Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-11
MISS HOLIDAYS AFTERNOON NAP.
Continued from page 3. /

man might have been an object Of envy.
lie was assured of luxurious home
during the generals life, and Of COM
potency after his death, under the will.
l have never thought well of DR.. Hill
tons professional attachments, but the
foremost practitioner of the world could
have done no more in this instance. Gen.
Holiday had been shot through the
body. The bullet had shattered the
spine, and death had resulted instantly
from shock. So much DR.. Hilton was
able to say with perfect certainty He
added that the murderer must have
stood directly behind his victim, and
have aimed well, for the bullet, if it
had not been detected slightly by the
spine, would have pierced the heart.
Gen. Holiday had been dead very
short time-certainly lessthan an hour.
Considering his medical training,
Hilton was extraordinarily affected by
this terrible event. He was far less
calm than l was, and for that reason /
decided that it would be best for me to
do what must be done about informing
Mrs. Holiday and her daughter. Hill
ton begged me to do it, speaking with
pallid and trembling lips. 1t even
seemed to me, as 1 turned away, that he
dreaded to be left alone with the body.
We speak in the most ordinary way
of breaking such news as that, to those
who will be heart-broken when they
hear it. I did my best, speaking to
Margaret first, because she was stronger
than her mother; but l doubt if either
could have suffered greater pain at the
most brutally sudden announcement.
Mrs. Holiday was utterly Frustrated;
and l believe that nothing but her
mothers dire need saved Margaret
( have already confessed my preiu-
dice against Capt. Marshall, and it Is
therefore with the greater pleasure
that l admit him to have proven him
self serviceable man in such an emer-
gency. If it is in him to face the perils
Of battle with an equal calmness, he
must be good soldier.
1t was under his direction that we at
last began to make an investigation OF
the tragedy. We had already tele-
phoned to the police of West Point.
Evidently the extraordinary circum-
stance-the seemingly impossible de-
tail which distinguished the case from
all other mysteries-was the presence
of Margaret when the shot was fired.
OF that fact there could be no doubt
She told us that she had come to the
Long Room Immediately after luncheon
Her father had come in, very soon
afterwards, and had gone at once tc
his desk. She must have fallen ASLEEP
immediately; and she remembered
nothing more till the moment when
she saw me standing beside her.
This is beyond belief" said Hilton
at is utterly incredible that Margare,
should not have been awakened by the
report of the weapon; but it is ever
more preposterous to suppose that any
human creature would have had The
hardihoOd to commit this crime righ
before the girls face, even though SHE
slept"
He might have felt sure that sh,
wouldn't wake" said Marshall; and
noticed that his cold gray eyes scanned
Hilton's face narrowly.
The suggestion seemed to escape thu
physician, but it came like a blow t.
me. Margaret's sudden and deep slee,
might furnish the explanation of tn,
entire mystery. Hilton sat next K
Margaret at the table. He might have
drugged her food. This necessitatec
the supposition that he knew that she
and her father would be together il
the Long Room after luncheon 1t wal
not impossible that he should have
known it. But if that seemed an OBJ
stacle to the theory, another and more
reasonable one suggested itself i'm
mediately. Margaret's sleep nigh
have been natural in the beginning
Then some one might have come
noiselessly to her side, as l had done
without disturbing her SAUNDERS. He
might have caused her to inhale somt
soporiferous vapor which would have
dulled her senses while the murderou!
deed was done, passing away after
wards without leaving trace upon her
We three were silent while these
thoughts were passing through my
brain. Hilton sat in a chair and his
head had fallen upon his hands. Be
fore him stood Marshall, stern and sol
dierly. l stood at one side observing
them
II Margaret was drugged, thought
who but this doctor could have done it.
Is there some secret passion in the
mans heart for Margaret? Did she
favor him, and did he hope to win hel
when his rival should lack father.
influence in his favor? Then there wa.
the will; and Hilton knew it's contents
They make powders nowadays
said Marshall, (which develop extraor
binary energy but very little noise.
think it possible that weapon 81
charged might have been fired in THU
end of the room and not have beer
heard by anybody but the murderer
1t is extremely improbable, but W.
must not forget the fact. A shot wa
certainly fred in this room. 1t mus
be explained somehow"
Where were you?" 1 asked, with I'm
intentional rudeness.
He turned upon me with a sort O
military wheel.
II was in the parlor with Mrs. Holli
day." he said. And your question re
minds me of one that may be per
finanf nr H;1fa,1