The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-05

the SKIN OF the left breast and burst its
way out below the armpit. Bleeding was
proIuse and the shock severe, yet the
physicians think that the chances are in
FAVOR of his recovery
There is much mystery about the
aHalr. The coachman says a man and a
Woman walked up and down in front of
ene ciub on the opposite side of the
street full half an hour before Mr.. Nc
Lane came out, he being accompanied by
ITiend who had formed one of their
party at whist Instantly the strange
man ieft the side of the woman, hurried
across the street, and, placing his left
naho on Mr.. McLane's shoulder, turned
MIN Sharply and accosted him in low.
somewhat angry tone The moment he
spoke Mr.. McLane struck furiously with
ms right hand at the others face, then
thrust IL into his overcoat pocket, where
later q. pistol was found. 1t was at this
instant that the other fired. The car
a,ase norses, startled. attempted to run,
and by the time the coachman had re-
gained control Of them they were some
1,s1ance down the street. On his return,
MI. McLane was being borne into the
Iiup. quite little crowd had gathered,
out nobody but himself and the friend
Ieterred TO. who was somewhat intoxi-
GATED, mad seen anything of the shooting.
A neighbor said he saw a man and
woman hurry round the corner, but that
was the last Of them. The police have
clew which they refuse to divulge
MIS-. McLane, who was attending the
OF the Hon. j. l.. Sanbourne, was not in
formed OF the tragedy until an hour
iater, and was Frustrated by the shock
AL a. m. the wounded man was rest
ing under the influence of opiates"
Breath1ess, Merriam listened, his face
pahng, and breathless Florence watched
him. When the reader had finished and
MS wife began to ask questions, Florence
SAID no word. Her dark, pathetic eyes
We're fixed upon her husbands pallid
face. then timidly she stretched forth
pered.
Merriam reused himself with a sud-
den start. Forgive me, Floy darling.
BUT this is a dreadful shock. Will you
mind my getting a paper?" and he
looked appealingly about him. A waiter
sprang forward. Did the captain wish
anything? The morning paper. Ger
tainly. Which one? Oh, any one-all of
them in fact; and presently they were
brought, as was the breakfast, and the
breakfast grew cold while he read on
through paper after paper, grewsome de-
tails in one and all, yet not the details
he sought.
And Florence had lost all appetite and
was intent only on him, waiting almost
meekly for him to speak. Some of the
papers declared the injuries mortal.
RANDY passed the papers one after an
other without comment to her as he read
them. She took EACH as it came, ODE
diently, helpfully, but folded and laid it
by her side. then returned to her word
less study of his troubled face. At last
the fourth sheet was finished, and with
long sigh he turned and saw her. my
darling! my darlingp' he whispered, a
great shame and sorrow overpowering
him as he noted the intensity Of her SYM
pathy mingling with the mournful sense
OF her utter nothingness to him at the
moment "Oh, Florence, how could be
so forgetful of you? But / have had a
dreadful shock. You do not know what
this means, what it would mean If Nc
Lane should die now-and 1 cannot tell
you"
And all she said was Hush, Randy.
dear. l don't wish you to tell me now"
But McLane did not die-at once, at
least. Three weeks the police worked at
that clew and the doctors at him, and
neither with much succeSS-certainly
with little help from the victim, who was
in woeful state of collapse much of the
time, protesting ignorance Of any excuse
for shooting on the part of anybody,
and consumed with dreadful fear of
death. 1t was a wonder that under the
circumstances he rallied sufficiently to be
up and able to be moved. The March
winds Of Frisco were leagued against
him. The doctors wished to take him
back to Coronado, but he declared that
any part Of California would be death
to him. He wished to go home at once
Within the week of the shooting Ned
Parry arrived from Chicago and had
some long interviews with his sister-in-
law, but was not allowed to see the pa
tent; neither was she except at rare in
tervals, an aff1iction which she bore with
Christian resignation. Then Parry had
to go back, but not before he had re-
ceived note from Merriam, had visited
him and had shown every attention to
and deep interest in his gentle bride,
and had had one long conference with
the husband alone.
When Mr.. McLane was declared well
enough to move they carried him aboard
a steamer and sent him to Panama,
Fanny, his wife, in attendance. as in
duty bound. But even the best and big
gest stateroom was close and stuffy, as
she said. and her hours were mainly
spent on deck. 1t was the nurse who
had to bear with Macs ceaseless plants
He had grown suddenly old, childish,
decrepit, fearful. They had to stay some
days at Panama, and had a wretched
time, at least he did, being transferred
thence to Havana, where he was en-
Joined to remain at least six weeks. But
some morbid longing drew him irresist-
IDLY back to New York. Go he would,
and in April they exchanged the summer
seas, the soft, perfume-laden air, the
warm sunshine of the tropics for the fogs
and buster Of the north Atlantic sea-
board. Pneumonia set in and claimed the
feeble wreck for its own. Several weeks
before the anniversary Of that brilliant
wedding and still more brilliant recep-
ton Fanny McLane was weeping de-
corously in widows weeds and listening
to the details Of the last will and tesla
ment.
Much, but not all, had been left to his
beloved wife, Frances Hayward Nc
Lane, but even that much was curiopsly
bestowed. Why should Uncle Mellen be
SO largely beneficiary? Why should he
be placed in charge Of her property?
Was she not old enough to look after
what was her own? Why should Uncle
Mellen here and Uncle Mellen there ap-
pear on page after page of that formi-
dable docurrent? With alarming sud-
denness the tears had vanished, dried
off, presumably, by the hot flush on her
lovely cheek. Some one had obtained
undue influence over her husband In his
last moments, she declared. Some one
had swindled her. Some one should be
given to understand she was child-a
longer, and two some ones,
Uncle and Aunt Mellen. had tremen-
dous scene with the widow before the
funeral baked meats were fairly cold
before the flowers began to droop about
the new-filled grave. One row led to an
other, and then to litigation, and then
- ~f-Ea Ir@x-