Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-11-25
CHAPTER VII
The discovery and what ensued
thereon.
ensued

On his return from visiting Farmer
Drayton where he was detained
longer than he had expected. he went
at once to the smoking room in search
Of his guest Phipson, who had met
him in the entrance hall. had told
him where he would find Captain
Darvill.
On the discovery itself we need not
dwell. The suddenness OF it was
enough to shake the colonel as few
things In life had been able to do. A
hasty examination OF the body su1iced
TO convince him that life was extinct
and must have been so for some time
Still it was OF course requisite to call
in medical aid. and his first step was
to send oil a mounted groom TO Sher-
risford the nearest town. to summon
both doctor and the police Another
servant sent in search OF Roden Bos-
wor, h. brought back word that his
roAns were in darkness and tho doors
locked. There was nothing strange
in that however Doubtless the
young painter had gone out for one
OF his nocturnal rambles. Meanwhile
tho body was lot in the position in
which it had been found.
Both doctor and police were quickly
on the ground. The body was lifted
on to the centre table and then the
former proceeded TO make cursory
examination into the cause OF death;
u post-mortem would. of course be
requisite later on. A very short time
sutiiced for DR.. Davis TO pronounce
that the deceased had come TO his
death in consequence of stab with
some sharp instrument over the re-
gion OF the heart and that in all
probability death had been instant
aneouS Search had already been
made for the weapon. but to no pur-
pose. After duly cautioning him. the
superintendent OF police took down in
writing a statement volunteered by
Phipson. who as far as was yet
known. was the last person who bad
seen and spoken with the deceased.
BY this time it was considerably past
midnight and his men having mean
while thoroughly searched the con-
servatory and the strawberries close to
the house the superintendent went
back to Sherrisford. leaving a couple
Of cOnstables in charge OF the smok-
ing room and Its stark occupant
Emma met her uncle at the break
Fast table and greeted him with her
customary goodmorning kiss Mrs.
Asplin told you last night?' he said
inte-rogatively. She signlfied assent
Although 1t might spoil your rest
thought it best that you should know
at once 1t is the most shocking az
fair that IL has ever been my misfor-
tune to have to do with. One Of the
s,rangest parts OF the business is The
apparent utter lack of motive for sLch
a crime The poor fellows purse and
jewelry are intact and beyond tho
overturned lamp which might have
resulted from an accident and the
fact that his waistcoat was unbuttoned.
there appears to be no sign OF strug-
gle. It's all an impenetrahe mystery
SO far. but we can only hope that the
police will not be long before they
light on a clue"
He sat back in his chair with a
sigh and rubbed MS glasses with his
handkerchief while Emma poured out
the tea.
There is one painful duty" he
went on, from which ] soc no means
of escape. and which | MIST set about
without delay as soon as breakfast is
over refer to having to break the
tidings OF her husbands death to Mrs.
Darvil." Ennas heart seemed TO
cease beating for second or two. and
then to go on with a bound. II must
start for London by the ten O'clock
train. 1t is fortunate thing that
Darvill happened to mention last
evening that he had engaged rooms at
the Charing Cross Hotel. otherwise l
should have been at loss where to
find the poor lady. / would willingly
give a thousand pounds il by doing 30
| could escape the interview; but duty
is duty all the world over and it's no
use trying to shirk it."
Breakfast IL it could be called by
that name. went on for a little while
in silence; then the colonel, looking
across the table at his niece, said: Il
wish to goodness Ennie. that you
would go with me- Men are such
bun0lers in these matters. and you
could help me to break it to the poor
woman. would ask my cousin
Asplin to accompany me- only
she wouldn't be n bit OF
good as far as helping me out
goes. She's n most estimable crea-
ture and kind-hearted TO a degree.
but she would merely got hold of Mrs.
Darvills hand and begin to
cry and that's not at all
what l want Now. you are different
You have a manner a way with you
aud you would know just the right
thing TO say and do tk
III you wish il uncle. / will go
with you. said Emma quietly. The
Colonel frightened yisibly.
In order TO catch the 10 o'clock
train II was requisite that they should
start Immediately after breakfast.
AS they we're on the point OF leaving
Che house the superintendent 81
police drove up In his gig. The
Colonel explained the nature
of the errand which was taking