The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-06

from Rossmore, after his interview with
Nora, there was a keen sense of anger in
his heart, and an eager desire TO revenge
himself upon Biddulph, who, he consid-
cred, had unjustifably stood in his way.
And Nora had wounded his vanity.
Strange, that in one so hard and cold this
weakness should be so strong. Yet it
was so. Alick was vain of ms money,
his good looks, and his grand new
house. And he was apt to show this
in a surprising manner for a clever man.
His age was a sore point, and he hated to
hear his brother Jock joke about it, which
sometimes Jock was apt to do. Alick, in
fact, intended to marry well, just as he
told himself he had always done well; and
be wanted youth, beauty, and money, too.
And Nora Stewart, his near neighbor,
had all these good qualities. He had,
therefore, meant to marry her, and so firm
was his belief in his own power to carry
out anything he intended to do, that he
had small doubts of succeeding until the
new owner of Dunbaan had appeared
upon the scene.
He therefore bore a bitter grudge
against BiddUlph, and, with his hard lips
Il ght set, left ROssmore, determined to do
his best to hunt him down.
We must not suppose he had given up
his idea of wedding Nora because he
thought she was unduly interested in this
stranger, who, luckily for him-and
Alick gave grim smile-had now made
such fool of himself, and thrust his head
into the jaws OF the law. And he should
not escape; the woman had been shot on
Alexis property, and it behOoved him,
therefore, to push forward the inquiry
into her death, and he did not lose one
moment in doing this
The police were speedily on the spot,
and the Glen OF Balla was first thoroughly
searched. On the ground where the
woman had died, the fading bracken and
soaked moss were trampled and blood
stained.
''There has been plainly terrible strug
gle here" said Alick Fraser, who, in his
right of owner of the SOIL was watching
the investigation of the police.
The inspector, whose face was shrewd
and weather-beaten, did not speak. He
examined the ground carefully, and then
looked up at the jUtting crag which had
hidden the wOmans approach froT Bid
dulph's view The Titie-ball had first
grazed Biddulph's shoulder; then hit the
very edge Of the crag, glanced OF, and
killed the woman.
"A ball has touched here" said the
policeman, laying his hands on the crag,
which showed signs of its course.
The fellow has shot from behind the
rock, no doubt, as the poor woman went
forward to meet him, now suggested Alick
Fraser.
'.By Dr. AIexander's account, Mr.. Bid
lr.h dol IA cbO
der" said the policeman dryly eve must
look higher up, Mr.. Fraser; but first let us
see if one or more persons have been
standing here"
The damp, rain-soaked ground showed
recent footsteps very plainly. These were
here slim and straight -Biddulph's foot
steps, in fact, the boots worn having been
light ones. But higher up among the
crags and brentwood, the police soon dis
covered other foOtsteps-foOtsteps made
by larger foot and heavy shoOting-bOOts.
These larger footprints were easily traced,
going in two distinct tracks-the one ap-
preaching a certain point IN the glen
where the brentwood grew very thick, and
the other leaving it. A man had evidently
come and gone from this spot quite lately;
and, looking down from it to the crag be-
low near which the woman had died, and
Biddulph had been hit, the policemen all
agreed that a rifie-ball could have gone
straight on its swift and deadly way.
Alick Fraser could not deny this, though
he would not agree to il. In the hard win
ter time the red deer often came down from
The deer forest, higher up the lOch TO the
Glen OF Balla, and the policemen suggested
that a stray buck had perhaps found its
way, and had been staIked by some poach-
eT, who had killed the ''leedy" by accident,
instead OF the deer. There was some
probability at all events, in this, and the
police carefully measured the footprints in
the upper ranges OF the Glen, as well as
those on the spot where the unfortunate
woman had met her death.
''But where is the track OF the deer?"
asked Alick Fraser; and this certainly was
not visible. But it would be wearisome
TO 90 into all the details Of an inquiry
which lasted for days, and which aroused
the interest of the whole country side.
Biddulph's position, and the romantic
story-for people were ready enough to
say he had wanted to get rid of one wife
that he might marry younger and hand
somer One-excited the greatest curiosity
and gossip.
In the meanwhile, the hero of it all re-
mained quietly at Dunham, not going for
her sake) to see the woman who believed
in him and trusted in him so entirely.
And she fought his battles for him also
very bravely. Alick Fraser went over TO
Airdlinn and had a long talk with Mrs
Jock, and made Mrs. Jocks kind, wo-
manly heart shudder by the account of
the blood-stained ground in the Glen of
Balia. and expressed his opinion very
plainly that Biddulph, and only Biddulph,
was the murderer.
''The case is as plain as can be, 20 my
mind" he told his Brothers wife, and his
brother too, forgetting ne had no right to
sit in judgment on a man @ho was not
even arrested. ''This fellow had married
some low woman he was ashamed of and
tired Of. and who, no doubt, was always
bothering him for money; and then, when
the old colonel left him Dunbaan, he
wanted to be rid Of her altogether, and,
expect, wanted also 10 marry Nora Stew
art. That young woman is very high and
naughty about it all too, can assure you.
Well, this Biddulph gets this poor crea-
ture TO come down here, lures her
into a lonely place, like the Glen-the po
lice have possession OF note he had
written to her to ask her 20 60 there alone
and when he gets there he shoots her;
and then, perhaps moved by her dying
agonies bit, he rms for that old fool,
Alexander, who declares it is impossible
he could have fired the shot, because his
own shoulder is hit. My belief is that