Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-27

seemed to offer so ready an avenue OF escape
from the situation in which her father
sought to place her.
&c that all. I.ou?" asked the professor,
with his best assumption of fatherly KIND
ress. He dared not hint to his daughter
what he had inferred to be the fact, that
Dr. Williams, in his testimony, had told only
what he had been compelled to tell, and that
he was generally regarded as an unWlllinS
witness who had unfortunately escaped
severe cross-examnation The professor had
heard the story of the inquest from Squire
Taylor who he had blandly called upon to
ask about it. He had also picked up not a
little suggestive Information here and there
from villagers with when he HAD passed the
time of day, and from that ready converse
tionaliSt, Mr.. Philbrick.
Professor Drummond had made a point
of making a seml-contidante of Philbrick
Its so hard, you know, Philbrick," he had
said, Ito set clear statement from country
people
And Mr.. Philbrick with his happiest smiles
had related the salient features of the in
quest, dwelling with generous emphasis
upon the GOODNESS and apparent candor
with which the doctor had given his tesu-
mCry.
fessor,' said Philbrlck, that a good many
of these yokels were dreaming evil dreams
auut.t you, and they expected good deal
from the doctor. 1t put him in a hard po-
sition, born and brought up here as he
was and sensitive about his professional
standing, don't you know. 1t might have
been a fine feather in his cap to present
things in such light as apparently to JUS
tify suspicion, but l happen to know that
from the beginning the doctor has been
very clear headed about the whole matter.
He has been determined that no stupid
misconception of the facts should be fos-
tered by any words from him. He did re-
markably well, professor. 1t was something
law a
discourage senseless litigation"
Perhaps the genial Mr. Philbrick would
not have been quite so generous III discuss
ing his rival if it had not been that his
watchfu eyes had taken in that brief, in:
cipient scene between Louise and the doc
tor in the court room. Seeing it, his intel
ligence would have been shamei had he
not understood it. He could afford to be
generous, therefore, with his rival hopeless
ly msinterpreted.
Professor Drummond started for home
after this conversation satisfied of two
things: it not Philbrick who had re-
moved the brass switch from the table leg
and DR.. Williams must be powerfully af-
fected by some eXtraneouS impulse not to
reveal what he knew and surmised about
the tragedy. The professor was not wholly
certain that it was not Amelia who had re-
moved the switch, but it was clear enough
| for his purposes that the doctor knew
TIore than he had told, and SurniSed more
| than he knew.
So, when the professor asked Louise if the
doctors apparent hostility to him was the
| only cause for her rejection of the doctor s
| proposal, he confident that he would
| be able to smooth away that objection with
| out compromising himself, for Louise had
| never been disobedient and confidence In
| her father was one of her best traits. He
| was, therefore, surprised and just a little
dismayed when she shook her head.
Tell me, Lou he said, after a moment
| ''is it another attraction?'
Her downcast eyes answered him. II
! meant Philbrick, of course. The professor