The Dickinson press., 1894-06-09
CHAPTER IN.
liS1,t mt Last.

" ~ Ass&~S
When Cicely recovered consciousness
she was lying on The sofa in the little
boudoir next to her own room. Her
husband was on his knees beside her,
gazing into her face with an agonized
devotion which moved her when she
opened her eyes. to constant tears, be-
fore She remembered II of the Cir
substances which had preceded her
of consciousness.
"My darling. my poor. poor Cicely.
What have you not suffered for me?
aow-how-"
He broke down, and mur,n,red only
lncoherently in her ears unfinished SEN
fences full Of passionate endearmcnt,
Of gratitude, of reverence. of protcc-
ton.
But through I'LL there ran Il note Of
tragic sadness. At last he drew back
his head. and, clasping her face be-
tween his hands. stared into her face in
blank bcwildcrmcnt, mingled with fear.
"IIow did you do it?' he whispered
hoarScly nj last. WAS it on the night
he 1i,,p.! with us: Don't shake and
trrnlh!r i.i>t> that. child. Don't stare at
me Will. those wild eyes. | know YOU
were mad when You did it. and that
you did it for me. DO You think l
should forget that? Cirrly.. Ciccly!!"
For his wife had suddenly wrrnched
herself away from him. and. starting
up to her feet, was watching him. and
hanging upon his words as Il condemned
criminal hangs upon those of the mes
Scngrr who brings him Il pardon.
..\N'b,n ,lil-I-1n III" shn lr.nn1fn(l
slowly, dwelling upon each word.
when dill ! do it:"
Duke thought she had gone mad;
there was delirium in her eyes, Then
you did not kill Joseph lsalstock!
but l saw you go in there with a
'lnif". heard him Groan!"-with q
shulder she covered her face with hel
hands.
II WAS ruined. and Padstock had
found out something l had done and
threatened to expose me. and l saw nc
hope" answered Duke in Il shaking
VOICE. II took the knife to kill myself,
But when l got into the cellar | heard
Il yroan. which l own | took for u su.
pcr1latural rchukc. 1t must have been
Radstock. But l did not know he was
there"
Didn't you give him tho cellar key"
asked Ciccly. He said you did"
NO, | had fallen asleep in the study
and be must have taken it without ous
ing me-
Ciccly stood for a few minutes, hel
recovered wits husying themselves with
the details Of this disclosure. Then
She turned to Duke ~impctuously.
Then you thought | had done it
What do they Think"
Duke shook his head.
Il don't know. Perhaps"
Ciccly interrupted him, dragging him
toward the door.
I'VE must tell them. Come. Quick
And we must find out how it hap
pencd."
1t was not difficult to guess at least
q part Of the truth; but there were
others to convince. notably Mr.. William
Bennington, who had taken such an &c
tive part in what he believed to be the
unmasking OF his ncpllcw's guilt. Duke
felt that he had an account to settle
with him.
Husband and wife, as they Went
down stairs together, heard subduet
voices in the d~rawing-room.
''Tlley are all III here" said Duke
Now don't say anything, but leave
everything to me-"
They entered the dra wing-room, wheI
a silence fell at once upon the occu
pants.
"A bad business, this" began the el
der Mr.. Bennington, in tones in whicl
genuine complacency struggled with al
assumption of concern, about rs ba,
a business as I've yer had the mis-
fortune to come across"
why talk about it, then, uncle?
broke in Minna's clear voice. wv
must all make the best of it and husl
it up; and then l, for III shall not fee
ut all sorry that somebody met his de
serts. There's the credit Of the famil
to be thought Of"
Duke crossed over to the tircplac
with a flash of his old, swngSerin
i~mpetuosity.
$50 far from doing that, UNCLE" sal
he, with Il sharp pull Of the bell, :
intend to send at once for the nearer
doctor, and for a policeman. The sool
er we give publicity to the matter, II
sooner we are likely to get to Il
facts"
Every one in the room was startle
by this announcement. Duke maintai
ed q stubborn silence, after giving tt
necessary orders to the servant WI
answered the bell. until the arrival
the doctor. who happened t" be OF
with whom most of those present had
slight personal acquaintance.
Doctor Fielding" then began Dull
at once, 1.-The dead body Of IL clerk
mine, who has been missing for Il
past fortnight. has just been foul
in my w%ine-cellar. 1t has not be.
touched; as l thought that i'll a ca
of this kind, where very unpleasant su
picions might be aroused. it was be
ter not to make any Investigations in
the cause of the death without scientil
assistance. l have also sent for Il p
liceman, as of course III official
quiry will have to take place, and
wish to show that we court the flu
est inquiry. l should like these gent
men, and he turned toward his unc
and the two younger men. Ito be wi
ncsses of your examination, as thu
were OF the discovery"
Then Duke led the way down stair
the doctor and the other three gent
men following: while the pOlicema
who had been waiting in the la
brought up the rear.
Duke. who had the sense to kno
that his position WAS too grave f
half-contiienceS, confessed that his d
ficultics had led him TO contcmpla
suicide. and that under such an impul
he had taken into the cellar the kni
which now lay Oh the floor. Invrstig.
ton showed nj ON" that the knit
although it WAS sl,lashcd with a sp
= Of blood. could not nave been used rs
: weapon. Then came. the more impt
tant work Of examining the body.
% 1t was without anxiety that Du
9 now watched the doctors movemen
: After all. the result of the cXaminati
= might not be conclusive enough
clear him from all suspicion. For the
were blood stains under the body a
on the wall. The doctor asked Il Il
questions rs 10 the condition Rudst0
had been in on the night Of his dis;
peurancc. Then he uttered an int
lection. as if satisfied.
And what. doctor. was the cause