The advocate., 1895-06-12
BOOK II.
CHAPTER ".
t'IF lie DIDN'T, WHO DID?"

''IF HE DIDN'T WHO DIDP
Gertrude's exclamation and shrieks only annoyed
Isaac Stilwe who had not the slightest suspicion Of
their real meaning. She and the murdered mans
daughter, Eloise, year or two her elder, had
been as devoted as sisters since their childhood,
and they visited each other almost daily. She
very much liked Mrs Hotchkiss and the dead
man himself, for outside his professional affairs,
the old lawyer had been very kindly even
loVable, man. So Isaac Stiwell assumed without
hesitation that the exclamation "It is fslsel" had
reference to the announcement that HOtchkiss had
been murdered, and resulted from horror at the
thought that it could be true. His pride would have
prevented him from suspecting that any member of
his household could ''stoOp to notice such scoun-
drel" even had Gertrude's demonstrations been
still more pointed So he satisfied himself with his
faYorite explanation that, always and all occs.
sions, women might be expected to ''mske senti-
mental fools of themselves" and he did not deem it
necessary to look after his daughter.
Neither did Reuben suspect the truth, but his
loved niece's piercing cries made him hasten to her
room, where Mrs. Stilwell had already arrived. For
tunately, Gertrude's further exclamstions were so
far muhled that they were not heard down stairs,
but they caused suspicion Of the truth to enter the
minds Of the mother and the uncle, and Reuben sue
ceeded in impressng upon the frenzed girl the sbso-
lutte necessity Of prudence, lest her father should
hear and comprehend.
When Reuben returned, his brother asked no OK.
planation but merely muttered his own hypothesis:
''Women are FOOLS and sense is not to be expected
Of them"
It was fortunate that he required no information;
for Reuben was prepared tosuppy some very artistic
ally constructed misinformstion which would have
reflected credit upon statesman
Next morning after Isaac Stilwell had left the
house, Reuben induced Gertrude to tell him the
whole story that he might befrend her if he could
and she impaired all the reader knows-with the ex
Ception of few details which she perhaps, had for
gotten. AS Reuben was to attend the inquest, she
particularly charged him to notice the supposed
murderer and Dobbins, if he should chance to be
there, and Judge for himself whether she was not
ust6abe in preferrng the reVolutionist to the Rut
snd merchant.
Isaac Stwel had started early to the scene of the
murder where the inquest was to be held, and
where out of superstitious reverence for supposed
legal requirements in those days, the body had re-
mained so Reuben went alone. But short dis
tance from town he was overtaken by another horse
man who, upon coming up, inquired
"GoIng to the inquest"
eyes, sir" answered the democratic Reuben, who
had not the remotest idea who his interrogation was
Are your"
"Yes. II guess you don't know me, although re-
member Reuben Stilwell as if he hadn't been gone
day. I'm Job Cottle, the cabinet maker"
"Why so you are" and Reuben extended his
hand for cordial grasp. "And of all men you are
the one wish most to see at this very moment. My
niece has told me of your friendship for Mr. Stone
and for some reason take good deal of interest in
him, although it would not be best to have it known
You understand
~ rather guess do DO you know SydP"
ssWho is hep"
'Why, Stone sgd Stone."
siNo, do not. He could have been no more than
youth when I left, you know. But am quite Ger