The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-16
MI. Montcastls NOR ] could be accused.
You know you told me what you had

~ why ~ 1OOkb ~ HlOuluy IOr MUutohs-
tie. Sister, you must really out with
the truth. Did you and he go to the
train that night? Answer me-"
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, miss3" she asked.
lis Mr.. Montcastle in the smoking
room?" said Miss Benton.
"No, miss; he's in Mr.. Aliens room.
Mr.. Allen has had another hemorrhage,
pretty bad one. We wanted to send
for a doctor, but lie wouldn't let us. -
''Tell Mr.. Montcastle to come to me
at once" commanded Miss Benton.
"Tell him not to waisa 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
cd against u.s."
"What?' Numbered Montcastle.
"How dare you, STRIP
Hendricks faced him calmly.
eat such time, if you refuse to ex-
plain your conduct when requested
civilly, it is right and proper that sus-
pioion 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 10 reason we should
make confdant 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-
teotiye l am obliged to regard your
conduct that night as suspicious.
"He is right, Montcastlel" broke in
Ralph excitedly. "As the present head
Of this family insist Oh an explaha-
ton. If you had anything to do with
the crime
Brother, be. ashamed Of yourself!"
cried Miss Benton, rising and standing
between the two men. Remember that
Arthur-Mr. Montcastlc-is our guest.
"Do you mean to accuse me of the
murder" asked Montcastle, white with
rage.
"I'll accuse you Of what like and
punch your blasted head, too, if you
don't explain why you were riding in
cab with my sister at that hour Of the
night. Do you understand? Out with
it, or I'll order your arrest in minutel
am tired Of this mystery"
Montoastle stood as if turned to stone.
Miss Benton covered her face and began
to sob.
"Tell them," she said to Montcastle.
"Thero is nothing else to DO. Brother
says it was not suicide, and shall not
feel SO bad about it. thought had
driven poor papa to it. )"
Montcastle leaned Oh q table for
minute, then cleared his threat and be-
gan.
cts tempest in teapot" he said.
II am willing to make statement, but
Iwant it distinctly understood that l
am doing it at the request of this lady
and not ut the command of her brother.
For several months Miss Benton and I
have been engaged. l have an aunt liv-
ing in San Francisco who has made me
the heir to her fortune. l wrote to her
Of my intentions, but she had made an
other choice for me and gave me to un-
derstand plainly that if Miss Benton
and I were married she would cut me
out of her will. Notwithstanding this
I 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 told him
what my aunt had written he fatty re-
fused to give his consent. Then Miss
Benton and planned an elopement for
the night her father was killed. We
would not have gene at such late
hour, but it was the only time we could
get away without being seen. hur-
riedly packed my things in valise.
Miss Benton put some Of her things in
a travelling bag, and Mary, in whom we
had confded, was to forward her trunk
the next day. We were ready to go
when Alice--Miss Benton-decided to
appeal to her father once more. "
you'd better let NE tell what hap
pencd next" broke in Miss Benton. II
heard father walking in his room.
think it was about 20 minutes before
o'clock. knew he was in one of his
sleepless moods and went up and found
him in frightfully nervous condition.
1t was about some business dispute he
had had that afternoon with Mr.. Allen.
It seemed that Mr.. Allen had been try
ing to force him to sign some paper
which would give Mr.. Allen a half in
terest in an invention Which had cost
my father ten times as much as Mr..
Allen had said it should. After he had
told me all his troubles and had abused
me soundly Oh account of my engage
ment implored him to reconsider his
decision in regard to Mr. Montcastle.
This threw him into terrible fury. He
not only refused to give his consent to
my marriage, but pushed me from the
room and declared he would disown
me as soon as he could see his lawyer
the next day.
II am sure he meant it, Invent down
and told Montcastle what had taken
place, and we decided to leave, as we
were ready and the cab was at the
door. When we got to the station, the
train had just gone There was not an
other till after 8. We sat in the waiting
room for nearly an hour. In the mean
time I became so blue over it all, par
tioularly my fathers health, that l
changed my mind, and as Mr.. Mont
castle assured me we could get back
home without being detected we re-
turned. As we were entering the house
we met Mr.. Stanwood and Miss Has
tings coming down stairs ] suspected
the next morning that my father had