Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-06-07
"I had rather not question Ellen. I"

MY uedr DOy, Sdlu tne pnNSlCluu jill
low and not wholly steady voice, "ore
you sure your sister has been entirely
happy Of late?"
81 am quite sure she has not" cried
Maxcy impotuoualy.
''Do you know what troubled herr"
Maxcy did not answer, but he became
scarlet to the roots Of his hair The light
was dim, but the change in the artists
manner did not escape the observant
physician. DR.. Lamar became slightly
embarrassed.
Il beg your pardon if in my anxiety
for your welfare l have touched on
family matter"
at is nothing to he ashamed Of "
blurted out Maxey, "but it is her own
secret and l have no right to mention
it. She has never whispered word to
me. But am not blind. "
Don't betray her. beg Of you said
the physician earnestly, "but when she
RECEIVERS, if you have any power to re-
move the cause of her unhappincss, do
SO. l say this in all oarnestncss. She
must not be allowed to brood. "
Maxey suddenly arose. For the first
| time the nature of his friend 5 suspicion
dawned upon him.
"You believe this was my sisters
own act?" he exclaimed in an unnatural
ly calm voice.
"She wore the handkerchief about
her neck. / noticed it there this after
noon "
"She did, cried Maxoy, losing his
| Calmnoss all at once She did, but
don't you f1atter yourself Lamar, that
the unhappincss | spoke Of was Of suffi-
cient strength to induce the poor girl TO
take her own life, Not a bit Of it, sir
Not in the least! Preposterous! 1t would
have urged her rather to live. The idea!
| Why, there isn't naturally more cheer
ful and contented person alive than my
sister Ellen. Kill herself? guess not!
| One of these days, Lamar, you'll see
what fool You we made Of yourself. Is
this your ground for believing Annette
| incapable? Eustaco, if am crazy, you're
/ a raving maniac.
The artist was pacing the floor eXcit-
! eddy and spoke as if he was addressing
a multitude
Don't talk so loud" said Lamar,
little impaticntly you know am the
last man in tho world to wish to believe
this theory. You know | would never
mention it to any other than yourself.
Nothing but a sense Of duty and personal
friendship would induce me to speak Of
1t now If it is true, it is necessary that
you should be warned. If it is not true.
you will forgive mo for speaking Of il.
You believe, MaXey, that the imbecilo
pulled the ends Of the handkerchief your
sister wore. Did che imbecile also lock
the door,
Maxey stopped as abruptly in his walk
as if he had suddenly encountered a
wall. There was complete silence for
full minute, and then the artist spoke
in different tone
q am acting like lunatic," he said
quietly. Il have too little system. |
only take in half the situation and ig-
more the other half. There is a signiti-
cameo in that locked door, quite othc1
perhaps than had imagined. We each
Jumped to q conclusion. We undoubtcd-
ly are both wrong. Lamar, l am going
to search the house. VIII you come
too?'
His manner was so much more calm
than it had been that Dr.. Lamar felt re-
lieved Of great responsibility.
"You have recovered yourself, Max
ev,' he said. Don't lose your head
again at the first new turn in affairs. -
Maxey accepted the rcbukc quietly
"You are right, Eustacc. l do lose my
head too easily. But l have recovered
myself now. Meanwhile am afraid We
have lost very valuable time -
Dr. Lamar arose with new light in
his eyes.
"Thon you THING
That somebody may have been here
in my absence.
This seemed positively luminous
idea to the physician. Bad as the alter
native was, under the circumstances
both men would be glad to accept it.
Nevertheless Lamar said doubtingly:
'Do you suspect anybody?'
"No"
SIS there any possible motivc?'
"To kill my sister? IN Gods name,
how could there be?''
"Wha1 enemies have you?"
"No/c, thank God!'
Lamar sighed. After all, was there
much plausibility in the artists sugges
ton? All at once he turned upon his
friend with new question:
"MaXey, are you sure you have mo-
been robbed"
Maxey started,
Il was thinking of that very thing
myself | have not missed anything
but | have been very much excited, anC
possibly-possibly, Lamar, see it all
We went out, and the thief who ha(
been watching his chance crept in. Al
was dark here, and while he was search
ing for valuablcs he alarmed Ellen, whit
was asleep on the bed. She thought per
haps it was myself returning and called
to him. To save himself he sprang upOI
her and choked her. When she becam,
motionless, he ran and locked the door
6 I,i,