The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-17

ing to the grave, she scratched the earth
about with her fingers-turning from
the useless task with another moan,
and again pointing to her mouth, as
though she deplored her inability To
speak to us. "What can she mean?"I
said, musingly.
Ben made no reply, but l could see
from the expression of his face that he
was struck by the coincidence, but find
ing, after awhile that we could not per-
suade Miss Craley to leave her position.
we strolled away, and turned u steps
again towards the village.
"Jack!" said Ben, presently; "who
was the medical man who attended Sir
Henry on his deathbed?"
"a DIR. Stone, / believe-a local prac-
titioner!"
"Have you interviewed him?"
"No! didn't see the necessity! Sir
! Charles told me he had the certificate
of death, which said that the old man
died of paralysis of the brain"
II propose hat we go and see this
DR.. Stone at once!"
"Good heavens, man! what have you
got in your head now9'
"Only an idea, Jack, raised by the ac-
tons OF that poor idiot yonder. Did you
notice how she pointed to her mouth
and then scratched at the earth above
the grave, as il she wanted to scratch
the body rp?"
"And what do you make of that-from
an idiot, BENZ"
H. 1a,n ,nA,a sn,za Xhnt
wise men give them credit for. This
Miss Craley was in the old baronet's
room till he died, you tell me and saw
oil that passed, though she mas but few
means of relating the story. Why
should she want to scratch him up
again? Why does she associate the
IDEA with her moutd-with something
going into her open mouth? Has she
seen anything go into his? Will taking
up the body reveal the truth? His death
appear To have been n sudden and
rather mysterious one-the widow tells
you that before the quarrel with his
son he was us well and hearty as her
self. The son says that he never heard
that his father was i'll until he received
the news of his death. Quarrels, how
ever painful, do not as a rule, kill peo-
pie"
.But the old gentleman had n decided
stroke. Goddard, the butler, and Mrs.
Nelson bear witness 10 that"
81 dare say; but strokes do not kill
the first time of occurrence-at least,
not rs a rule-especially when the sub
feet is strong and hearty. think it is
our duty TO see the doctor who at
tended him"
~nut we are not trying to find out n
case OF murder" objected.
"Well, that is M notion answered
Ben. "but If my heads no good TO you
I'd better go back 10 London"
] didn't like to hear the old boy talk
like that. for l had the greatest admira-
ton for his cuteness and faith in his
opinion, as n rule, though this pro
rosal of his did seem rather unneces-
sary TO me. But Ben Crewe was X
nan fellow! Occasionally we others
have said amongst ourselves that there
was something uncanny about him. He
would refuse to see "A reason for n
thing, sometimes, when IL seemed Us
clear as day. and then all Of sudden he
would start the wondcrfullest notion
dream. as 10 wcrc, or il came across
his mind just like a fash Of lightning.
without apparent rhyme or reason, but
70 would prove 10 be the right thing in
the end. and left us all wondering how
he had got hold OF H.. So | had great
faith IN Sen. even when Nc seemed most
unintelligible. and wouldn't have flown
In the face Of his wishes for ever so