The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-08
CHAPTER VI-THE RETALIATION.

Phoebe Doles.
Second. who had IN her piece-bag bits
Of the same threads ana rawlings found
upon your parlor floor where she had
not by your knowledge entered? Phoebe
Dole.
Third. who interested herself most
strangely in your blood-stained green silk
dress, even to dying it, Phoebe Dole
Fourth, who was caught IA lie. while
trying TO force the guilt Of the murder
upon an innocent man? Phoebe Dole"
Mr. Dix looked at me ] had ga thered
myself together THAT proves nothing
I said. There is no motive in her case
There is a motive"
s'What is ito"
Maria Woods shall tell you this after
noon"
He then wrote;
Fifth, who was seen 70 throw a bun
ole down the old we'll in the rear of Mar
1in Fairbanks house. at 1 o clock ia the
morning? Phoebe Dole
Was she-seen?" 1 gasped. Mr.. Dix
nodded. Then he wrote:
sixth, who had a strong motive, which
had been in existence many years ago?
Phoebe Dole"
Mr.. DIX laid down his pen and looked
al me again. well, what have you TO
Bay?" he asked
1T is impOssible!'
"Why?"
''She is a woman"
"A man could have fired that pistol, as
she tried TO do"
1T would have taken a mans strength
10 kill with the kind of weapon that was
used" / said.
mo It would not. No great strength is
required for such a blow"
but she is a woman
Crime has no sex"
But she is a good woman, church
member. heard her pray yesterday after
noon II is not in character
1T is not for you, nor for me, nor for
any mortal intelligence to know what is,
or is not in character" Said Mr.. Dix.
He rose and went away 1 could only
stare at him in a half dazed manner
Maria Woods came this afternoon, TAX
ing advantage OF Phoebe's absence on a
dressmaking erraud. Maria has aged ten
years in the last few weeks. Her hair
IS white. her cheeks are fallen in, her
pretty color is gone.
May ] have the ring-he gave me
forty years ago?" she faltered.
] gave il TO her. she kissed II, and sobbed
like child. phoebe took it away from
me before" she said, "but she shan't this
time
Maria related with piteous little sobs
the story of her long subordination to
Phoebe Dole. This sweet, child-like wom-
an had always been completely under the
sway of the others stronger nature. The
EubOrdinatiOn went back beyond my Ia
Tiers original proposal 10 her; she had,
before he made love TO her as girl, prom
Used Phoebe she would not marry, and
81 was Phoebe who had, by representing
10 her that she was bound by this solemn
promise, led her 10 write the letter to
my father declining his offer and send
ing back the ring.
And after all we were going to get
married. if he had not died" she said.
He was going TO give me this ring again,
and he had had the other date put in.
should have been so happy
She stopped and stared at me with hor-
Tor-stricken inquiry.
What was Phoebe doing out in your
back yard at l o'clock that night? she
cried.
What do you mean?" I returned.
II saw Phoebe come out of your back
shed door at ] o'clock that very night.
She had a bundle in her arms. She went
along the path about as far as the old
we'll; then she stopped down ana seemed
TO be working at something When she
got up she didn't have the bundle. I was
watching at our back door. l thought 1
heard her go out a little while before,
and went downstairs. and found that door
unlocked / went in quick, and up to
my chamber, and into my bed, when she
started home across the field. Pretty soon
heard her come IN; then I heard the
pump going. She slept downstairs; she
went on to her bedroom What was she
y
you must ask per" I said. I felt my
blood running cold
"I've been afraid to-" moaned Maria
Woods. She's been dreadful strange late
Iy. I wish that book agent was going to
stay at our house"
Maria Woods went home in about an
hour. I got a ribbon for her and she has
my poor fathers ring conceaed in her
wfthered bosom Again, cannot believe
this.
Thursday.-It is all over: Phoebe Dole
has confessed l do not know now IN
exactly what way Mr. Dix brought It
ebout-how he accused her Of her crime.
After breakfast 1 saw them coming across
the field. Phoebe came FIRST, advancing
with rapid strides like a man; Mr. Dix
followed, and my fathers poor old sweet
heart tOttered behind, with her handker-
chief at her eyes. Just as I noticed them
the front door bell rang; I found several
people there, headed by the high sheriff
They crowded into the sitting room just
as Phoebe Dole came rushing in, with Mr.
Dix and Maria Woods
Il did it!' Phoebe croed out to me. 4 am
found out, and 1 have made up my mind to
confess. She was going to marry your
father-I found it out. l stopped it once
before. This time 1 knew I couldn't IN
less I killed him. Shes lived with me in
that house for over forty years There
are other ties as strong as the marriage
one ina. are JUST as sacred. W nat right
had he to take her away from me and
break up my home?
Il overheard your father and Rufus Ben
nett having words. I thought folks would
think he did it. I reasoned it all out.
had watched your cat go in that little
door. l knew the shed door unlocked, I
knew how long my arm was: [ thought
could undo it. I stole over here a little
after midnight. ] went all round the
house TO be sure nobody was awake out
IN tho front yard l happened to think my
shears We're tied on my belt with a rib
bon, and ! united them. / thought l nut
the ribbon in my pocket-it was a piece of
yellow rbbon-but ] suppose ] didn't. be-
cause they found il aftcrward. and thought
1t came Off your young mans whip.
went round 10 The shed door I'M
hooked It ana went in The moon pa,a
light enough ] got out your fathers
oYerails from The kitchen closet: knew
where they were. ] went through fha ltt