The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-03-26


had been inflicted Z oFpaur2@ as the
inuuest that the unfortunate man E&G
shot himself in Z necnii2r manner a5 i
cause considerable ctu,:Dt as 70 whether
he had been murdered OF bad died by
his own hand Evidence. lin"ei-c.E. Of
most convincing nature hAI con-
frmed the latter theory.
Captain Rinswood With revolver
in his hand, is endeavuling. to show
that the man could not lave Shot HIM
self. just as Adrian re-enters.
BE careful with that revolver" he
exclaims hastily: 1t is ioaGedw
"IAll right, cd fellow, know it" re-
turns Ringwood. Lock here. doctor.
how could he make Il %o,nd here
"Why not? Sir Adrian. take the re-
volver for m"ment, viii you:" saEs
the surgeon. anxious to demonstrate lis
theory beyond The possibility OF doubt.
Il want to convince i'inGwo0d. Now
stand so, and hold tie weapon So"-
placing it with the mazzIe presented in
rather awkward position almost over
his heart.
Il thought fellows always put the
muzzles Of their revoiyers in their
mouths and blew their brains outwhen
they committed suicidc," Ringwoodro re-
marks lightly.
This fellow evidently did not says
the surgeon calmly. Now, Sir Adrian,
you see, by holding il thus, you could
quite easily blow yourself to-
Before he can finish the sentence,
there is sudden confusion OF bodies,
jostting as i were, for Arthur Drne-
court, who had bcen locking on atten
lively with one foot On fOotstool close
to Sir Adrian's elbow, had slipped from
the stool at this opportuno moment,
and had fallen heavily against his
cousin.
There is shout from somebody. and
then silence. Ti,c revolver III the
scuf1e had gone OFT! Through the
house the sharp crack Of bullet rings
loudly, rousing many from their slun-
bers.
Lights can be seen in the passages;
terrified faces peep out from hali-open-
ed doors Dora Talbot, coming into
the corridor il pale PINK cashmere
dressing-goWn trimmed with swan s.
down, in Which. she looks the very per-
soniticatiou of innocence and youth,
screams loudly and demands hysterl..
cAly to be informed as to the cause OF
the unusual noise.
The servants have rushed from their
quarters in alarm. Ethel Fllliers. With
a pale scared face, runs to Florence
Delmaine's room, and throws her arms
round that Young lady as she comes
cut, pale but composed, to ask III
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 t&aJ s0me Of the men
are still up il the smoklng-room, and
fearing that quarrel had arisen
among them. she proposes that they
should 60 to the sn1oliins-room in q
body and make inquiries.
Old Lady FitZAlmont, with Lady
Gertrude sobDi2g on her arm, seconds
this proposal. and, being veteran OF
much distinction, takes the lead. Those
following close behind; are glad OF th7s,
and hopeful because Of it, her appear
ance being calculated to rout any enc
my. The awful character OF her dress
ing-gown and the severity OF the
aighScap that GcT7is her martial hsaa
would stEtks seT7s1 70 z5e heats ct aay
unidnight maraudeTs. They al rpeVe
eff in 3 body, and, guided unce1scous-
ly by Florence, approach the smoking
room.
Voices loud in conversation can be
heard as they draw near; the door IS
slightly ajar. Florence drawing back
as thev come quite up to it, the old
fadv waves her aside and advances
boldly to the front. Flingins wide open
the door, she bursts upon the astonlsh-
ed company within.
where is he?" she asks, with a dig
nifty that only heightens the attractions
of cap and gown. Have you secured
him? Sir Adrian, where IS the consta-
bic? Have you sent for him?"
Sir Adrian, whose gaze IS tlHed upon
the fair vision in the trailing white
gown standing timidly in the door
way, forgets to answer his lnterroga-
tor. and the others taken by surprise,
maintain solemn silence.
"Why this MYSTERY" demands Lady
Fitz-Almont sternly. Where is the
miscreant? Where is the man that
fired that shot?'
Here. madame" reniies the surgeon
dryly, indicating Arthur Dynecourt by
a motion Of the hand.
"He-who? Mr.. Dyneconrt:' eiacu;;
laIeS Qer l2GySnlp ID a dlsappolnteq
tone. 1T was all mistake, then2 l
must say, Mr.. Dynecourt, continues
the old lady in an indignant tone, shat
I think you might find a more suitable
time IN which to play off your jokes, or
to practice target-shooting, than in the
middle of the night, when every re-
spectacle household ought to be wrap
ped In slumber.n
Il assure you,' begins Arthur Dyne-
| court, who is strangely pale and discOm-
posed, 'it was all an accident-an--'
"Accident! Nonsense, sir; I don't
believe there was any accident WhatSo-
ever"
AS these words pass the lips of the
irascible old lady, several men IN tie
room exchange significant glances. Is
it that old Lady FitZAlmont has. just
put their own thoughts into words?
LET me explain to your ladyshlp,"
says Sir Adrian courteously. I'VE were
just talking about that unfortunate
affair Of the Stewarts, and Maitland
was showing us how it might have oc--
Cured. I had the revolver in my hand
pointing the weapon toward HIM
self,
at once, sir" commands Lady FitZAl-
mont, in menacing tone. largely min
| SleQ WlCn dDJeCC lear. AS she SpcihS SIZE
retreats precipitately behind Florence,
thus pushing that young lady to the
FORE
"When my cousin unhappify STUN
bled against me, and the revolver went
Off" goes on Sir Adrian. I'm deeply
grieyed, Lady FitzAlmort, that this
Should have occurred to disturb the
household; but, really, it was pure
accident"
a pure accident repeats Arthur,
from between his colorlcss lips.
lie looks far more distressed by this
occurrence than Sir Adrian, who had
narrowly escaped being wounded. This
only showed his tenderness and proper
feeling, as almost all the women pre-
sent mutually agreed. Almost al, but
not quite. Dora Talbot, for eyample,
ncrnn.S dnadlu nafn as she Iistens 70 the