Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-03-19

Looking back, could see some terri
BILE quarrel between these two men, each
of whom no doubt possessed a strong
temper
Perhaps LeOnOre had been the cause
of It all, and the result had been that
Theodore was banished from home with
his fathers curse upon his wretched
head.
From time 10 time he had sought an
interview, but the old Doctor had
perhaps miscOnstrued the tone OF his
letter, and deemed him impudent, when
perhaps he was only determined
Then had come a dark resolve on the
part OF the wretched son to avenge his
wrongs, and perhaps gain the fortune of
his father at one fell blow.
He had done il. Could IL be possible that
this was the terrible foe DIR. Seabury
had dreaded for years? I could hardly
believe il, and yet the evidence pointed
that way.
Whoever had killed him had been the
cause of his constant dread.
While these thoughts were fitting
through my mind, sat there watching
my man, and trying TO analyZe the
series Of emotions that fitted across his
face.
1t was beyond my power.
The man writhed under my indict-
ment, and / could not see how any
thing other than guilt could make him
do so.
He spoke first, and his voice was not
so strong as before.
doctor, am TO understand that you
believe me guilty of my fathers death?"
81 am bound so to believe, sir"
~This is a terrible accusation to bring
against a man."
alt is warranted by facts. You were
at lOggerheads with your father. In the
dead of night you sneak like thief to
the house, and climb the vines leading
TO your fathers window. He is found
dead-murdered beyond all shadow Of
doubt. Now, sir, what would it be rea-
sOnable to suppOse?"
A spasm Of pain crossed his face.
a see the force of your accusation,
Doctor, and yet 1 sOlemnly declare to
you, as heaven is my witness, that 1
was not in my fathers chamber on that
night am innocent of this terrible
crime.
~Whatl dare you deny that you were
preSent-that you climbed the vines as
have said, leaving the mark of your
hand on the white window ledge, and
losing a letter from DR.. Seabury at the
broken Wall?"
al deny none of these, simply stating
that am innocent of the crime"
To say that ! was amazed would be
paralyzed by the situation
Here the man who had turned out to
be the old Doctors son admitted that he
had climbed the vines and looked in at
the window of his fathers room, but en-
phatically denied going further.
Ali sudden thought: had he seen
anything to cause him sudden alarm2
The idea came with resistiess force.
1t would account in 4 measure for his
strong emotions
This thought had to dismiss instant
", for il threw me of the track, and
sent me back to the old suspicion enter
tertained by Mr.. Ketcham-that Leo
more, in q fit of mental insanity, had
done the deed which had created such
confusion in the mind of the old de-
tective.
OF course this was but q scheme on
his part to evade punishment.
The man was capable OF much cum
ning-I saw that he was no ordinary
character, but that he possessed strong
powers
Returning to the attack, once more
pushed him hard.
~You have not acquitted yourself in
my mind, sir. Remember, the charge
against you is terrible one. 1t would
serve your interests well were you 20 tell
me the real nature Of your visit to that
house"
My words impressed him I saw that
he was thinking deeply.
GAm 1 to understand that unless ]
prove my innocence to you, Doctor, I
shall be arrested, charged with this
heinOus and most unnatural crime?"
@You are so to understand"
$50 be it cannot tell you why
climbed to that window, but simply re-
peat my former statement that was
not in the room, and am innocent of the
deed
Young Seabury spoke like man who
had made up his mind as to the course
he should pursue-his rudder was dashed
and there should be no change.
Naturally sought for motive in this
most singular action.
1t was hard to find
Two courses seemed open to me, and ]
could take my choice.
The first concerned his own guilt, and
somehow it came hard for me to apply
his strange actions to him here. could
understand how he might deny every
thing blankly, If guilty, and swear that
he was not within a mile Of the spot
st the time Of the murder, but to admit
that he had even climbed the vines and
looked into his fathers room, at the
same time vehemently asserting his in.
nocence, was piece of strategy on the
part OF a guilty man that could not
readily grasp
On the other hand another picture
was presented to my view.
Suppose this young man was all that
he should be-that he had gone TO the
house 70 make personal appeal to his
father. or for some such reason, and
upon climbing to the old Doctors win
dow had looked upon sight that haS