CHAPTER XXVII.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7366, 18 January 1902, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XXVII.

SINGULAR COINCIDENCE.

Simon Dodge, our so-called "archaeologist." and curiosity hunter, .'omul himself very comfortable iv the neat lodgings which he had Jiired oi the Widow Davis.

lie made it in his way to be very agreeable to the blooming goodnatured matron, who kept his rooms .>o trim, prepared and ?erved his .i.t-a.> witn a daintines.- whioli was a 3 ileliylitl'ul us they were .ipxierising-.

And while she tripped in uiid out to wait upon him she proved to be ihe most sociable little "body iv the world, and reeled oft", as *he well kiiew how to do, all the l.atest gossip ut the towu.

She had been a resident of Welfleet for more than thirty years, was of an inquiring- turn ol" mind, and pos»cs>ed an excellent memory; consequently she had become a valuable repository of all the important events which had transpired during that time, while Mr Dodge appeared in no way averse to availing himself oi her superior knowledge.

. "1 am sure, Mrs Davis, 1 can't imagine how it happened that I was fortunate enough, for once, to drift into •Mich a cozy, comfortable home as you have made for me here," he remarked, one morning, as he sat down to his neatly-spread table, while his glance roved appreciatively over uhe .ttiaming. tempting array before him.

'"It isn't often, I'm sure," he added, as he sniffed his fragrant coffee, "that a poor, lonely 'old bach' falls into r-u oh srood hands as yours have proved ro be>

"Loi\ sir; you're very good to say so," responded the widow. castiug down her delighted eyes and blushing rosily; '"but I'm sure one couldn't help doing one's best to please a kind, pleasant-spoken gentleman like yourself."

>k Thank ye, thank ye, madam; but you do me much honour. You've been most kind, and I shall not forget it. Then you are so well posted about your charming city, and have given me r>o much information, that I find myself growing more and more interested in it and in the people who live here. Now. there's the Minor Canon — I call him a wonderful man. There's nothing 1 you can tell him, he's read up everything; and, then, he's •neh a clean, whole-souled man! His mother, too, Mrs Edmonds — a fine

woman, she is. Then, there's Mr u night, the organist, your other lodger — he's quite a character; but — a — pardon me. madam, but isn't he someuhat peculiar?" "Peouliar!" repeated Mrs Davis, as . not altogether comprehending the inquiry. She had known John Knight v.i long that his eccentricities, if he i.i us. did not seem such I o her. ""Ves; perhaps, though, it may have ojul- upon him since his trouble. But ,t strikes me that he is a — a little touched in the upper storey," said Mr Dodge, tapping his forehead signifi- I cantly. "Lor! no, sir,*' returned his landlady, in a very decided tone; "he has always been 'counted a very smart man, and the best music-master in j these parts; but, only between you and me, sir," .the widow added, in a low tone, and glancing around as if fearful that John Knight himself might be listening at the keyhole, "I don't mind saying- that I am afraid he has a very bad habit. I think he is given to opium eating. I'm sore [afraid it has grown on him since, poor .Mr Herbert disappeared so strangely. Uis heart was set on that boj *ir. Why, I've seen him sit and look at him all through service, when he wasn't at the organ, and" never take his eyes off him? seen him sit and •vatc'h him as a cat would watch a moiiFe. with that longing, steady look that showed he was bound up in him." "Yes, yes; I've noticad myself, .vat a cat always watches a mouse very longiiu iy, Mr Dodge assented dryly. "" b"Ob "O you think Mr Knight eats opium. Well, that is a bad habit, Mrs Davis," he concluded, thoug-ht-fully. Then, glancing" up at the clock, he exclaimed: "Bless me! it is nearly service time, and I shall have to hasten my operations or I shall be Tate, and you know T would not miss a service for three breakfasts: if 1 was able to go." Hastily dispatching his meal, he arose and went out. Outside the door he held up nis left hand and looked at it, spreading his lingers wide apart; then, with the forefinger of his right hand, he counted off four fingers, nodded his head two or three times, and passed on. He went directly to the cathedral, reaching it just as the chou*. arose to sing the opening anthem. He quietly stole into a seat behind a nuge pillar, where, havjng 1 settled himself comfortably, he gave his closest attention to the music, and seemed to be particularly Interested in the movements of the organist, regarding whom he had heard such strange news that morning. It was not long,however, before he became conscious of the presence of a stranger near hdm, sitting 1 only a few seats in front of him, and also screened by a pillar from the choir. It was a lady, slight, but beautifully formed, clad in a neatly-fitting black silk dress, with a lace mantle thrown about her shoulders. She wore a small, tasteful bonnet, with a blac*. lace veil tied over her face. She scarcely moved throughout tlie service, and Simon Dodge, strangely interested in her, noticed that she hardly took her eyes from the figure of John Knight. At the close of the service she stole out of the church very "uietly, and seemed anxious not to attract the notice of any one; ...ut in passing through the vestibule a button on i: • sleeve of Simon Dodge's coat became entangled in the fringe of her mantle, and she was obliged to stop in order to allow hir 1 to detach it. "Beg pardon, miss," he said, witii g. ut courtesy, "but when a man gets to be my age he is a clumsy iellow. Hope I've done no damage,' he concluded, as he freed the intruding button and glanced ruefully at the delicate garment she wore. "Oh, no, indeed," replies a sweet, clear voice; pray, do not be troubled," and she would have passed on, but liv still detained her. "Thank you, miss," he said, adding j inquiringly, "I think you must be a stranger here. I've not seen you at the service befor. Do you not consider our music' me?" "Very fine," she briefly replied, glancing uneasily around. "Our choir is called superior, and our master is considered somethingwonderful," Mr Dodge remarked, trying to get a better view of the face beneath that black lace veil. The lady bowed; but he noticed that the neatly-gloved hands which held her parasol trembled, while she seemed anxious to get awaj* from him. "I'm afraid," he went on, as if he wished to show her, a stranger, all proper attention, "we shall not be able to keep him much longer, and it would be a sad loss to the church; he does not seem well; grows poor and pale, and, they say, has queer spells. Perhaps you've heard about the tragedy which caused so much

excitement here lasL winter! Well, it was his nephew who was murdered, and I don't know as it is strange if he does have queer spells. However, this is hardly a proper subject "to discuss with a delicate lady, and she a stranger; you must excuse an ola man, and I won't detain you any longer." ' He lifted his hat, bowed deferentially, and turned away, but not before he had seen her shiver at his statement. The lady lost no time in making her exit, and did not look back once; if she had, she might have observed Simon Dodge sauntering idly after her, but, apparently, with no object in view save the enjoyment of the delightful morning air. She sped round a corner of the church towards the west side, and when he also turned in the same direction he saw her standing- in a drooping attitude before the " door which led down into the crypt, at which she was gazing- very intently, as if there were mysteries within it which she longed to unravel. But, as if some magnetic influence warned her that she was being observed, she turned quickly, looked back, and upon beholding Mr Dodge she gave a start of affright and moved on with a nervous tread. "There's no one down there belonging to her, of course," Mr Dodge muttered to himself, "for no one has been buried there during her day. Hum" he added, thoughtfully, "it may be that others besides myself are interested in archaeological research. Think I'll have to hunt up Cripple and have a look inside that musty old hole." He was about turning to retrace his steps when, upon second thought, he slipped down the stairs leading to the vaults and- carefully examined the door, having first assured himself that no one else was in sight. He stood there several minutes, and when he turned to ascend the steps again his foot overturned some of last year's leaves, which had collected there and become matted together from moisture and decay. Something white which lay underneath them caught his eye. He stooped and drew forth a handkerchief; it was old and ragged, was covered with mud' and mildew, and looked as if it had been there for months. Simon Dodge's blue eyes had a very strange expression in them as he smoothed it out and examined it with great care. A queer little chuckle escaped him when he discovered in one corner the initials "S. H." standing out plain and clear. As once before that day, he lifted his left hand, regarding it with a satisfied smile, and with the forefinger of his right hand counted off five. Then he folded that soiled piece of linen, put it carefully away in an inner pocket, ran up the steps with wonderful nimbleness for a man of his years, and walked briskly from the place. That afternoon Mr Dodge informed his landlady that he was going to run up to London on an errand, but would probably return by the next evening-, though she was to give herself no uneasiness if he did not present himself until the day after. Reaching the station he paced the platform until thc^train arrived, and c'id not enter a car until all ovher passengers were aboard; then he made his way to the door of a compartment, sfipped a fee into the hand of the guard, who immediately unlocked the door and allowed him to enter. He found only one person within, and appeared somewhat surprised upon discovering his companion to be the young stranger whom he had met in the cathedral that morning. lie merely acknowledged her presence by a courteous bend of the head, then settled himself as if for a comfortable nap, pulling his hat over his eyes to exclude the light. But it was so arranged that he could watch every movement of his companion; and she, thrown off her guard by his seeming indifference, gave herself up to the sad reflections which appeared to possess her. She pushed up her veil, revealing a face of great beauty; large grey-blue eyes, which struck him as being very sad. He watched her thus for half an hour; then arousing- himself he sat erect, wiped the perspiration from his forehead, remarking in a casual way: "It's a warm day, miss." . "It is, rather," she briefly replied. "Ever been in Welfleet before?" Mr Dodge questioned, with the freedom of an old man. "Yes, sir." "Friends living there?" "No, sir," and he saw the quick colour settle in either cheek. "It's a charming- little city. Don't you think so?" She bowed her head; but a shiver ran over her in spite of the heat. ' (To be continued.)