Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-02-12
CHAPTER xxx.

CHAPTER xxx.
James resolution to avenge the murder
Of Jacob Lynn was by no means heet-
ing impulse. The difficulties that seemed
to present themselves even at first sight
In no wise daunted her, nor was she
afraid of the discovery that might be the
outcome of her researches, for nothing
rould be more cruel than the suspense
that was torturing her, no certainty more
hateful than the suspicion which at pres
snt she was obliged to feel. by an IN
Stinct stronger than any evidence OF ac-
tual fact she was persuaded that ne had
died because of her; and none other than
Stephen Prinsep knowing the persecution
she had endured at his hands. 1t seemed
only too clear wherein lay the motive for
the crime, and that he had been the muir
derer she could not doubt.
That he had sinned for her sake count
Cd nothing in his favor; 1t seemed instead
to add to the blackness of the crime By
making her in n way participator In II
Had il not been so she might have telt
less bound to disinter the truth.
From first TO last it had been her own
fault-hers only; or SO it seemed now.
She had meant all for the best, but she
thought with bitterness that had she been
well-intentioned, things might have turn
ed out better. Her fathers words re-
Cured to her that the consequence re-
manned when the actual fault was dead
or forgotten, and the nphorism seemed
the wiser that she herself had proved IL
true.
Having decided that it was her duty to
bring the murderer to justice, however 1t
might pain herself-and she knew that 1t
would be less painful to suffer In his
fIa, hot Dir n
lost no time in putting her resolve into ex'
ecution.
Her first move was to visit the spot
where Jacob Lynn had been found dead:
and having managed to evade her moth
er's companionship, she set out alone.
But on arrival she found a small group
Of people assembled there, curiOusly ex-
amining the ground: for the interest ex-
cited by the murder had been wide
spread.
She passed on quickly, and n few min
utes' walk brought her on to the parade
ground. Iesitating for moment whether
to return later, or TO relinquish her pur-
pose for that day, her glance happened to
fall upon the end house of the married
mems barracks, and she remembered that
the woman who lived there had been i'll,
and she had meant for some time to go
and see her.
Crossing the parade ground, the
thought struck her that if Jacob Lynn
was accompanied on the afternoon he was
murdered, the inmates of that end house
would be the most likely TO know of it..
It was perhaps a fortunate coincidence
that had brought her here.
The woman was at home, and well
enough to be pleased TO see visitor. She
was lying back in straw easy-chair on
the veranda, and, seeing Jane approach
ing, tried to move to meet her.
"Don't get up, Mrs. Phillips, You are
not able TO do so, 1 am sure. did not
expect you would be out of bed"
81 have been sitting out of doors for
he last week. l was sitting here the very
day Lynn went to his death. 1t gave me
such a shock that / was thrown back
more than a bit. If it hadn't been for
him should have been well by this time
not that il was his fault. poor fellow"
Jane had flushed at the unexpected men,
tion of the very name she was anxious to
Introduce But she was too confused to
take advantage of ii. However, Mrs.
Phillips required no encouragement to
continue d conversation, and went on
briskly:
"They would have had me up at the in
ouest, no doubt but | was that upset
couldn't have answered n question they
asked me. And, besides, what knew
there were others knew as well a. l."
"You mean." asked Jane, nervously, fos
her role of amateur detective was emf
nently distasteful to her, you mean you
only saw him pass alone?"
"That's all. l saw the khidmatgar pass
the man who found him, you know. l
saw no one else go by that afternoon, ex-
cept-I had forgotten that-somebody
passed in gray clothes. 1 couldn't see
whs he was, but he must have struck
acrnss toward the hospital, for his name
didn't come out at the inquest.
Every likely. The two roads branch OF
at once. You did not happen to see who
It was?"
"No; 1 never thought of it till now. !
1ust saw that he was tail and wore Q
gray suit. And after all it didn't matter.
as he had nothing to do with it?"
"No, of course not" agreed Jane, ris-
ing. II am very glad you are better, Mrs.
Phillips My mother will be glad. too.
She has been talking about coming to see
you ever since she first heard you were
M."
Returning by the way she had come,
this time there was no one passing along
by the short cut, and she stood IN the
aeserted compound, wondering what good
ahs had done by coming there. IL there
had been anything to lead to discovery.
h would have been found before this.
But evidence seemed to crop up without
her volition. Moving her foot restlessly
AGAINST the broken stump OF tree an
ontstanding twig broke, and, as it fell
awav. she saw something wedged In be-
fveen the roots She stopped and loosen
"A n 1t was a mother-of pearl button
attached to q piece of smooth gray cloth,
.nch as might have been torn from .
rentleman's short gaiter.
Colonel Prinsep wore such short CATERS
she knew; but then so many others IN the
regiment wore them, too, that unless she
could actually fit the piece she held IN hel
hand into the part from which it had been
horn. nothing could be proved.
That. of course, was impossible. and be-
tne so. all her discoveries were useless
Rhe Ind distressed herself to no purpose
md the end was "a far away as ever.
With the button tightly clasped In nel
hand, she wafxed slowly home. thinking
over what she already guessed, and wha'
still remained to be cOnjectured. Sne re
membered stories she had read OF fatnerl
who had sacrificed their own sons 70
sense Of justice, and wives who had given
up their husbands, forgetting their love
for the sinner in their loathing for the
sins that had been committed; but she
vas no heroine, and she felt relieved thai
notbine more could be required Of -
Saxius dona hAH A1nA2 ana ~&aAs4 -