Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-05-04

shut nv eyes to the terrible array Oh
evidence against ber. as set forth III inc
arrangement of Abner Kctcham, ana
turned my attention toward the Olher
side.
Certain things haunted me, H..
If the marty who had climbed thae
trelis of vines on the night OF the mur,
der could be found / believed ] could
learn something that would be of value
purposed devOting my lirst eheleic'
toward finding that person.
OF whom could | get particulars con-
corning the dead man?
A name | had seen upon VlSl'or
card coupled with the words your oiu
friend" decided me to visit the Sturte-
want House with the intention OF VlsltinS
him. .,.,.u, ,o
There was strong possibility that he
might no longer be there.
/ consulted the register
"Maior Beebe, late of her Majesty ;
RoyaI Highanders, Bombay"
That was the important entry ! tound
in the register, written in. great
sprawling hand.
oJs Major Beebe still here?" | asked
the gentleman at the desk.
The clerk smiled, and replied to my
question with nod toward ralher
nomnous. red-faced gentleman, who was
twirling his blonde side-whiskers near BY
This gentleman having surveyed me as
anrroscbed. assumed 3 stoical freezing
air that told me, without further inves-
tiqation, that he had had some bitter
experiences with New York confidence
| men
"Maior Beebe, ! believe
aThe same, sir. What can | do for
you?"
a wish to talk a little with you. Ma
ior on subject of interest. Whl you
he so kind as to sit with me over Yon-
der?"
He kept up his freezing manner, but
accompanied me to the chairs.
aNow. sir. state your business" ana
he glanced at me through his spy glass,
as though he would annihilate me-
Not one whit troubled by his flerce
aspect, proceeded in my own way
"I understand, Major, that you were a
friend of the late DR.. Seabury."
He almost Jumped from his chair
"What the deuce do you mean, SIR,
giving me such'a shock? ] am friend
of DR.. Seaburv. if that is what you
mean" he replied, with some asperity.
@When did you see him last?"
"Twenty-four hours ago"
Gle was we'll tben?"
WTnusually so. We took dinner IN
company in this house. BY joye, young
sir am 7 TO understand anything has
happened to him?"
"Dr Seabury is dead"
He seemed stunned for minute.
"This is terrible. Whom did he dle?'
"About two o'clock this morning"
} at must have been very sudden"
"Terrbly So"
"Of what did he die?"
"The coroner's jury has agreed that HI
came TO his death by his own hand. "
"Suicide?"
eyes"
"Tbe poor fellow must have lost hi
mind He was the last one in the work
to do such thing"
"That may be so, Major. ! am doc
tor who was called to his bedside IN I'M
hope of doing something, but the polsol
was deadly and there was no hope.
wish to ask you what you know OF th
Doctor"
ave have been friends for, let me see
possibly dozen years.
"Was there any mystery connecte'
with his past lifc?"
81 have heard such hinted, but conl
{ not say positively"
, "Do YOU know his ward?"
Weonore? Yes, have met her Oh
is charming girl"
I thanked him mentally for that.
"What is her last name, Major"
, "Seabury, of course"
"Then she was an adopted chlld?"
81 always understood she was TN
child of his cousin, by the same name.
, "Did YOU know her mother or lather|
6 81 did not"
9 "Do YOU know anything about herr"
, "Nothing, except that, while SeaDur
q loved her fondly, have seen MN 100
4 over his shoulder at mention OF the nam
Leonore. as though some sudden lea
bad come upon him"
L Nv heart went down to zero
One more question.
"Maior. if I affirmed it as fact woul
Won believe il, that Leonore has bee
= subject to occasional spells of insanit.
O during which. like most mad person
she sought to injure the one sne love
the best. and that it was this "hlc
t. haunted Dr. Seabury day and night
Fl 81 would believe it possible" i-e r
# piled, in the calmest of tones
had no more to say in this regard
% "Maior. if you 60 to the house to SC
the body of your old friend, please DO NJ
N say word of having met NE, or what
have talked about.
@I promise you, Doctor"
a Shaking hands with the soldier, le
j. the hotel.
NV first attempt Instead Of bringlr
CLEAN of light had added to the oar
10 ness. ho oor
r. If this Sept on, would soon De COZ
n relied to grope my way.
70 All my energies were now to be oeVo
ed to finding the party who had cllhO'
the vines on that night.
1r had but one clew to his ldentlty
If norton Of his fore6nger was mis-
is ing. Ito
7 Where should look for him?
at The tool he had dropped seemed to
le dicate that he was burglar, ana cou
be found in dens frequented by such'
IN Being possessed of an adventure
turn. I had seen much of the. great cl'
r. still. I would have hesitated about
m raging in any such undertaking, had t
rt cause been an ordinary one
All that influenced me was my det
mination to leave no stone unturned
the endeavor to save Leonore from I
a. storm clouds gathering around her.
he feverlsh desire to do something v
! upon me. , ouc