Mrs. Webb’s yard that I was overwhelmed with astonishment aud surveyed the aged and feeble form of t\ie man who had dropped it with a sensation diffi cult to describe. The next moment he was stooping for the weapon with a startled air that has impressed itself distinctly upon my memory, aud when, after many feeble attempts, he suc ceeded iu grasping it he vanished into the house so suddenly that I could not be sure whether he had seen me stand ing there or not. This story will be continued in the Friday edition of The Ledger until its conclusion. No InimMllHte Plana A Ledger representative yesterday asked Mr. Cal Parish if he intended to rebuild his hotel at Yorkville. and he replied that he bad not yet bad time to determine what to do. The blow was a sudden and severe one for Mr. Parish His family, however, have mov»-d into what was known as the Three C’s hotel and are i now doing a hotel business there Nothing of any cansequeuce was euved from the burned building by Mr. Parish, A Cnril of Ttittiik*. Khitok Lkpokk :—Please allow m« j ^pace in your paper to acknowledge receipt of #1 00 for the Orphans from Petit Jurors, of Cherokee county, and to expres** thanks for same. Yours truly, A. T Jamison. Hup’t. Connie Maxwell Orphanage. (Ly. THE OFFSPRING OF HEREDITARY BLOOD TAINT. Scrofula is but a modified fortn^pf Wood Poison and Consumption. The parent who is tainted by i .ther will see in thi child the same disease manifesting itself in the form of swollen glands of the* neck and throat, catarrh, weak eyes, offensive sores and abscesses and of tentimes white swell ing-sure signs oi — Scrofula. There m-oyw/Cr be no external signs for / D* a long time, for the disease develops slowly in some cases, hut the noison is in the blood and will break out at the first favor- able opportunity. S. S. S. cures this wast ing, destructive disease by first purifvin • and building up tile blood aud stimulatin': and invigorating the whole system. J. M. Seals, 115 Public Square, Nashville,Tenn.. says : "Ten years ago my daughter fell aud cu* her forehead. From this wound the glands oc the side of her face becamt swollen and bursted Some of the best doctors here aud clsewheie attended her without any benefit. We decided to try S. S. S., aud a few bottles cured her en tirely.” makes new and pure blood to nourish and strengthen the body, and is a positive and safe cure for Scrofula. It overcomes all forms of blood poison, whether inherited or acquired, and no remedy so thoroughly and effectively cleanses the blood. If you have any blood trouble, or your child has inherite some blood taint, take S. S. S. and ge» the blood in good condition and prevent the disease doing further damage. Send for our free book and write out physicians about your case. We make no charge whatever for medical advice. THE SWIFT SPECIFIC CO., ATLANTA. GA. COCAINE*”” WHISKY Habits Cured at my Sanator ium, In 80 days. Hundreds of references. 25 years a specialty-. Book on Home Treatment sent FUEK. Address B. M. WOOLLEY. M. D» Atlanta. Ga. SEST FOR THE IS yev •'.aven't a rrcular, healthy movement of the •oirela every day, you’re ill or will . Keep your .r vels open, un<l b« well. Force, in the shape ot vio- s .t hyticor pill poison, Is daniterous. The smooth i< *a.*;est, most perfect way of keeping '.he bowels .—«i md clean isle take CANDY CATHARTIC EAT 3 EM LIKE CANDY t'kbASant, Palatable, Potent. Taste flood, poiiood, »»<ir liieki-n. Weaken, nt .Iripe, 10, and f>-> cents •e- d*k. Write i »r free sample, and booklet on Address c’3 • •"rYU.IMl UKUrilY COMPANY, (lilt Add or SW YOUK. KEEP YOUR BLOOD GLEAN rr THE WORLD’S GREATEST FEVER MEDICINE. For all forms of fever take John son’s Chill and Fever Tonic 1; is 100 times better than quinine a.iul does in a single day what slow mii- nine cannot do in 10 days. It’s splendid ( tires are in .-tlrlk*nj< con tras i to the feeule cuius made by quinine. f! Costs 50 Cents If It Ceres. * THIS IS THE RANGE That Baked the Buiscuit that Took The Prize at Our Contest. A GRAND SUCCESS That’s what all who were present voted the contest to be. Weren’t the biscuit delicious? ALL PRAISE BE GIVEN to the big, roomy, white enamel lined Buck’s Oven. The handsomest and most economical Stove made. mzzmnn. We are still in the lead with “Leader Stoves and Ranges," which are sold under a positive guarantee, and hundreds of cus tomers in this town and county will bear us out in saying, “There is none better made.” Come and let us fit you up with one. We have sizes to suit everybody, mid prices are very low. SHUFORD & LEMASTER. lyon’s French Periodical Drops Strictly vegetable, perfectly harmless, sure to accomplish - T S. Great DESIRED RESLIL1 Greatest known female remedy. Beware of counterfeits an<1 imitations. The genuine Is put up only In paste-board Car* «£K«>eSLn inn with fae-slniilc signature on side of tM bottle, thus: , c, i, ^ Bend for Circular to WILLIAMS MFC. CO.. Sole Agents, Cleveland,Ohio. -^3"— For sale by Cherokee Drug Co. Dyspepsia Cure Digests what you cat. This preparation contains all of the digestants and digests all kinds of food. It gives instant relief and never fails to cure. It allows you to eat all the food you want. The most sensitive stomachs can take it. By its use many thodsands of dyspeptics have been cured 'ifter everything else failed. It is unequalled for all stomach troubles. It can't help but do you good Prepared only by E. 0. lirWirr A<»., Chicago The |1. bottle containsZH times the 50c. size. GOOD’ HEALTH by the Quart Every bottle you take of Johnston’* Sarsaparilla means better health, and every bottle contains a full quart. It makes better blood—purer blood. For thirty years this famour, remedy has been creating and malo* talning good health. Johnston’s Sarsaparilla builds up the system, tones the nerves, and strengthens the muscles more promptly and effectually than any other remedy known. The pallor of the cheek disappears, energy takes the place of languor, aud the rich color of health Hows to thecheeks. Unequalled for all disorders of the stomach and liver, and for all weakening com plaints of men, women and children. S.I4 .t.rywWr*. PrlM, *1.00 »*r fall qa.rt Itottto. MICHIGAN DRUG CO.. • Detroit, nich. For Bte by Cmopiiny *H'»r'* OulTnuy Mf*f. C’o uiift; *j, r». U. inter Will Soon be Upon Us and our departments in our large storeroom is filled with nice, clean and up-to-date, Dry Goods, Notions, Shoes, and Gents’ Furnishing Goods. Look at these prices. We do not handle seconds. These prices are for cn-di only : 25 yds good Calico for $1 00 or 4 c per yd 20 yds good Ginghams for 1 00 or 5 c per yd 16 yds good Canton Flannel for 1 00 or O.Vc per yd 20 yds good Cotton Checks for 1 00 or 5 c per yd 14 yds good Best Cheviots for 1 00 or 7 c per yd 18 yds good 4-4 Sheeting, Heavy, for 1 00 or 6 c per }’d 14 yds good -1-4 Bleaching . Baker Mills, for,. 1 00 or Tic per yd 20 yds good Outing, good quality, for 1 00 or 5 c per yd We carry a full line All Wool Jeans. Also many makes of All Wool Blankets fresh from the factory. We al-o sell groceries in the same proportion that we sell dry goods, notions and shoes. Here are a few prices ; 4lM» white sacks (100 lbs in sack) salt at GOc per sack. 12 lbs. good coffee at $1.00. Flour, $1.75, $1.90, $2.00 and $2.25. We invite everybody to come and see and examine our stock. Very Respectfully, J. C. Lipscomb & Bro. 1st. The Choicest Fahrics, Patterns and Styles To be found in our stock of Fall and Winter Clothing. 2d. The most popular patterns worn during the coming Fall and Winter season will be rather quiet in effect but noted for good taste and quiet elegance. 3d. The always-popular Sack Suit will, of course, be the most worn of any style, and we have a beauti ful showing in warm Cheviots, serviceable Cassimers and handsome, dressy Worsteds. 4th. We have only such garments as are thor oughly reliable and they have our reputation behind each and every one. We want every man who can to come to our store and see how the clothes he wears should look. We have selected carefully; have a large stock for you to choose from, and we have some pattern or style that will suit or please you. We take special pains to fit the hard-to-fit. No matter how tall, how short or how hard you are to fit we can fit you. The Company Store. R. 0. SAMS-Real Estate Agency. ;iu choice building lot!. In <!lffVi*«*nl purtn of thr rlty v 4 furtn* of 5n act vm each nour l.lnicttloue. A trncu on Mi-tiil roitd. A few of the ThouiNon lota not yet Mold. No better i>ulldln« Iota anywhere.