Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-05-03

ZEN s
''PERHAPs, ALICE. o HAD BETTER
LEAVE US
that my agitation on behalf of my son
arises from any fear lest he should
have had a hand in this terrible affair.
He is utterly innocent of it. My dread
is, however, that in your yes and in
the eyes of others he may appear TO be
| compromised. That, however, is sure
ly impossible. His high character, his
| profession, his ~antecedents would all
forbid it,
"'Your best way is to make q clean
| breast Of the facts I answered. De-
pend upon 1t, II your sol is innocent
he will be none the worse
perhaps, Alice, you had better
leave us together she said, and her
daughter withdrew. Now, SIR she
| continued, I had no intention of tell
ing you all this, but since my pool
!! daughter has disclosed 1t I have no
alternative. Having once decided to
| speak, I will tell you all, without omit
ting any particular
LIT is your wisest COURSE said ].
"'Mr. Drebber has been with us
nearly three weeks. He and his Sec
rotary, Mr.. Stangerson, had been trav-
cling on the continent. l noticed a
"Copenhagen" label upon each of their
trunks, showing that that had been
their last stopping place. Stangerson
was a quiet, reserved man, but his en-
pioyer, l am sorry to say, was far other
wise. He was coarse in his habits and
british in his ways. The very night
of his arrival he became very much the
worse for drink, and. indeed, after
twelve O'Clock in the day he could
hardly ever be said to be sober. His
manners toward the maid servants
| were disgustingly free n familiar.
Worst of all, he speedily assumed the
same attitude toward my daughter,
Alice, and spoke to her more than once
in a way which, fortunately, she is too
innocent to understand. On one occa-
sion he actually seized her In his arms
and embraced her--an outrage which
caused his own secretary to reproach
him for his unmanly conduct
"'But why did you stand all tbis:' /
asked. I suppose hat you can get rid
| Of your boarders when you wish
"Mrs. Carpenter blushed at my
| pertinent question. Would t. God
that l had given him notice on the
very day he came she said. But it
was a sore temptation. They were
paying a pound o day each-fourteen
| pounds a week, and this is q slack sea-
son. am a widow. and my boy in the
navy has cost me much. / grudged to
lose the money. | acted for the best.
This last was too much, however, and
l gave him notice to leave on account
of it. That was the reason of his
going
"'Well?'
"'My heart grew light when I saw
him drive away. My son is on leave
thing Of this, for his temper is violent,
and he is ~passionately fond of his sis
ter. When / closed the door behind
them a load seemed to be lifted from
my mind. Alas! in less than an hour
learned that Mr.. Drebber had re-
evidently the worse for drink. He
forced his way into the room where
was sitting with my daughter, and
made some incoherent remark about
having missed the train. He then
IL W ZAIISC dAN, DCAOIO L. SCAJ
face, proposed to her that she should
fly with him. "You are of age" hs
said, and there Is no law to stop you.
I nave money enough and TO spare.
Never mind the old girl here, but
come along with me now straight
away. You shall live like n princess
Poor Alice was SO frightened that
she shrunk away from him, but he
caught her by the wrist and ~endeavored
to draw her toward the door. ]
screamed, and at that moment my son
Arthur came into the room. What
happened then I do not know.
heard oaths and the confused sounds
Of a scufne. I was too terrified to
raise my head. When I did look up !
saw Arthur standing in the doorway
laughing, with q stick in his hand.
81 don't think hat fine fellow will
trouble us again." he said. II will
just go after him and see what he doel
with himself" With those words he
took his hat and started off down the
street. The next morning we heard O:
MIR. Drebber's mysterious death
'This statement came from Mrs
Charpentier's lips with many gasps
and pauses. At times she spoke sc
low that 1 could hardly catch the
words. / made shorthand notes of al
that she said, however. SO h a there
should be no possibility Of q mistake
"It's quite exciting" said Sherlock
Holmes, with a yawn. What happened
next?"
when Mrs. Carpenter paused
the detective continued, 81 saw tina,
b whole case hung upon one point.
Fixing her with my eye In a way which
I always found effective with women
I asked her at what hour her SON re.
turned.
"tI do not know she answered.
"tNot know?'
"tNo; he has q latch-key, and le'
himself in
"tAfter you went to bed?
eyes
"'When did you go to bed?'
"tAbout eleven
$50 your son vas gone at least t~<
hours?'
eyes
"'Possibly four or Aver
"fYes.r
"tWhat was he doing during thai
time?'
81 do not know she answered, turn
Ing white to her very lips.
"Of course after hat there wa.
nothing more to be done. found out
where Lieut.. Charpentier was, tool
two officers with me, and arrested him
When / touched him on the shoulde.
and warned him to come quietly Will
us, he answered us as bold as brass: =