Evening star., 1896-02-22

the medical man who attended Sir Henry
on his deathbed?"
"A Dr. Stone, I believe-a local practi-
tiener!'
'Have you interviewed him?''
"No! 1 didn't see the necessity! Sir
Charles told me he lad the certificate OF
death. which said that the old man died
of paralysis of the brain"
Il propose that we go and see this DR..
Stone at once!
Good heavens, man! what have you got
in your head now?''
"On1y an idea, Jack. raised by the ac-
tions of that poor idiot yonder. Did you
notice how she pointed to her mouth and
then scratched at the earth above the
grave, as if she wanted to scratch the body
up?"
And what do you make of that-from an
idiot. Benz"
Idiots often have more sense than wise
men give them credit for This Miss era
lay was in the old baronet's room till he
died, you tell me, and saw all that passed,
though she has but few means Of relating
the story. Why should she want to
scratch him up again? Why does she as
sociate the idea with her mouth-with
something going into her open mouth? Has
she seen anything go into his? Will taking
up the body reveal the truth? His death
appears to have been sudden and rather
mysterious one-the widow :ells you that
before the quarrel with his son he was as
well and hearty as herself. The son says
that ha never heard that his father was
II.
Quarrels. however painful. do not
rule kill people"
But the old gentleman had decided
stroke. Goddard, the butler, and Mrs. Mel
son bear witness to that
Il dare say; but strokes do not kill the
first time of occurrence-at least, not as
rule-especially when the subject is
strong and hearty. I think it is our duty
to see the doctor who attended him."
But we are not trying to find out case
of murder" I objected.
"Well! that is my notion" answered
| Ben, but If my heads no good to you I'd
better go back to London
| 1 didn't like to hear the old boy talk like
! that, for I had the greatest admiration for
| his cuteness and faith in his opinion, as
| rule. though this proposal. of his did seem
| rather unnecessary to me. But Ben Crewe
was strange fellow! Occasionally we 9TH
ers have said amongst ourselves that there
was something uncanny about him. He
| would refuse to see a reason for thing,
sometimes. when 1t seemed as clear as
day, and then all Of a sudden he would
start the wonderfullest notion-dream, as
| it were. or it came across his mind just like
| a flash OF lightning. without apparent
| rhyme or reason, but it would prove to be
| the right thing in the end, and left us all
wondering how he had got hold Of it. So 1
had great faith in Ben, even when he
| seemed most unintelligible, and wouldn't
have flown in the face Of his wishes for
anything. / told him something Of the sort
| on tho present occasion, but he only an
| swered rather gruffiy, as though he didn't
| like 1t mentioned: ~Never mind where I
got it, or If it's my own idea or some one
eise's. I want to see this doctor. and the
sooner we go to him the better
Accordingly We stopped at his house on
| our way back to the hotel, and were soon
| ushered into his surgery. OF course, he had
! heard, in common with everybody else, of
| our presence in Manningford and the rea-
| son for our being there, and he came into
| the room with rather perturbed express
| sion Of countenance, as if he hoped he were
not going to be mixed up with the affair.
| 1 left Ben to be the spokesman. and aci
cordingly he began:
1--WE have taken the liberty of calling to
| see you, DR.. Stone, in the interests Of JUS
| tice. There was a robbery committed at The
| Gables, as doubtless you know all about
| whilst the old baronet was lying i'll. and
| whom, we understand, you attended on his
deathbed."
THAT is true, Mr.-Mr.-,'' said the doc
| tor.
"Crewe, at your service, SIR" interposed
! Ben.
Mr. Crewe! thank you: but cannot see
| low my having attended Sir Henry in his
| last illness can have any bearing on the
possibly know anything about the robbery!'
Perhaps not, SIR" said Ben. 'but con-
clude that you know what Sir Henry died
Of"
DR.. Stone looked startled-almost fright
| eped.
-'Of course 1 do! He died Of paralysis Of
| the brain. I gave q certificate to that ef-
feet"
We've heard as much" said Ben, ''but
are you certain that was the only cause Of
death?'