The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1895-07-25

pletely, she taunted Leclerc with having
no object but that of escaping from the
meshes in which he was entangled by
marrying Ethel and possessing himself
through her of sufficient money 70 en-
able him to escape from his difficulties.
This taunt, which was wholly unworthy
of Mrs. Davorn and undeservcd by Le-
clerc, had angcred Ethel beyond meas
ure, and ON the night Of the 9th of Oc-
tober she had given her lover at parting
promise TO marry him ON the follow
ing day.
Ethel had pondered over all this in
the solitude of her own room ON the
night of the 9th Of October. She was
sorely grieved at having upset her aunt,
but she had not yet been able to forgive
the unworthy taunt which Mrs. Davon
had leveled at her lover. It was long
after midnight when she fell asleep, and
the first sounds which had disturbed her
in the morning were the sounds made
by Constable Metcalf in his attempts to
rouse the house.
Ethel Rodney was now in an utterly
bewildered state of mind. She was fran
tic with grief and could not yet wholly
realize that she was never again to see
her aunt, whose last hours she had
made miserable.
Her dazed reveries were interrupted
by Constable Metcalf, who knocked
quietly at the half open door of the par
lor. A faint Come in" greeted him
81 am very sorry, miss" said the
suave policeman as he entered the room
and gazed at the distracted girl, "but, "
closing the door, Il must ask you FOR
some information.
Metcalf was determined to have full
notebook before the matter was taken
out Of his hands by his inspector.
The sight of the policeman seemed to
have steadying effect on the young
girl
GOT course" she said, Il will give
you any information 1 can. was al
most stupefed when l opened the door
for you this morning, but / think l feel
quieter now. "
"Im glad to hear it, miss, FUN
bling with his notebook.
"The deceased lady, Mrs Dayorn,
was your aunt!
eyes. T"
"When did you see her alive last?"
"About II o'clock last night =
"Where?"
oIn her bedroom. "
WAS she complaining of any illness?"
81 do not remember that she com
planned, but she had not been well for
some days from overexcitoment,
think.
"By the way, miss, said the consta-
BILE after he had committed this infor-
nation to his notebook, "are you aware
that the window of this room hero was
opened during the nightY"
Ethel Rodney rose quickly from her
chair at the question, her face distorted
with terror.
''What do you mean?" she asked,
painting. "The window opened during
the night? You surely don't mean TO
convey that any one broke into the house
last night. Oh, do not tell me this, -
she momed. at is almost moro terrible
than what discovered this morning. "
/ She fell back into her chair and bur
led her face in her hand
Constable Metcaf stood silently by
still busy with his notebook
eyes, miss, he added, after pause.
| "It does look TO me as if some one had
broken into the house last night.
The girl took her hands from her face
and gazed at the officer Of the law
'You surely don mean to suggest, y
she asked, with calmness which dis
concerted Constable Metcaf almost as
much us Mr. Steinworth's S early volu-
bility, "that my aunt has been-has =
she hesitated, the words almost choking
her-"that my dear aunt did not die q
natural deathY'
II am afraid it looks as if she didn't,
miss. "
"Oh, this is terrible-terriblep J. cried
Ethel Rodney, rising from her chair
and walking up and down the room
beating her hands against her skirts.
"Terriblev -
Constable Metcalf stood, notebook il
hand, watching her futiyely. He die
not attempt to speak until he saw thai
she had again become calmor.
Gould there be any reason in you
mind, miss, he asked, 'why any one
should break into the houseY"
"There might be. There might be I
reason, answered Ethel, standing still
and clasping her hands. And it is al
most too awful 10 think of. Oh, wha
shall do? And we quarreled bitterl,
last night. My dear aunt My dea
aunt :"
Again she made violent effort TO re
strain her emotion.
"You must think me very strange
very wild, she said. "But HEAVIER
knows l have reason now TO be strang
and wild. There, am better now. "
"That s right, miss. 1t won't do Z
give way too much, you know Their
is always some trouble around us. If /
is not past and gone it's i'll front Of us,
he added, with wise shake Of his head
"But tell me, miss-that is, if you wisl
to give me the information-what il
your opinion might be a good reason 10
person to break intO this house las
night. People usually do that sort Q
thing for plate or for money "
'''rhere was money here.
..Doyou mean any considerable suInS
Thirteen hundred pounds.
i'Phewl Have you any idea wher
tho sum of money was? OF course
may still be in the same place, an
you're not bound 70 give mo amy answe
if you don't like "
hWhy should l not2'' asked Ethe
with flashing eyes. 1.-THE money was i
| my auutis bedroom She had drawn