Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-08-26

bling me. II is awful"
There was silence for moment: then
the colonel said:
I'll tell you what would do, Alfred.
don't think you could have been I'M
der any influence that night: but If YOU
are going to brood over the matter this
way till you are insane. propose that
we have DR.. Lampkn to come down
here and give us his opinion. He is said
to be wonderful man. and be may. at
all events. give you some peace of mind.
Re is said to be making marvellous cures
among lntemperate people, ard CHI.
dren naturally oepraved, through what
he calls hypnotic suggestion. From
what hear OF him believe he can be
trusted even in such delicate matter as
this"
Whidby's face frightened. That's
just what want" be said. Anything
is better than suspense. He may be
able to tell me whether ! actually did
the deed. II he can assure me that il
was not my hand that held the knife,
be is welcome to every dollar Of my
uncle's estate"
"Oh. he won't break us; his prices are
not high; be does great deal for no pay
at all. But | shall write him at once,
and report to you as soon as bis reply
comes. Ibelieve hypnotism is a wonder.
full thing, but something tells me that
it could not be carried to the extent you
fear. Besides. you may not have been
hypnotized at all; you may have been
slightly disturbed by the fellows move
ments in Strong's room. and got up half
awake and gone-after the murder-to
his bed to reassure yourself. 1t may
have been then that yougot your hands
in the blood without knowing it,"
"Ah, you give me the first bit of hope
| have had" cried WILDLY. Write to
him at once. | wish he were here now"
"I'll get him as soon as he can come"
the colonel promised, and he rose to 60.
At the door be turned back.
~ am trying to work up little clew
for myself" he said. II am fond Of this
sort OF thing. I'd give anything to beat
this expert detective and run our man to
the ground without consulting him.
By the way, you and ! might try to
think OF some motive for the crime. The
others are doubtless losing valuable
lime in suspectng you. Now, do you
happen to remember IT your uncle ever
had an enemy?"
mot that ! know OF" WILDLY
answered. II don't think be could. He
was an easy-going man, and lived very
]uietly-that is, since | have known
him. Years ago. when he was a young
nan. ! believe he had rather an adven-
lurous life in the gold-mines out west
somewhere. You know he made his
start there. He has never told me much |
about those days. In fact, have often
thought he was oddly silent on the sub
jet. lt,seems to have been the only part
of his history that he has not talked to
me freely about"
DO you know Of any poor relation
that may have troubled him for aid in
any way?"
mo. But why do you ask? don't
understand"
u can't tell you now, but am search
ing for motive for the crime. Even
ifyou could have been hypnotized, there
would still have to be motive for the
crime. If the murderer was a skillful
hypnotist he was no fool. and the mo-
tive must have been strong one. But
see you are getting the blues again.
Brace up. Good-by; shall see you to-
morrow"
When the colonel reached his office,
he found lady waiting for him in the
anteroom. 1t was Miss Delmar. She
wore thick veil, which she threw back
when he came in,
Good afternoon. Col. Warrenton,"
she said. ~ was too impatient to wait
for you to come to see me. knowing
how busy you are, and | did want some
news of Mr.. WILDLY"
II understand, and he will be glad
saw you" The colonel stepped back,
took a look into his office, and then
softly closed the door. Poor boy"
he went on. as he sat down near her,
"he has had enough to bear, without
this unreasonable opposition of your
father. lie certainly needs all the
friends he can get now"
Miss Delmar's lips quivered, and she
twisted her hands together in her lapas
she spoke:
Papa is even more severe than ever
since he learned that have been to see
Mr.. WILDLY. can't imagine how that
could have got into the papers. Papa
says am watched. and that everything
! do is noted"
He is still confident that WILDLY is
the murderer"
"Yes. and he thinks he knows mo.
tive that no one else does"
what can that be?"
Just a week before Mr. Strong's
death. papa had called on Mr.. WILDLY
and forbidden him to pay his addresses