The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1876-12-01

F
she had watched over the sick bed of Mrs.
HaFens, the daughter Of the murdered
man, and the only living being who could
absolutely prove AlIan's innocence-how
her patients condition Auctuated for
months, growing better and then worse,
and then better again, and finally how she
entirely recovered and rewarded the young
wite's devotion, BY giving testimony which
in the eye Of the law wholly clearsd him
from the shadow Of suspicion. TEen she
added
Mr.. Burns, there is something else that
I want to tell you, although it may not be
ofany such importance as / have thought
it. One Of the most mysterious things
about the murder was the want ofany clue
/ to the real murderer-it seemed absolute
/ " a dead secret but interested as have
been, both heart and mind in this dread
full affair, ! have, naturally, noted some
things that to others would have had no
Significance. In talking over all the pos
sibilties Of the case with Mrs. Iavens,
with whom became intimately acquainted
during her illness, / learned that Mr. Lor-
ings chief objection to her marriage with
4 Mr.. Havens lay in the fact that be had
promised her hand to Mr. WarfeId, Jun
ior member of the firm, admitted withia
the past two years, and, till then, d strang-
er in L. Mr. Wame]d had, apparent-
y, great influence with Mr.. Loring and
was passicnately in love with Mrs Havens
then Miss Loring. The young lady was /
not merely indifferent 10 the suitor select
ed by her father, but absolutely hated him,
and took no pains to conceal the fact Mr.
Warfeld persecuted her with his atten-
tons, nevertheless; and on one occasion /
when she told him bitterly how disa2reea-
bic he was to her, and that he need never
hope to gain her consent to marry him, he
retorted that he had her fathers consent,
and that was better-for it is as much as
his life is worth, said the persistent suitor,
for him to break faith with me-and you
dare not disobey him.
''It was Immediately after this converse
tion that Miss Loring eloped and became
the wife Of Mr. Hayens 1r. Warfeld be-
haved like a maniac onssdnding that he had
lost his bride; and Mr.. Loring was in des
pair over his daughters elopemeat"
4 suppose my face showed my admiration
Of this little woman's shrewdness in seiz-
ing on all these facts and putting them TO-
gether. She flushed Up and said
"Do you think there's anything inlt Mr..
Burns ?"
"Ma'am, | think you would be a credit
to the force if you would join us-but, in
course, that ism. i your line. But with your
very valuable assisse..ce, ma am, / think [
can work up this case IN a way 10 satisfy
you $
20 Mr.. Burns, if you can do that I feel '
will owe you more than my life, and you
will see that can be substantially CRATE !
full" /
"Not another word Of that, ,ma'am-itll
be a pleasure to work for q lady like ysu. !
One or two questions if you please-this
" arfeld, don't know him at all-has he i
left the place2" a
20 no he is now the principle in the i
oank.
"Ah, Thought so-sbrewd. If he had a
LEFT the place it would have oocasioned re-
mark, and perhaps suspicion"
Mrs. Allan now rose, and I said nothing
to detain her further. ] was already busy !
ing my brain with all she had told me f
and Notwithstanding my admiration Of her 8
ma my interest in her, was right glad to Q
1e alone. So I saw her to the front door,
md promised to let her know as soon as / i
lad any intelligence worth talking of. By a
his time change Of air and quinine had !
lone good deal for me and was feeling a
pretty hearty. By a series Of inquiries I i
ound out in slow and apparently care
ess manner,where Mr.. Warfeld lived, and :
lso about the internal economy Of his !
He was still unmarried and
,epta bachelor establishment. supemntend-
d BY young and good-looEiog house !
only one Of his servants who J
eemed fixture il the house; for the !,
nder domestics never staid more than a +.
month; and i was easy to understand why !,
he housekeeper held her place, for it was ]
reported that she hoeed in time :
D become tie wife Of her master | had !,
'ue Of my little plans on hand and as !,
learned that q kind ofgardener and gen /.
raj male servant was required in the War )
iold house, introduced myself to Mrs.
clemens, the housekeeper, and pleased her !,
o well that I was next day installed. / ]
Knew lois Of gardening, having been bred /
lp to II long before | was q detective and .
gave satisfaction il my new capacity. il
As soon as / had been IN my situation |,
ong enough to win a certain amount Of /
confidence from Mrs. Clemens, / turned