Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-07-22


resemble the whctting of a knife on a
They were all astir in the dim light,
and talking noisily of the promise of
the worm-crop for the season.
He lay for a moment half-bewildered
at tho vociferation and seeming profan-
itv Of the creatures, when a human
voice broke in, which he recognized as
the milkman's.
BE the howly poker, it's not joking
[ am, Mary MahOney. She's kilt an
murdered Y
''Och honey!'-it was the cooks voice
that walled out this-'and sure it's
like The Green-eyed Monster; or The
Secret Murder that [ was a-readin'
Biddy last night. Ochl We make me
blood run cowld intirely. Did We git a
sight av her, Misther O'Dowd? ?"
Faith an [ didn't wild the crowner
to the fore, but was after spakin' wild
the dacint woman who does the
wurruk-they only kape an upstairs
gurrul besides. Sure Miss Stirling gave
them both the lave to go to weddin'
last night, and said She wouldn't be
afeared, as Misther Rob would be
home. But when they got back at II
O'Clock, they see the light Il burnin' yet
in the library, and so they looked III
the door, and sure there was the poor
ovid creature a-lyin' cowld and stark
an finger-marks like a black necklace
on her poor ovid wizent throat; but
who the villain was that did it no one
can guess"
'And where was Mr.. Rob, at all at
all?
ooh, he come walkin' in quite sur
prised, while they were a moanin' and
cryin, and they do say he TUX it cool
and some thinks he"
The rest of the words were said in a
very low growl, and the judge felt as il
he had had a sudden 8hower-bath.
Did suspicion really point to the
young man? 1t was known that the
two had frequent squabbles, and Miss
Sterling was always threatening to cut
him off for some other object. Could
it be possible that, knowing the last vii
was in his favor, sick with impotence
and longing to make the beautiful
Gwen his own, he had taken matters IL
his own hands and But suddenly
the scene of the last evening came back
to the Judges mind. At the time the
poor old lady was in the death-grip O
some villain, Rob was sWeetly billing
and cooling under the peach-trees five
miles away. The Judge set his teeth
as he thought of it, and began dressing
himself rapidly.
He is the only person who had any
real interest in her DEATH" he said
musingly. "Suspicion will point tC
him, and then Gwen-it will make i
possible If | had not walked tina
way. If | mad not met him Goo
God how my mind is travelling; anC
the poor fellow scarcely suspected yet =
The Judge was too restless to go to hi
law papers after he had swallowed hi
hasty breakfast. Il cannot be hard
hearted enough to sit quietly down t
work while neighbor has been killed
i'll cold blood. | must see whether the
mans story was correct"
But in his heart the Judge longcd tC
hear more about the case in its relation
to the young man, and he rode over tC
the pleasant country house where Mis-
Sterling had presided, in somewhat fe
verish haste. 1t was wonderful how
hot the blood still was that leaped
through his veins although the chill o
forty winters had fallen upon it.
The house stood back from the roaC
and hidden from it by an avenue O
trees, but before the building was il
view the Judge saw the marks anC
tokens of an unusual stir and tumul
about the grounds. A fower-bed haC
been trampled carelessly, roses haC
been plucked as if by children's hand:
and thrown over the path, Il rabble O.
curious visitors had apparently already
been there. A young man stood now
all alone at the open door. He had ev
identity ordered away intruders, anC
was looking about at his aunt's pet flow
ers with a somewhat melancholy glance
He did not appear SO happy and debo
nair as when the Judge had seen hin
last, but there was no look of guilt OF
the somewhat haggard young face.
He nodded in friendly way as the
Judge approached, saying: The bac
news has reached you, l suppose ?"
eyes; somewhat indefinitely, but | SET
by your face it is true Y
Too true Poor Aunt Janet 1t /:
too horrible" and there a was q gen
uinc rig of horror in the young man;
voice
'FWas the object plumber, do yor
think?'
ct does not seem so, for the silver il
not touched nor my aunt's jewelry; the
fellow may have taken money. 0
course, can't say how much of tina
may have been in the house"
you were out, | suppose?'
Yes" there was slight embarras
ment. II was-over in your neighbor
hood"
81 suppose you would have no diff
Guilty III proving that?' asked the
Judge, with sudden curiosity.
Rob Stirling hesitated and his eye
did not meet that of his questioner
Il don't know as that is any one'>
concern but mine" he answered.
mo, [ suppose not, but in affairs o
this sort one must be prepared fol
everything"
would you-would you care to lool
at the poor old LADY," asked the
young man, with some hesitation.
Il would, indeed; poor Miss sterling
| had a great respect for her. How
very mysterious it seems that one who
led so quiet life should have so shock
ing and violent death ~
The young man led the way to the
door of small sitting-roOm
Excuse me from going in, 'he said g
have had much of it, lam quite knock
ed IN"