The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-10-12

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manner, and l soon felt ashamed of my
doubts.
At first he was the best company ever
knew. If he had been my own SON come
home from abroad after a long absence, he
could not have been more glad and CHEEKY
and pleased with everything interesting him
self in all we did about the farm and that,
and sending into town for all sorts OF things
for us as presents, till we were afraid to men
ton what We would like. Gradually, as
Christmas came along, he got more quiet;
spent more and more of his time alone in his
own room; became very nervous, starting at
every sound along the road; and tell you
candidly, if he had not let us know lin conf
dence) who he was, and we had found out
that his story was true, we should have got
rid of him, for he behaved just like man
who had committed some crime and was hid
ing from justice. Why did l not write to his
family! | said he told us who he was in CONT
deace. He told us that part of his troubles
were family troubles and we believed him.
But the most extraordinary thing was this:
he said he knew that he had become nervous
and disagreeable, begged our pardon if he had
made our Christmas dull and asked us to bear
with him for little longer, as he would be
himself again on the LIST of January. He said
that was his birthday as well as New Years
Day, and promised we should keep it in style.
And he meant what he said; for he had or
dered hamper of champagne, and no end of
cakes and toys for the young ones. He was
to complete lis thirty-fourth year on the last
day of December, and he never saw it out.
On the very day of his death he picked up his
former good spirits, and the last thing | saw
of him he was snowballing with our children
in the front orchard"
At this point Mr.. Mcconnell interposed,
speaking to the widow.
THAT would be about half-past twelve
o'clock"
Her only answer was a deep sigh.
" He broke away from them suddenly the
farmer went on, ''and ran off to his ROOM
Did he tell your children why he left them2
Did he say if he had seen any-anythingl"
asked Mcdonnell.
II don't think so. They took no notice of
him. He was often like that
A good deal of what followed is not neces-
sary for the purposes of this narrative. 1t
appeared to satisfy the persons Immediately
interested, and the day came for their depart
ure.
But what brought satisfaction to them
planted vague suspicion in the breast of
Farmer Byles. 1t struck him that they knew
some things which he had not told them, and
which were not in the evidence taken at the
inquest. That observation about alf-past
twelve O'Clock, for example. The children
had not fixed any exact time; they only said
it was before dinner Not much in this of
remarks
made the good man uncomfortable. He be-
came more and more uncomfortable when he
discovered that Mr.. Mcdonnell had been seen
driving gig on the road near the farm on
the 31st of December, that he had called at a
cottage about six miles further on, and had
left it at an hour which would account for his
repassing the house on his return about the
time of the accident.
In short, he had driven by at half-past
twelve, when Baldwin had suddenly broken
off his game with the little folks; so Melon
nell must have hedrd the explosions at any
rate, as he returned for there was no other
road back to the place where he had hired the
gig he drove) at four.
And yet he had come to the inquest full of
surprise and grief had asked questions as
though the scene were new to him, and held
his tongue while the discussion as to one re-
port or two was going on. Why did he in
quire if his wife's brother had seen "any-
anything from the orchardI" He had evil
IDENTIFY started to say anybody. Had the dead
man seen and recognized him! What could
have been his motive for concealing his first
visit: The visit itself turned out to be a law
full one. In his capacity as an attorney he
had come to take the evidence lin righto Of
way case) of an old woman, who had left the
neighborhOod of London (where the action
arose) to live with her grandson in Yorkshire.
This latter received the lawyer, and saw him
off: but some cattle business of his own at
Hull took him away from home about the
same time. So he never heard of the accident
or read an account of the inquest till he re-
turned. If he had known all about it he
would not have connected Mcdonald with it
in any way: but when he recognized him at
ElberOn Farm, greatly to ByleS' surprise, and
explained when and where they had become
acquainted, the latter's suspicion grew apace.
Then he thought of that second report.
When there was no one to accuse, it had not
ma bow cd lint
now. What if one of those reports had been
fired at his lodger! What if he had seized
that gun in self-defense!
Very cautiously, and, as he thought, kind
ly, Farmer Byles broke the subject to Mrs.
FletcherBaldwyn, who took up Mr.. Nc
Donnelrs defense with a warmth which added
to the Yorkshireman's honest doubts The
deceased had died interstate, and the bulk of
his property went to his sister and her child
rem. Well, here was the man directly bene
fitted by his death acting in the most suspi-
cious manner; and here was the widow (who
from affiuence was plunged almost into pov-
erty) defending Misunderstanding one who was
certainly about to deprive her of her home,
and perhaps had committed murder to
do so.
Farmer Byles made Mr.. Mcdonnell under
stand very plainly that if he did not give him
satisfactory explanation of his conduct in
private he would have to offer one before
magistrate in open court Mr.. Mcdonnell
became greatly agitated at the threat, and
then tried to pooh-pooh the suspicious by
which it was prompted. This only strength
ened them. Indeed, things went so far that
doors were locked, horse saddled, and a
laborer called from his work to ride into the
next town for policeman.
Anything but that! - cried the widow to
her supposed accomplice. "We must trust
him; and o, Sir" turning to the farmer)
"you will keep our terrible secret-yOu will
respect the memory of the dead!''
81 tell you frankly" Byles replied "there's
many besides me that are asking questions"
Then it must all come OUT" gasped the
lady, wringing her hands.
u expect it must" gr22wled Byles'
"You would not believe a word, said"
Mcdonnell began, ''if / were to place before
you the chain of causes which led to my poor
brother-in-law's death. He must unwind it
himself.n
"Himself" exclaimed the farmer.
Yes. 1t is contained in part of his diary
which | found in his valise.''
" And secreted from the Coroner?n
" And secreted from the Coroner. When
you have read it you will know why: and will
not, | hope, blame me. But ! did not bring
it here. Come home with u.s. am sure Mrs.
Fletcher Baldwin will second this suggestion
as our friend and guest. As for me, you
can come also as a constable, If you like, and
not let me out Of your sight till have salts
fed you that am in no way to blame"
So Mr.. Byles, like an honest bulldog, went
with them, and read the diary of the late
Fletcher Baldwin, from the 4th of February,