A moment later she heard the heavy door shut, after which the same tomb-like stillness settled over all. She lay a long time listening and wondering, but heard nothing more, and finally fell asleep.
When she opened her eyes in the morning, the night's experience was upon her mind, and continued a puzzle which she could not satisfactorily explain. She questioned her father, and found that he had not risen from his bed after bidding them good night. He was not a somnambulist, so that it was impossible that the stealthy footsteps should have been his.
It was equally out of the question that Dr. Avery or Harkins was the intruder. She was, therefore, forced to the reluctant conclusion that it was Luchman, whose business it was impossible to imagine, though she could not doubt that it was perfectly proper.
And yet it was not Luchman.
CHAPTER XXX.
THE LAST RESORT.
Marian Hildreth committed a serious mistake in not making known the strange occurrence of the night before. Had she told of it, the history of the succeeding few days would have been wholly changed.
But the rest remained in ignorance, and the young lady herself never dreamed of the true explanation.
The morning brought the awful shock of the death of George Harkins. Father, mother and daughter wept and mourned him deeply, for he had endeared himself to all by his nobility of nature.
"We will bury him," said Dr. Avery, when all were present, excepting Luchman, who remained at his post.