The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-03-14

| he KNEW Mel COULD READ IT ~ HIS EYES.
as he ever did; that my uncle was going
10 make reparation to Norman unless
6talbridge succeeded In preventing him
from doIpg so. That the rascal ion once
distrusten his power over my Uncle and
/ feared that Norman's 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 10 see my uncle and
4 plead Nornan's cause.
Az a matter OF fact, knew that that
cause needed all my effort. My uncle's
4 consent to the marriage was a thing not
| to be depended upon. j 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
4 to walk back toward the Ann Street
/ bank building. Sta1briage kept by my
side. could not shake him off. We
entered the building together. by the
/ side door, which is very little used, as
| there Is no elevator In that hall.
My iincle'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
Staibridge had desk there. even the
harmless, necessary typewriter being
| banished.
staibridge knocked. That was his
invariable custom, and II gave me a
bad impression of the room, as place
where secret meetings were held--meet-
| ings OF two where neither dared permit
| 10 witness TO be present.
rhere was no answer to staibridge's
| knock. ff
Mr.. Davis must have gone out" he
said. "wlllsyou wait for him?p
He drew out his key and tried to put 1t
into the lock, but 1t met an obstacle.
There's q key on the inside" he
whispered. He must be there after all"
At that moment i heard something
| fall with a faint ring on the carpet with
In. and following that sound there came
q low, sobbing cry, and then a crash.
Stalbridge who, because OF his
strange stature, was bending over the
/ lock. suddenly Strengthened up. and
| turned almost around He leaned
against the door. l 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 II open. AS l
| did so, a door upon the other side of the
i room closed with q snap. This per-
ceived mechanically, for my gaze was
| rivited on my uncle.
He was on his knees beside his deslt.
his face turned towards me. One hand
| clutched the desk for support; the other
was pressed upon his breast.
He knew mel could read 1t In his
eyes. He tried to speak. but only gasp
ed; and then fell forward on his face.
Death proclaimed himself In that
heavy fall Even the manner OF II was
| evident. Mt least to my eye, which is not
\ wholly unframed.
l knew that my uncle had died OF a
| wound from sharp-pointed weapon.
Instantly kneit by his side and turned
| him upon his back. The rush Of blood
was dreadful. It came straight from the
| heart.
All the world could not help him. My
thought flashed to the murderer. and
| remembered the closing of the door on
| the instant of our entrance. 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 had
entered. ran to an open window, and
looked down sheer wall to a paved
court.
Aiystifed. / turned back to the large
room where Stalbridge stood staring
down upon the corpse Of his benefactor.
| JTo BE CoNTINUED)