The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-14

perceived that he had come as near the
truth as he ever did; that my uncle was
going to make reparation to Norman
unless Stalbridge succeeded in pre-
venting him from doing so. That the
rascal for once distrusted his power
over my uncle and feared that Norman :
interests would be guarded. could
read in his eyes. II was, then, time
for me to go upon the mission that had
brought me down town; which was TO
see my uncle and plead Nornan's cause.
As q matter of fact, | knew that that
cause needed all my effort. My uncle $
consent to the marriage was thing not
to be depended upon. l had been sur
prised when it had been dragged out OF
him: and had looked for him to change
his mind at any moment.
/ turned about abruptly, and began
to walk back toward the Ann street
bank building. Stalbridge kept by my
side. l could not shake him off. We
entered the building together. by the
side door. which is very little used, as
there is 10 elevator in that hail.
MY uncle's room was on the third
floor at the rear. The Union lines had
gorgeous offices at the front: my uncle's
room was hidden away. There was no
name on the door. Nobody else but
Stalbridge had desk there, even the
harmless, necessary typewriter, being
banished.
Stalbridge knocked. That was his
invariable custom. and it gave me a
bad impression of the room. as a place
where secret meetings We're held
meetings of two where neither dared
permit witness to be present.
There was no answer to Stalbridge's
knock.
Mr.. Davis must have gone out he
said. "Will you wait for him.
He drew out his key and tried to put
1t into the lock, but it met an OBJ
stacle.
There's a key on the inside" he
whispered. ''He must be there. after
all
At that moment 7 heard something
fall with a faint ring on the carpet
within. and following that sound there
came a low, sobbing cry, and then Il
crash.
Stalbrdge. who. because of his
strange stature, was bending over the
lock. suddenly Strengthened up. and
turned almost around. He leaned
against the door. | had never seen a
live mans face look as his looked then.
The hound was thoroughly frightened.
] seized the key out of his hand; un-
locked the door. and flung it open. As
! did so. a door upon the other side of
the room closed with a snap. This /
perceived mechanically. for my gaze
was riveted upon my uncle.
He was on his knees beside his desk.
his face turned toward me. One hand
clutched the desk for support: the other
was pressed upon his breast.
He knew me--I could read Il i'm his
eyes. He tried to speak, but only
gasped; and then fell forward on his
face.
Death proclaimed himself in that
heavy fall. Even the manner of it was
evident. at least to my eye, which is not
wholly unframed.
i knew that my uncle had died of n
wound from a sharp-pointed weapon.
Instantly / knelt by his side and turned
him upon his back. The rush of blood
was dreadful. 1t came straight from
the heart.
All the world could not help him. My
thought flashed to the murderer. and
remembered the closing of that door
on the instant of our entrance. I sprang
toward It: beat 1t down. and rushed
into the little room beyond.
1t was entirely empty. There was no
other door but that by which I had
entered. / ran to an open window. and
looked down a sheer wall to a paved
court.
Mystified I turned back to the large
room where Stalbridge stood staring
down upon the corpse of his benefac.
tor.
To be continued.