The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-06
CHATTER XVI.
BIDDULPH'S REWARD.

Mrs. Conway-Hope, having thus estab-
lished herself at ROssmOre, was very care
ful not to offend Nora again, and she
prudently never mentioned Mr.. .Biddulph's
name. And when a chance visitor hap
pen6d to do this, she cOUghed significantly,
as much as to inform the visitor that he
had better avoid the subject. In fact, it
began to be understood among Nora
Stewart siriends-the Frasersa and others
that she would hear nothing against Mr..
Biddulph.
Il fully expect, if he gets clear out of
this business, that she viii marry him"
Mrs. Jock said one day TO her brother-in-
law Aick; "and Jock thinks so, too"
Alick Fraser muttered something very
like an oath as he listened to these words.
"Do YOU think she is such an utter fool
as that?" he asked darkly.
Il think she is in love with him, !"
answered Mrs. Jock, "and it is a thousand
pities."
Alick went away from Airdlinn with a
frown upon his brow and fresh anger in
his heart. 1t wanted but two days when
this conversation. took place to the (sup-
pOsed) final inquiry to be held at Balla on
the death of the woman in the Glen, and
nothing further, it was understood, had
been discovered by the police; and Alick
went home determined to leave no stone
unturned to produce fresh evidence. He
really believed (sO apt are we to persuade
ourselves to think as we desire) that Bid
dulph had shot his wife; and it would be
too horrible, he argued to himself, as he
cast his covetOus eyes on NOras acres,
which marched with his own, if she should
be mad enough to marry this murderer.
He would send for Sandy Hill, he deter
mined. Sandy had ferreted out Biddulph's
marriage, and perhaps might find out
something about the murder, too.
''The police are a set of idiots" thought
Alick impatiently. He therefore tele-
graphed to his clerk at Glasgow to come at
once to Inismore, and he informed his
housekeeper she might expect a visit
again from Mr.. Hill, the upholsterer.
Sandy arrived the day before the in
quiry, at which the sheriff of the county
was to be present. and Alick Fraser lost
no time in laying the whole case before his
subordinate, who listened with great at
tention.
'Looks very black for Mr.. Biddulph," ("
said Sandy, with his reddish head turned
to one side, for he was taking it all in, and
saw it would be agreeable to Mr.. Fraser's
feelings If he thought Mr. Biddulph guilty.
cts as plain as daylight to my mind"
said Alick. 'Who else had any motive
for shooting the poor woman? But the
weak points in the evidence against Bidd-
ulph are, that he is said to have gone un-
armed into the Glen, and the scratch on
his shoulder, which that old fool, Dr.
Alexander, persists in affirming he could
not have done himself. Now, if we could
find out that he by some means got hold of
a rife-he may have borrowed one, dye
see, and bribed the gillie or the poacher to
hold his tongue? He is rich, this Bidd-
ulph, and as his neck is in question -
''He would be ready to pay, naturally"
grinned Sandy.
"Try to find out something. man. am
ready TO come down with hundred, nav,
two hunred, if it can be brought home to
the fellow; it's disgrace to justice if he
escapes"
"I'll do my little all, Mr.. Fraser" said
Sandy, with mild facctiousness. But