Evening star., 1895-07-20


dignant yet more inclined to look at
things reasonably.
Very well then.' she said 'If I must
see this-this man. will do so: but be
nor will submit to being questioned"
when will you come DOWN." asked.
VERY shortly" she replied. and again
closed the door.
I returned to the library where I found
Phillips and acquainted him with the sue
cess of my mission. He bowed and made
some remark expressive of regret at being
obliged to trouble Miss Smith at such a
time Then we sat silent for few min
utes.
II presume, of course, that you will ex-
anime Mr.. Raiph7y said at last.
Before he could answer we heard the
rustic Of a woman's gown in the hall, and
Mary threw open the door and stood in the
threshold. Phillips started to his feet, with
short inartculate exclamation. His face
was very pale, and I saw him clutch the
table as If for support. My niece eyed him
curiously. with her head thrown forward
and her lips tightly apart. Her look was at
first vague and inquiring. as If trying to
remember something, and then partook
somewhat of the detectives agitation
Il have nothing at all to say" she be-
gan; and won't say anything except that
! know that the man you suspect is entirely
innocent"
In moment she had turned and disap-
peared. I half rose to remonstrate and
beg her to remain. but Phillips put out his
1T Is unnecessary" he said. "I know
all that want to know"
Pnfllfps resumed his seat, while I gaZed
at him wonderingly and apprehensively
ne was now entirely composed. and no
sign Of his late agitation remained except
an Increase of his pallor and a deepening
or the lines Of his face. I recalled the par
agraph in the superintendent's letter re-
Ierring to the bad health of his favorite de-
tectfve, which had almost prevented our
obtaining his assistance; and I again re-
preached myself for the thoughtlessness
which had entirely ignored the condition Of
in upon just as was about to put them
into words by Phillips rising slowly.
viii you pardon me-" he said. IF ask
you to let me retire? 1 am not entirely
we'll. as you know, but imagine a full
nights rest will enable me to do better
work in the morning."
9 now took occasion to apologize FOR my
lack Of consideration, and to express the
freshed and not allow me in my eager sell
fishness to drive him harder than the con-
dttfon of his health would justify. ALI this
l said as led the way to his room. but he
waived my protestations aside and insisted
that he would find himself entirely able to
stand all that could be put upon him. After
seeing that he had everything that he re-
quired, bade him good night.
Il think ! can promise you. Mr.. Smith, :"
he said. with a peculiar sraveness in his
tone and manner. " that we are very near
the solution of this matter"
Then he closed the door, and I went to
my own room.
Once there found time to look over the
curious scene in the library between my
niece. and the detective, and the more
thought the more 1t disquieted me. His
last remark. too. seemed to me, to say the
least. ominous; and altogether, slept little
or none.
1 got up about half-past Z. and, after
dressing hastily. went down stairs. Phil
lips had not appeared, and I hesi.ated a
while as to whether should awaken him,
deciding finally in the negative. Mary. of
course, did not leave her room. At last
the clock struck 0. l went up to the detec-
tive's door and listened: Evidently. he was
not moving, SO I knocked-gently at first,
then more decidedly, but without response.
Finally 1 ventured to try the door. only to
find that 1t was locked on the inside. / now
time to time. until at last, thoroughly
frightened by the persistent silence, I put
my shoulder against 1t and forced it open.
Phillips was lying on the bed. apparently
daylight was streaming through the win
dow. His lIps were parted and his cheeks
seemed slightly flushed. 1 spoke to him
and laid my hand on his shoulder.
Then / yecoiled with sudden horror. The
man was dead-rigid-cold as stone, and
had evideLtly been dead for many hours.
The shock of this discovery was so great
that for few moments l was utterly un-
I began to realize the full extent of the
calamity, and regret for what seemed to
me the extinction of our best hope to learn
the truth as to my brothers murder, was
mingled with a deeper regret that the
strain of my interests had been the last
straw to break down an overworked and
useful life. Pervading all was the con-
sciousness Of a possibility too horrible to
however, but notify the authorities, and
before the day had passed the house was
again thronged with coroner. physicians,
corstables and jurymen.
The body of the dead detective was ex-
amined. He had evidently prepared him
self for bed as usual: his clothes were laid
carefully over chair. and he had passed
awsy In his sleep apparently without
struggle or p;.ng. ] breathed a sigh of
heartfelt relief when the investigation dis
closed no evidence of violence, and the
verdict was rendered accordingly: Death
by heart failure. occasioned by exhaustion
and overwork."
My brothers funeral had been set for
the following day. and confess to some
thing Of a mental struggle as to whether
should at once acquaint the local au-
thoritfes with Phillips discoveries. Skid.
more. the village constable. was the last
to leave me. and as he did so he took occa-
sion to intimate that the solution of the
murder had been pretty accurately arrived
at, and that without the aid of mo high
falutin city detective"
What do you mean?' asked quickly.
''Oh! nuthin' much" he replied only
we've found out that that there feller
Ralph was seen a walkin' up tn road in
this direction bout five o'clock that morn
in"
"Who saw him?'
BILLY Cough. reckon he don't know
much, but he knows enough not ter be
fooled on a feiier that's bin round here as
long as Ralph has"
With this parting shot the local Hawk
shaw took his departure, leaving me
considerably perturbed at his information.
I had begun somehow to feel satisfied of
the innocence of the young collegian. A
knife thrust was the last method a man
like him would adopt. and 1t seemed to me
to bring the crime closer to the Italians
with whom. my brother had quarreled
" neither this impression originated within.
myself or whether felt unconsciously
~ ! s.