Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-06-25

made some remark expressive of regret nj
being Obliged to trouble Miss Smith at
such time. Then We tat silent for a
few minutes.
Il presume. of course, that you will cx-
anime Mr.. Ralph | said at last.
Before he could answer we heard the
rustic OF Il woman's gown in the hall. ard
Mary threw open the door and stood in the
threshold. Phillips started to his feet
with a short inartculate exclamation.
His face was very pale. and | saw him
clutch the table as If for support. My
niece eyed him curiously with her head
thrown forward and her lips slightly
apart. Her look was at first vague and in
quiring, az if trying to remember some
thing, ana then par,ook somewhat of the
detectives agitation.
Il have nothing at all to say" she
began; "and won't say anything except
that | know that the mnn you suspect is
entirely innocent"
In a moment she had turpcd and disap-
pearcd. | half rose to demonstrate and
to beg her to remain. but Phillips put ont
his hand and restrained me.
1T is unnecessary" he said. 81 know
all that | want to know"
Phillips resumed his seat. while gazcd
AZ hiil wonderingly and apprehcnsvely.
He was now entirely composed, and Io
sign of his late agitation remained except
an increase of his pallor and Il deepening
of the lines of his face. | recalled the
paragraph in the superintendent letter
referring to the bad health of his favorite
detective, which had almost prevented our
obtaining his assistance; and ! again re-
prla"'lcd myself for the thoughtlessness
Whiri had entirely ignored the physical
condition Of my companion. My reveres
were broken in upon. just rs / was about
To put them into words, by Phillips rising
slowly.
"Will you pardon me" he said, "if ask
you 10 let me retire? | am not entirely
well, rs you know. but | imagine a full
nights rest will enable me to do better
work in the morning"
| now took occasion TO apologize for nv
lack of consideration and to express the
hope that he would sleep soundly, rise
RI trcshod ana not allow me IN ms eager
seii,Shncss to drive him harder than the
condition of his health would Justify. An
this said, as led the way to his room,
but he waived my protcs;ations aside and
insisted that he would find himself en-,
tircly able to stand al that could be put
upon him. After seeing that he had every.
thing he required, babe him good night.
Il think can promise you, Mr.. Smith,"
he said, with peculiar gravcness in his
tone and manner "that we are very near
the solution of this matter"
Then he closed the door and went Ia
my own room.
Y Al.
the curious scene in the library between
my niece and the detective, and the more
thought the more it disquieted me- His
last remark, TOO, seemed to me- to say the
least, ominous; and altogether, l slept
little or none.
I got up about half-past seven, and, az.
ter dressing hastily, went down stairs.
Phillips had not appeared, and l hesitated
awhile as to whether | should awaken
him, deciding finally In tie negative.
Mary, of course, did not leave her room.
10 the detectives door and listened. Evil
IDENTIFY he was not moving, SO knocked
gently at first, then more decidedly; but
without response Finally ! venturcd to
try the door, only to find that it was lock-
cd on the inside. / now began to pound
vigorously, listening, from time TO time.
until at last thoroughly frightened 10y the
persistent silence, put my shoulder
against it and forced it open.
Phillips was lying on the bed, apparently
in a very heavy alumbcr, although the
daylight was streaming through the win
dow. His lips were parted and his cheeks
seemed slightly flushed. spoke to him,
and laid my hand on his shoulder.
Then l recoiled with sudden horror
The man was dcad-rigid-col as stone,