Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-12-24

came. He was young physician resi-
dent in the family, with which he had
a distant relationship. Gen. Holiday
had paid for his education, ard had sup
ported him since he had taken his de-
gree. Hilton was not money-malzer,
and would have Jared badly but for the
generals charity, disguised in the form
of a salary to family physician;" but
with SO generous a helper the young
man might have been an object of envy
He was assured of a luxurious home
during the generals life, and of com
potency after his death, under the will.
have never thought well of DIR. Hill
tons professional attainments, 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 te say with perfect certainty He
added that the murderer must have
stood directly behind his victim, and
have aimed we'll, for the bullet, if it
had not been detected slightly by the
spine, would have pierced the hcart.
Gen. Holiday had been dead very
short tirne-certainly lessthan an hour
Considering his medical training,
Hilton was extraordinarily affected by
this terrible event. lie was far less
calm than | was, and for that reason |
decided that it would be best for rne to
do what must be done about informing
Mrs. Holiday and her daughter Hill
= = ~
pallid and trembling lips 1t even
seemed to me, as 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. l did my best, speaking to
Margaret first, because she was stronger
than her mother; but I doubt if either
could have suffered greater pain at the
most brutaily sudden announcement.
Mrs. Holiday was utterly prostrated
and l believe that nothing but her
mothers dire need saved Margaret.
| have already confessed my prciu-
dice against Capt. Marshall, and it is
therefore with the greater pleasure
that | admit him to have proven him
self a serviceablc man in such an emer-
gency Ii 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 fred.
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 to
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.
1T Is utterly Incredible THAT Margaret
should not have been awakened by the
report of the weapon. but ID IS even
more pre postsrous it, suppose fiat any
hguar creature v58.d have Lad the
hariiEood to commit this crime right
before tic girls face. even though She
slept
iIe might have felt sura thai She
wouldn't wake said Marshall; and
noticed that his cold eray eyes scanned
Iii.ton's faee narrowly