Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-03-24

him Tor any needed assistance.
At such time as this, OF sorrow and
athictlon, the most kind and sympathetic
words seem hollow and meaningless,
and Marion was in such state of doubt
and trouble that she scarcely heard the
brokers' kindly remarks
The Office was left in charge Of two
police officers, who were TO watch beside
the dead until the dawn, and Marion
crept, cold and shiyering. TO her room,
while Judith Kredge sought her Own
apartment
But there was no sleep for the cash
irr's daughter that night She sank
YEARLY upon her couch, and there re-
manned thinking a thousand troubled
thoughts, experiencing a thousand
doubts and the torture Of one great
dread.
Day was at hand, and the light of the
lamp was turning pale, while the morn
ing mists began TO disappear, and the
sun light fell upon the window panes
when at last Marion started up.
She knelt as if in prayer, and while
her back was turned to the door, it
opened noiselessly and the evil face of
Judith Kredge peered in upon her for a
moment.
When Marion arose she said in self
communion:
4 will not turn back now; I do not
WISH ~ 10 81 AuttI4ull VIII L make
any sacrifice that may be demanded, and
l am sustained by the thought that in
all have done, 1 have been actuated by
noble purpose.
"But circumstances have arisen of
which ! had no thought Oh, what ad-
verse fate directed Stuart Harland to
leave the house this night of all others,
in the way that he has done? 1 can
only hope that he will explain his con-
duct eo - 70 avQuarafa hfmEaff from n
suspicion. But what if circumstantial
evidence should prove powerful enough
to endanger his life"
Marion paused abruptly, and a shud-
der traVersed her frame from head to
foot.
Il trust-I pray it may not come to
such crisis as that, " she added, pres
entity.
AT that moment Marion heard a faint
sound outside her chamber door. and,
suspecting that some one was listening
there, she glided 10 the door and sud
denly threw it open.
She came face to face with Judith
Kredge, who was crOuching at the key
hole.
Marion's face flushed. and her dark
eyes flashed, as she cried imperatively:
$50 you are eavesdrOpping. What do
you mean by such conduct? BegOne, in
stantly! I shall not retain you in my
| service after the present week.
For a moment Judith Kredge shrank
away with a guilty look on her repuisive
features, but suddenly she turned upon
Marion fiercely and clutched her arm.
Look at Inc, girl" she Kissed @Oh,
| yes, they killed your father. know
the truth You are in my power; in my
power, my proud beauty! Hal Ha! Now
discharge me If you dare"
Judith kredge flung Marion from her,
and crossing the hall entered her own
room
Marion reeled back with a frightful ex-
| preston on her face, and she muttered:
What shall I do, what shall I dol
/ This is worse than all the rest"
Meanwhile, when Jason Garrison left
/ his office in company with the police
| sergeant and Detective Paxton at the
| conclusion of the investigation, at the
| scene Of the crime, he repaired at once
| TO his own home, where his daughter
/ Edna, who had been informed OF the
murder when her father left the house,
anxiOusly awaited his return.
Jason Garrison was a widoWer, and all
! his affection conferred on his only child
| his daughter Edna, who returned his
/ love with a wealth of dlial devotion.
| The broker admitted himself to his
residence by means of a latch-key, but
in the hall he staggered like drunken
| man as the thought came back to his
/ mind with renewed force that he was
ruined-that even his home, which
/ sheltered his beloved child, he could not
| call his own.
Crushed and broken, he CROPPED his
way TO the library, but Edna, listening
at her door, heard his familiar steps and
came down 10 meet him.
! The eyes Of love are prematurely
| sharp, and Edna saw at a glance that
! some great misfortune had befallen heI
I father. He sank into a chair and Edna
knelt beside him and sought to induce
him to tell her all.
Reluctantly then he told the story OF
the murder and the robbery, but he did
not mention the terrible suspicion which
had fallen upon Stuart Harland, for he
| wished TO spare his daughter the cruel
intelligence as long as possible.
And so am ruined, said the broker
bitterly in conclusion.
Surely it is not so serious as that
! Your creditors Will grant you timer
Edna asked.
NO, no. You do not know them. Ny
pressing creditors are Pratt and Weeks
They will be merciless. I had hoped
the sale of my Colorado property would
enable me to realize more than sufficient
to tide over this financial crisis, for as J
! have told you gold has been discovered
in many parts of Gilpin County, where
| my land is situated. I had counted OIL
| receiving the money for the property
| eighty thousand dollars-tho price al.
most agreed upon with a Denver firm
! this very week. In a letter which came
to hand on Thursday last, my agent in.
formed me that he expected to close the
/ sale and remit me a draft by the twenty.
1 third, that is to-day. But this evening
I received another communication from
| my agent stating that the proposed sale
could not be consummated, for prospec-
tors, who had secretly explored my
| claim, reported that there was no trace
of gold on it. This disappointment
means more than you can dream. an
in a situation OF peril which 1 dare not
confess, even to you, my child, said the
| broker.
Yainly Edna tried TO induce her father
to eonfide in her. He would say nc
more.
I remember how that man Pratt
looked at me with his bold, impudent
| eyes, when looked at him. His glance
made me SILVER, she said.
Coward that 1 was. He demanded
an introduction, and while I knew he
was not fit to make your acquaintance
/ fear made me weak enough to present
him 10 you, answered the broker.
And 1 am in this Villains power
Pratt and Weeks have deceived me; SCI
traps for me and involved me in specu-
latiOns which were swindles eoncOcteC
with the cunning Of areh-fiends to evadt
| all legal consequences. These men FIND
/ their victims among the oldest operators
on the street, and my experience did not
save me, he added.
But the stolen money may be recov-
cred. You have not told me. Does not
suspicion rest on anybody" asked Edna
/ IL 81 IL a.. I...-aA...l