The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-12-31


explain your conduct on that night"
Miss Benton sneered.
II presume you are trying to play a
trick on me, as you did ON my brother
last night. If you want to find out any
thing about me. go elsewhere. You can't
frighten me-"
"Sister, this is very serious matter"
spoke up Ralph. lyon must explain
yourself, or Montcastle. at least, will
get into trouble"
'Trouble?" asked the young lady an
grily. Has this detective any right to
pry into our own private affairs?" Then
her face rapidly changed its expression.
"Why, what can you mean? Neither
Mr.. Montcastle nor ! could be accused.
You know you told me what you had
SEEM"
"Oh, forgot you did not knowp'
said Ralph quickly. Mr.. Hendricks
has proved to me thatfather did not
commit suicide; that he was killed by
some one else. We need not explain now.
l am satisfied on that point, and that
is why 1T looks so gloomy for Montcas-
tle Sister, you must really out with
the truth. Did you and he 60 to the
train that night? Answer me. F"
MISS Benton seemed too much agitat-
ed to speak. She went to the bell and
rang and came back to her chair. She
was very white and trembling from
head to foot. Presently Mary entered.
Did you ring, miss?" she asked.
is Mr.. Montcastle in the smoking
room?" said Miss Benton.
No, miss; he's in Mr.. Aliens room.
Mr.. Allen has had another hemorrhage,
a pretty bad one. We wanted to send
for doctor, but he wouldn't let us. ="
Tell Mr.. Montcastle to come to me
at once" commanded Miss Benton.
''Tell him not to wait minute"
No one spoke till MOntcastle entered.
What is it?" he asked, looking at
his fiancee in surprise.
Mr.. Hendricks is about to handcuff.
me-" explained Miss Benton, with sar-
casm. He says he can prove that we
went to the station the night father
died and that suspicion has been direct
ed against us. -
"What?" Numbered Montcastle.
How dare you, sir?"
Hendricks faced him calmly.
AT such time, if you refuse to ex-
plain your conduct when requested
civilly, it is right and proper that sus-
picion should fall on you. / am simply
seeking for information.
''But you are going into our own
private affairs" answered Montcastle.
because Mr.. Benton happened to be
killed that night is no reason we should
make a confidant of you unless we wish
to do so''
"You can explain now or do it in
court" answered Hendricks, with a
smile. From my standpoint as de-
tective am obliged to regard your
conduct that night as suspicious.
HE is right, MontcastleP' broke in
Ralph excitedly. "As the present head
of this family insist on an explana-
tion. If you had anything to do with
the crime
Brother, be ashamed of yourselfP'
cried Miss Benton, rising and standing
between the two men. Remember that
Arthur-Mr. Montcastle-is our guest.
murder" asked Montcastle white with
rage.
"Ill accuse you of what like and
punch your blasted head, too, if you
don't explain why you were riding in a
cab with my sister at that our of the
night Do you understand? Out with
it, or I'll order your arrest IL minute
T o,,, firoI of tlic my CT -
Montcastle stood as if turned to stone.
Miss Benton covered her face and began
to sob.
Tell them," she said to Montcastle.
"There is nothing else to do. Brother
says it was not suicide, and shall not
feel so bad about it. 1 thought had
driven poor papa to it,"
Montcastle leaned OH a table for a
minute, then cleared his throat and be-
| gan.
Its tempest in a teapot" he said.
~ am willing to make a statement, but
I want it distinctly understood that
am doing it at the request of this lady
and not at the command of her brother.
! For several months Miss Benton and
| have been engaged. have an aunt llv-
/ ing i'm San Francisco who has made me
the heir to her fortune. wrote to her
of my intentions, but she had made an
other choice for me and gave me to I'M
derstand plainly that if Miss Benton
and were married she would cut me
out of her will. Notwithstanding this
| determined to carry out my plans
and formally proposed to Mr.. Benton
for the hand Of his daughter. He had
never liked me, and when l told him
what my aunt had written he fatty re-
fused to give his consent. Then Miss
Benton and l planned an elopement fol-
the night her father was killed. We
would not have gone at such late
hour. but it was the only time we could
get away without being seen. l hur-
riedly packed my things in valise.
Miss Benton put some of her things in
travelling bag, and Mary, in whom we
had confided, was to forward her trunk
the next day. We were ready to &c
when Alice--Miss Benton-decided tc
appeal to her father once more"
| iva Iottar or mo foil bof ha,,-