The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-10-27
BRISTOWE'S RUSE.

"There he isr' says some one.
"Don't let him gol'
"What?" He couldn't believe his
own eyes, of course. They were all
shrinking back from him-even his
own wife, he thought. SIS everyone
mad?" he asked. "Kate, what does
it mean?"
} 'Mean?" says Silverley, stepping
up, "why, it means murder, Mr..
Markhouse, and you mustn't leave
this house yet. Accuse you?-all of
us. You came here for money, stealth
lily; was in the hall, and l heard
every word of your quarrel. When
you had gone knocked several times,
but the door was locked. L called
the others, and we broke in to find
him lying-no, Miss Kate, you can't!"
She had caught those words and
grasped what they meant. Woman
like, her first thought was for her hus-
bands safety; she got hold of Silver
ley's arms and held him back by main
force, imploring Markhouse to go, to
escape, and leave the rest to Provi-
dence. OF course, he ought to have
stood his ground, but the thought
that she believed him guilty fairly
paralyzed him, it seems. At any rate
he turned and went off without another
word-as bad thing as he could have
done.
For the next two days it was all
chaos. People who called to sympa-
, thize found Kate wandering about like
, a ghost, and everyone was whispering
of her as widow already. 1t seemed
clear enough: Markhouse had struck
the blow in temper and was missing;
his best friends could only hope that
he had got ahead of the hue-andicry.
Two days; then came the news that
Markhouse had been arrested easily
| few miles away, simply remarking
, that he cared not jot whether they
brought him in innocent or the re-
verse. - "
, Miss Kate, she heard it about 7
o'clock that evening, and it seemed to
put new life into her. She stood
staring at space, they said, for about
five minutes and then sent man gal
Looping off with telegram. That tel
egram was addressed to me, and it
, simply said: "Come instantly, upon q
matter of life and death"
1 happened to be away from home
that night, but took train for VIM
bledon about 10 the next morning and
I found that the inquest was afoot.
The jury had just been to view the
body, and most of the servants were
making ready to return with them
and give evidence. In the general ex-
element had plenty of time to took
about, while 1 mournfully smoothed
Grape band around my hat. In Is
minutes l had heard good deal Sill
verley was my best man. managed
to buttonhole him, introduced myself
as the undertaker's man and asked
, how true it was that this Markhouse
had something to gain by Sir Gavin's
death.
"Don't ask me, he says, distracted
ly. "That's the dreadful part of it
that everyone knows his wife comes
, in for her uncle's money. I've to go
and give evidence against him! Iwish
to heaven I'd never spokenW
1t was all very hazy. / thought for
bit and then sent up card with the
, word "Bristowe' only upon it, and I
| didn't waste time. When presently
she comes down, with pitiful white
face and dragging steps and looked to
see why the study door was open, she
!, gave quite u piteous cry at sight of
me down on my hands and knees be-
, tween the desk and window there.
, "Mr. Bristowe! You-you know all,
then?"
} ga good deal, madam; the newspa-
pers and the servants, you know" I
7 told her cheerfully. "Er-of course
: this room has not been disturbed in
J any way? HIM, I find morsels of
: earth and dry leaf just by the window,
, but none near that desk. But that's
nothing, perhaps. want you to be
t quite calm and tell me all you know"
She did SO almost lifelessly. "Oh,
you are clever, know!" she ended, q
fair study in supplication. eff you
think-you'll never say sol You'll go
! and leave it to the police!'
'Just one thing" said: ga full
} light from this jet ought to reflect on
that gravel path, and Mr.. Warehouse
I was between it and the window. You
, may safely tell me whether you saw
, the shadow of lifted arm from where
} you stood-so. H'm!" She had
whispered her "N-nor' with dry
lips and hesitation; he had raised his
arm once. 'Leave it to me-" 1 told
Q her. 'In an hour I'll come and tell
: you what 1 think"
a She understood and went. Well, 1
< puzzled and puzzled over the thing
: and could make nothing of it. The
D door had been locked, You see, and
he was found dead five minutes after
Q Markhouse had stepped out on the
Q balcony. l had a vague idea, but the
l facts would not seem to fit in at all,
and / suppose the hour went by, for
Q presently saw her standing in the
doorway, her eyes wide with terror.
. "You--you didn't come. You
Won khink - "a raok 1saI cH .r, ka-