Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-09-02
copyright, 1906. by J. B. LippIneou Col


placed it to her ear. Give me five
sxty-seven. What? Yes, five sixty
seven - Mayor Roundtree's office.
There was silence for moment. Mrs.
lioundtree sat on sofa, staring at her,
q strange question in her eyes.
us that you. papa?" said Mrs. Wal
tiers in the telephone. "Yes, you are
right; it is Lillian. Don't you know my
voice? What Is it? Well. the truth is,
there isn't thing the matter; we are
all right; but mamma is nervous and
frightened, and perhaps you or Fred
ought TO come up"
Mrs. Roundtrec ran to her. aren't
you going to tell him what has hap
pcned? How can he tell the police il
you don't? Give it to me-"
Mamma. do be reasonable" replied
Mrs. Walters, holding the receiver out
Of her mothers reach. well, ley me
alone; I'll tell him. Yes, papa. that
was mamma talking. | was on the lawn
just now. and man shot at me; but he
did not touch me, and ran away. Nam
ma thinks you ought to notify the po-
lice
Erred is coming at once the mayor
telephoned. Stay indoors. | shall
notify the police, and come as quickly as
| can"
/; When Mrs. Roundtree had heard her
/ husbands message she drew her daugh
ter down on the sofa beside her and sat
silently stroking her hand and looking
anXiously towards the door. James
took a position on the veranda, and the
other servants stood expectantly in the
hall.
In 10 minutes cab dashed up the
drive. and Fred Walters alighted, ran
into the library, and took his wife III
his arms.
"Oh, my darling, are you hurt?" he
asked, beside himself with excitement.
Fred, don't be silly she said, cold
ly pushing him from her. II tee-
phoned that was unframed"
Look at her sleeve" walled Mrs.
Roundtree, almost in tears. "The bull
let passed within an inch of her arm.
Oh, | don't know what to dol It is aw-
full"
Fred stopped to examine the hole in
the sleeve.
81 was standing this way" Mrs. Wal
ters explained, with sudden animation,
"and when | heard the report"
"Your father is coming" interrupted
Mrs. Roundtree, as the sound of wheels
was heard, and they all went to win
dow. 1t was the mayor, with Capt.
Welsh and Minard Hendricks, in a cab.
II wonder II that detective hasn't
high opinion of his ability" said Mrs.
Walters. "He looks as if he thought he
would get to the bottom Of the whole
mystery in very short time" She sat
down in rockingham, spread out her
skirts, and pulled at the big sleeves of
her wrapper. 81 suppose he will begin
TO catechise me. | am not presentable
like this, but Tiff ran upstairs, to fix
up little, you would think suppose
you think | am an odd creature any
way"
No one answered her. The mayor
was entering, followed by the others.
He bent down and kissed his daughter,
and then said: MY dear, this is Mr..
Hendricks. There is not a second to
lose. He wants to ask you some ques-
tons"
Mrs. Walters bowed and smiled. 81
am ready, Mr.. Hendricks. | think you'll
find me calmer than any Of the rest"
at is usually the case" Hendricks
replied, with smile. Then his smile
vanished, and he bent his piercing gray
eyes upon her so steadily that her own
wavered a little, and she dropped her
hand to arrange her skirt. "You were
on the lawn" he said. glancing out at a
window, as II to relieve her embarrass-
ment.
Mrs. Walters instantly recovered her
self-possession and looked him coldly
in the eyes.
Eyes, on the right of the walk, among
the rose bushes. was gathering roses.
The bullet passed through my sleeve.
See! it was near enough, wasn't it?'
"Quite, should think. II must have
surprised YOU"
at did, of course" answered Mrs.
Walters, holding her roses to her nose.
81 heard the report, and then felt some
thing like little, very little, tug at
my sleeve"
"You are sure about that?" asked
Hendricks, in an Indifferent tone. "You
are sure that you heard the report be-
fore you felt the ball touch your
sleeve?"
"Qute sure" said she; "but WHY
"IIe was not inside the fence?" went
on the detective, looking through the
window again.
mo; outside the fence. at the corner
Of the lot"
"Ah, yes, I see" he replied, in nom
committal tone. "Ile must have been
100 yards from you. Permit me. please"
And, taking'a silver-mounted lens from
his pocket, he carefully examined the
bullet-hole. For moment no one