Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-05-28

no sinister meaning. The mans negll
gent attitude and bis smile, tina
seemed 10 indicate derision and UT.
uniph, were suggestive, certainly. oil
more than the passing curiosity WITH
which he had claimed that he viewed
the matter.
Il don't understand you" STAN
mered the doctor.
Don't your and Mr.. Philbrick con
tinued to smile p~rovokingly: 1T lon
matter really, but you are beginning
to understand the mystery attending
the death of young Starkweather,
aren't your
A sharp retort burned on the doc
tors tongue. but for once discretion
prevailed and he restrained himself.
Il can't say that / am" he said. his
eyes revealing the resentment that his
lips repressed. Mr.. PhiIbrick's man
ner changed instantly.
Il didn't mean to intrude, DR.. Will
iams,'' he said. ~suavelv. Il hope you
take no offenSe at what a a mere
casual remark. l examined the body
before you arrived you know, and
myself saw something that suggested
an electrical shock. I thought you
q - Ill II as =LAAANAANf NAAAN go
all"
Whatever they WERE" responded
/ the doctor. Il should be inclined. I'M
der the circumstances, 10 keep my OBJ
servations 10 myself"
"Yes!' said Mr.. Philbrick, inquir-
ingly.
Il think you understand my atti-
tude from what you heard me say TO
Delos Hawkins. 1t should be the part
of thoughtful men 10 avert unneces-
sary scandal. Ignorant men might
jump at conclusions and create trou-
bic. Indeed, Mr.. Philbrick. you. your
self are inclined n little TO jump at
conclusions, aren't you? I speak
frankly, but | am as DESTROYS as you
can be 10 avoid being offensive"
DO not fear that | shall be offended.
doctor, but tell me what conclusions /
have jumped at"
Il inadvertently mentioned the word
electricity, something | would not have
done had | known that anybody was
in hearing. Did you not promptly con-
clude that 1 had become satisfied as TO
the cause of Starkweather's DEATH"
Yes, in a measure; and wasn't I
right, dOctor?"
@1As AA4blANh was tN L. DLs " III
Jams keenly, and a suspicion Of a smile
lowered about his lips. The doctor re-
turned his gaZe without f%iinching and
responded:
NO, you are wrong"
"As to the cause of death. doctor?"
"As to my being satisfied with re-
gard to it. The matter is still prob
lematical.7
But l, too. saw the symptoms be-
fore you came in"
"Mr. Philbrick are you a physician
"No, but-weli. it doesn't matter. We
shall gain nothing by a discussion OF
this aspect of the case. / shall not be
guilty of setting ignorant tongues to
~wagging."
Il an glad TO hear you say So"
Mr.. Philbrick had maintained his
negligent attitude up TO this point.
Now he stepped over 70 the table on
which the body Of Starkweather lay
and remarked:
Extraordinary mutilation."
Yes" said the doctor: 1.-THE river Is
extremely rapid and full of sharp
rocks"
Il wonder il it is possible that all
that was done by rocks"
DIR. Williams looked at the body
with fresh interest. He shut his teeth
together in his determination TO betray
none OF his thoughts, and presently
philbrick murmured:
Poor Starkweather.."
did you know him. asked the doc
tor.
mo, I had no personal acquaintance
with him, but I had e him once or
twice as others in Belmont had. He
seemed TO be a healthy, vigorous young
man"
PROF. Drummond is waiting for you,
doctor" said the undertaken, opening
the door Of the Office.
II will be out directly" responded
the physician.
He felt an unaccountable dislike to
leaving Mr.. Philbrick alone with Stark
weather's remains, and was. therefore.
relieved when that gentleman. with a
light sigh as If he thereby dismissed
the whole matter from his thoughts,
went from the room ahead Of him.
Pretty much all the population had
gathered in front Of the undertaksr's
establishment. The curiosity that had
centered upon Prof. Drummond while
he a in the carryall conversing with
Parson Whitaker. who made one of
the crowd, was turned upon DR.. Will
when he came out. The crowd
had been kept from invading the office
by Minot Hawkins, the Belmont con-
stable and a brother OF Landlord De-
los. The constable was as curious as
anybody, and. by virtue Of his office.
felt no hesitation in asking questions
of the doctor.
What do you think OF It. Mason?''
he said, addressing the doctor by his
tirst name, a habit that few of the
older people in the village could over
come. although he had been a practlc-
ing physician for three or four years.
There's no doubt that it's Stark
weather. replied the doctor.
"Of course not" returned the consta-
bic in q solemn whisper, but hold on
a minute, Mason. Amt there anything
else in your mind, eh?"
Or. Williams paused, conscious that
substantially every eye in Belmont
was upon him and that every person I'm
the crowd knew the purport OF Con-
stable Hawkins whispered question.
knew not what to answer. His
mind was in a conflict OF half formed
ideas and convictions. He longed for
the discretion OF fifty years.
NT -