The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-10
and turned the key in the lock befots ,As


and turned the key in the lock befote TIA
sergeant could get out.
mo. you don't" said he. between his set
teeth. mo, you don't leave this hogsA
till they come. Mind. ! say nothing: I
make no accusations against you or any
body. But / say this. that no one in this
house shall leave 1t till know VINO II was
that murdered my poor wife.
The sergeant fell back little and looked
puzzled. He was quite silent for moment
and then he said quietly:
IAN right"
Taking a handkerchief from his pockes,
he wiped his face. his neck. his hands.
And Ned saw that his fingers were shaking
as if with palsy.
France stared at him with his cleaning
black eyes.
so you're going to brave it out. are
your" said he.
Ned stepped forward quickly between The
two men.
Come" said ne. Treat the man fairly.
Nothing's proved yet; he doesn't own up,
and he doesn't deny. lie was drunk last
night, remember"
But France was vindictive. savage.
Drunk he repeated. Il don't belieye
IT. He was shamming. Did he drink
enough to make him drunk? Answer nc
that2"
Ned hesitated. The question revived his
doubts of the night before. And yet. al
though the evidence began TO look strong
against the sergeant, Ned's sympathies
were all with him, and not with the do
tracted husband.
France went on:
''Who else could have done II but hin
Didn't you hear the noise? The struggiingf
The screaming
Ned nodded reluctantly
~ didn't hear a struggle. heard
scream. But II was after you called out.
1T was her last cry, said trance.
'"That was just after I came in"
The sergeant. who had been sitting On
chair close 10 the sofa with his head bent
down and his hands loosely clasped to-
gether looked ND.
That's lie" said ne briefly, in low
voice
Robert France started angrily and raised
his fist In a menacing manner.
you dare to tell me what ! say Is a ne
cried he, advancing toward the sergeant III
a threatening manner
Ned got between them.
Come" said he, she has right 70 zen
his version of the story ,.
"ffis versiOnr' shouted France ~. Us
versiOni Who cares for his yerslonF Mao
cares for the word Of murderer
He stoned and silence fel upon all tns
group. For In their midst there stoon :
girlish figure. all in white, with Wnl's
face and wild eyes.
j. was Minnie. -,
Murderer! Murderer" she repealsA
hoarsely. And then. advancing, WIN SIS
ReIfng feet, further into the ro0m' ~ ".
caught sight OF the recumbent hguEe o. ~.
dead woman. Harriet! HARRIET IN, ny
dear. my darlingl Why didn't CONS -
timer"
In a sobbing whisper she uttered tnsss
words: and then she fell on her knees -
side the body The sergeant streicaeo guy
his hand and patted her shoulder se1uy'
Don't cry, NY girl, don't cry! s1'a y
gently .,...-
Robert France. who was moving rss.,rss
" about always Swallowed by Ned : o..
gil. who was bent on preventing iur'4''
mischief, turned sharply. .,,a
Don't let him touch you. MINNIE
he. "He killed her" "a
A SILVER passed over the sefseAiA'
looked w in a bewildered manner. ..a
II killed heri who says so2 no 49, 49,
with sudden vieor, as he sprang az 81.
took a stride in the direction o.
France. a.,
He seemed to understand FOR me N'''
time OF what he was accused .h.,
But Minnie flung herself between 9'''A'
and hung on Eben's arm. ..v.
ut doesn't matter what anybody 80 -
F-ben." said she quietly ana eAEHs -.
while the tears streamed down heT 80
THESE things have 20 30 Prov
they'll never prove 10 against YOU. o.h.y
There was another silence. IHei'
France darted 70 the door ...rv
Wen see about that" sad ne sh' "a
~ Ell
mind" he turned to Ned totne' =. aim
shall hold you responsible n you ~ 80
get away before wo get back. ~.
Tie ran OUT OF tho room ana
stairs. nearly knocking down me "a a. ', "a
who had been awakened by the $40 -
the noise. but had rot dared TO get 49, -.
che scene OF action than the cofr1a3f -
side. ...,r. n
IN the club room, after the oe -. s,r--
the landlord there Was a tong slls7.ig ,se.s,
Ing which Minnie knelt 1y ner 90. -, snf
pressing the lifeless hands N hel "N''
shedding plteous tears. - trio
The sergeant. who had sunk rae -.
the chair from which ne mad fiSeh = = IS
ace Robert France. put bis hands W 4.s.,y
head. ana was evidently pondefihs ' 's.ss,
Ned Fothe~glH Was anxious 70 n
him. but hardly knew how - bes''i r.,f,s
was Minnie who came 70 the reseaf- -
su8deniv she dried her eyes, ana cas. "a
st.u on her knees, toward toeh' 7i'
IA a low vote; vaa.
How did fl happen. E5enF zen si'o
you know about it.' s. re-
s'yVhat-do -kn0w-about ~ +
peated. Nothing. know notisi'sx 49,,
woke up. and / saw her lying on 90 -
there. close ~ the cupboard "Asis
heard She noise last nisat.
What uolgs.s