The House of the Whispering Pines

; a finder out

ye can stamp

gh true advanta

A devili

he

ack at the long, low building he had just left, with its tall chimneys and rows of sightless windows, half hidden, half revealed by the encroaching pines. The mystery

ow their heads came together as their garrulous tongues repeated the tale, which would never grow old to them until age

ng before a certain window. “They were peering into that room long before Clarke stole the glimpse whi

oner who had indirectly speeded this young detective on his present course, have read his thoughts and rightly estimated the force of his purpose, would he have viewe

them all; the faces of the men, the gestures of the women; but he did not show any special interest till he came to that portion of the road where the long line of half-buried fences began to give way to a few scattered houses. Then his spirit woke, and be became quick, alert, and persuasive. He entered houses; he talked with the people. Though evidently not a dissipated man, he stopped at several saloons, taking his time

ded on it. But Sweetwater showed no impatience, and proceeded to engage the attention

ncovered head in an open doorway, peering up the street in anxious expectation of some one not yet in sight. He liked the air and well-kept appearance of the woman; he appreciated the neatness of the house at her back and g

aspect quite out of keeping with the locality in which she lived, and he was hesitating how to proceed, when fortune favoured him by driving ag

lessed his lucky stars. He was at his best with children, and catching the little fellow up, he soothed and fondled him and finally brought him w

ll-kept house. He wanted to show it to her, but it was too cold a day for her to stop outside. Wouldn’t she allow him to step in and

this laughter, echoed by the child and in another instant by the mother, made everything so pleasant for th

e and I’m afraid he won’t care much about contrivanc

nd was in his pocket

band? Do you often stand in the

would have embarrassed the most venturesome

her favourable impression of him, “how much I would give if you had been standing the

he great shops hard by; but her jaw fell at this, and she forgot to chide

rayed that the husband might be detained, if only for five min

And you did see that horse and cutter.

steps and dragging the child with her. “Sa

and cutter which left The Whispering Pines at ten or half past ten that night, then i

stand in the doorway, unobtrusive, but patiently waiting for her to speak. The steaming kettles and the table set for dinner gave warning of

t length. “You have not to

n you. I am a detective on the look-out for evidence in the case I have just mentioned. I have a theory that a most important wi

r skillfully applied, would have served him with this woman so well as this simple statement, followed by its equally simple and direct inquiry. Scrutinising him ove

strike the hour. Afraid that he would come before they were baked, I thrust the pan into the oven and ran to the front door to look out. It was snowing very hard, and the road looked white and empty, but as I stood there a horse and cutter came in sight, which, as it reached the gate, drew up in a great hurry, as if something was the matter. Frightened, because I’m always thinking of harm to my husband whose work is very dangerous, I ran out bare-headed to the gate, when I saw why the man in the sleigh was ma

imax. Then, as she showed no signs of saying more, as

u recognis

ort but as candid

e wore a high collar, in which his he

the h

night. I couldn’t somehow. But if it will save a man’s life and make clear who killed that good woman, ask any one on the Hill, in what stable you can find

Was the hat what folks call a derby? Like this one, mad

d I didn’t do it any good by my handling. I had to clutch it quick and I

for the door, but stopped, all

white with flour,” she explained, simply. “But tha

o the little urchin who had been his means of introduction to this possi

straightforward reply; an

ming down the hill when Sweetwater left the gate. As this detective of ours was as

wonderful contrivance of mine t

n at his own gate with the air of

. Stopping in his good-humoured way, he entered into talk with a man loiterin

y horse

s,

— has a patch of black

es

curiosity about the horse.

pectable family. A family you must have heard about if y

?” exclaimed Sweetwate

s. I thought you might

’ve hea

eart was dancing like a feather. The next turn he took wa