The Press., 1886-11-18

f D11b. T6aCQln& bl0 W1UQOW Ol tll0 IOOllls he diBInisse8 these thoughts from his l mind and determine ito get rid of his | guests. without delay, sS0iAS to be able
 to enjoy alittle1qu quiet and calm for re- Hecta0m. sfgEfs Sfge Fl g39gst lrs 8 eR Ra ssk55
 They are all noisily discussing a sui-
 eide that has recently taken place in Ia
 neighbOring county, and which had, from it's peculiar circumstanceS caused
 more than usual interest.
 One of the guests tonight is an army surgeon, and he is giving them an ex-
 plantation as to how the fatal wound had been inflicted. 1t appeared at the inquest that the unfortunate man had
 shot himself in aspeculiar manner as to
 cause considerable doubt as to whether
 he had beensmurdered or had died by
 his own hand. Evidence, however, of most convincing nature had con-, frmed the latter theory. I
 Captain RingWo0d, with revolver in his hand, is endeavOring. to show
 that the man could not have Shot him.
 self, just as Adrian re-enters.
 "Be careful with that revolver" he
 exclaims hastily; sit is loadedI" z
 All right, old fellow, I know 1t, i. re-
 turns Ringwood. Look here, doctor,
 how could he make wound here?"
 Why snot2 Sir Adrian, take the re-
 volyer for moment, willIyou@ says
 the surgeon, anxious to demonstrate his
 theory beyond the possibility of doubt.
 "I want to convince RingWoods Now.
 stand SO, and hold the weapon S0s- -- | placing it with the muzzle, presented in.
 ratherlaWkward position almost over
 his heart isu ag 1sg gsz Y
 q thought fellows always put the
 muzzles of their revolverS in their mouths and blew their brains out when
 they committed suicide" Ringwood re-
 marks lightly. .....I3. .e f5
 aThis fellow evidently did not" says
 the surgeon calmly. Now, Sir Adrian,
 you see, by holding it thus, you could
 quite easily blow yourself to-"
 Before he can finish the sentence, there is sudden confusion of bodies,
 jostling as it were, for Arthur Dyne-
 court, who had been looking. on atten-
 lively with one foot on a foOtStO0l close
 to SirAdrian's elbow, had slipped from,
 the stool at this Opportune moment,
 and had fallen heavily against his cousin.
 n There is a shout from somebody, and then a silence. The revolver in the ascuff1e had gone off Through the
 house the sharp crack of bullet rings
 IOudly, rousing many from their slum-
 bers. o'H s5fta& ss&5
 Lights can be seen in the passages; terrified faces peep out from half-opens
 ed doors. Dora Talbot, coming into 4uC HI % HOSAO RAAAAA SeN0AAAsAOA dressing-goWn trimmed with sWan's- down, in which she looks the very per-
 SoniicatiOn of innocence and youth, screams loudly and demands hySterl- cally to be informed as to the cause of
 the unusual noise.
 The servants have rushed from their quarters in alarm. Ethel Villiers, with
 a pale scared face, runs to Florence Delmaine'S room, and throws her arms round that young lady as she comes
 out, pale but composed, to ask ill 8 clear tone what has happened. As nobody knows, and as Florence in her heart is more frightened than she cares to confess, being aware through Adrian that some of the men are still up in the smoklng-room, and fearing that quarrel had arisen among them, she proposes that they should go to the smoking-r in 8 body and make inquiries. m f5g, Old Lady FitzAImont, with Lady Gertrude sObbing on her arm, seconds this proposal, and, being a veteran of much distinction, takes the lead. Those and hopeful because of it, her appear ance being calculated to rout any ene- my. The awful character of her dress ing-gOWn and the severity of the nightcap that, crowns her martial head would strike terror to the hearts of any l midnight marauders. They all move off in body, and, guided .unc conscious ly by Florence, approach the smoking ! room.
 Voices loud in conversation can be heard as they draw near; the door is slightly ajaF. Florence drawing back as they come quite up to it, the old lady waves her aside and advances boldly to the front. Ringing wide open the door, she bursts upon the astonish- ed company within.
 Where is he?' she asks, with dig nifty that only heightens the attractions of cap and gown. Have you secured 5 him? Sir Adrian, where is the consta- .ble2 Have you sent for him9" Sir Adrian, whose gaze is fixed upon sthe fair vision in the trailing white gown standing timidly in the door tor, and the others taken by surprise, maintain solemn silence.
 "Why this mysteryp demands Lady Fitz-Almont sternly. Where is the miscreant? Where is the man that fired that shot?"
 Here, madame" replies the surgeon .drYly, indicating Arthur Dynecourt by a motion of the hand.
 sss "He-who? MT. Dynecourt?" ejacu- 31ates her ladyship in a disappointed I tone. "It was all mistake, thenP I .n4u6U Odya N11" OynCCOUAb3 oOAU!1AuOS lthe old lady in an indignant tone, that I think you might find a more suitable time in which to play off your jokes, or to practice target-shOotin than in the middle of the night, when every re- ispectable household ought to be wrap ped in Slumber."
 T assure. you" begins Arthur Dyne- court, who is strangely pale and discOm- posed, it was all an accident-an-" l AccidentI Nonsense, sir; I don't
 believe there was any accident whatso- eeveri"
 As these words pass the lips of the irascible old lady, several men in the room exchange significant glanceS.i Is it that old Lady FitzAlmOnt has just ] put their own thoughts into Words2 9af Let me explain to your ladyShip," says Sir Adrian courte eOusly. We were just talking about that unfortunate affair of the Stewards, and Maitland was showing us how it might have oc- cured. had the revolver in my hand pointing the weapon toward him. Put down that abominable weapon
 at once, sirl" commands Lady FitzAl- mont, in a menacing tone, largely nnin- gled with abject fear. As she speaks she retreats precipitately behind Florence,
 thus pushing that young lady to the fore.
 When my cousin unhappily stum- bled against me, and the revolver went
 of, goes on Sir Adrian. @I'm deeply gTieved, Lady FitzAlmont, that this should have occurred to disturb the household; but, really, it was pure