ger than did some of the
others, the colonel thought. Did he hope that some spirit of the poor,
murdered woman might still be lingering there, to whisper to him what
he sought to learn?

"Who is that man?" asked Colonel Ashley of Mr. Kettridge, who had often
come to the shop during the holiday seasons to help Mrs. Darcy.

"Oh, that's Mr. Grafton."

"Mr. Grafton? Who is he?"

"Aaron Grafton, one of Colchester's best and wealthiest citizens. He
owns the Emporium."

"That big department store?"

"Yes. He has built it up from a small establishment. I have known him
a number of years, and he knew Mrs. Darcy quite well. He often has
purchased diamonds here, though he is not married, and I don't know
that he is engaged--rather late in life, too, for him to be considering
that."

"Oh, well, you never can tell," and the colonel smiled.

"So that is Aaron Grafton!" he mused. "Well, Mr. Grafton, in spite of
the well known reputation you bear, I think you will stand a little
watching. I must not neglect the smallest clew in a case like this.
Yes, decidedly, I think you will bear watching!"

For at that moment the merchant, after another round of the store,
seeking for something it seemed he could not find, turned and hurried
out, a much-troubled look on his face. Colonel Ashley followed.

CHAPTER VII

THE COLONEL IS SURPRISED

"This," said Colonel Ashley to himself, as he glided rapidly along the
street, "is very much like old times--very much! I never expected to
do any shadowing again. What's that Walton says about man proposing
and Providence disposing? Or was it Walton? I must look it up.
Meanwhile--"

Continuing his musing, and with a satisfied smile on his face, a smile
that might indicate that the colonel was not so very much averse to
giving over his fishing for the time being to take up his profession
once more, he followed Aaron Grafton as the merchant left the jewelry
store.

"I wonder," mused the colonel, "what his object was in coming to the
Darcy place, and nosing around as he did? There must have been some
object. A man such as he is doesn't do things like that for fun. And
it wasn't mere curiosity, either. If it was, he'd have been at the
place before, when the evidences of the crime were there to be stared
at by those who care for such things.

"And that Aaron Grafton hasn't been there since I was forced into this
thing, I'm positive. For I _was_ forced into it," grumble