The Doemville
Academy, mysteriously fired, first fell a victim to the devouring
element. The candy shop and cigar store, both holding heavy
liabilities against the academy, quickly followed. By the lurid
gleams of the flames, a long, low, sloop-rigged scow, with every
mast gone except one, slowly worked her way out of the mill-dam
towards the Sound. The next day three boys were missing--C. F.
Hall Golightly, B. F. Jenkins, and Bromley Chitterlings. Had they
perished in the flames who shall say? Enough that never more under
these names did they again appear in the homes of their ancestors.
Happy, indeed, would it have been for Doemville had the mystery
ended here. But a darker interest and scandal rested upon the
peaceful village. During that awful night the boarding-school of
Madam Brimborion was visited stealthily, and two of the fairest
heiresses of Connecticut--daughters of the president of a savings
bank, and insurance director--were the next morning found to have
eloped. With them also disappeared the entire contents of the
Savings Bank.
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