This fact was attested by the occasional strips of
pasteboard, on which were marked various descriptions of papers, as well
as by bits of red tape that had secured the bundles.
Dalhousie perceived that the labyrinth he was engaged in exploring had
not been the labor of the former owner of Bellevue, and he was perplexed
to understand why Jaspar had taken such apparent pains to disarrange
them. But Jaspar did have a motive; he had produced the disorder in his
careless search for any paper which might be evidence against him. So
heedlessly, however, had he ransacked the drawers, that, if any such
were there, they must have escaped his notice. He was too much excited
to do the work with the attention his own safety demanded.
Dalhousie continued to examine the papers, and Jaspar still trembled
lest something might turn up which would give the overseer a
confirmation of the opinions he had expressed at Vicksburg. Still Jaspar
had not the courage to undertake the task himself. He allowed the
overseer to perform it, in the very face of the danger he wished to
escape.
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