Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-07-29
shirt with the cuff attached had lain on

bnlTt WIN the Gull dtldcHtu lau Idlu VI
chair near his bed all night.
! Then the coroner called for Whidby's
Eightshirt, and the jury passed it from
one to the other and examined it care
fully. At that moment WILDLY rose to
call attention to the blood on the por-
there and Oh the corner Of the sheet,
which he thought Hendricks and Capt.
Welsh had forgotten to mention, but
the coroner ordered him, rather coldly,
to sit down.
Matthews was next called, but he
could testify to nothing except that he
slept in the cottage behind the house
and had not walked during the night.
Then the coroner requested WILDLY
and Matthews TO leave the room, and
WILDLY went into the library across the
hall and closed the door behind him.
He sat down and tried to collect his
thoughts, but it was impossible. Half an
hour went by. He heard the jury tramp
through the hall, cross the veranda and
go out at the gate. Then Matthews
raped on the door.
Come in" said WILDLY.
1.-TWO undertakers are waitin out
side, sir" said the servant. They both
want the job. tot EN- I'd see you
about it,
use your judgment; engage one OF
them. | can't attend to it, WILDLY
called to the old man as he was closing
the door. What was the verdict of the
jury?' he asked.
Met his death by the hand of some
person unknown, sir. They called me
back to open the windows, and !
stayed"
"Ah, you remained in there?"
Matthews opened the door a little
wider and stood in the opening, Your
name came up mighty often. sir, after
you went OUT
My name? What did they say about
me?"
81 didn't catch it all, sir, but the de-
tective mentioned the stain on your
hand and said it no doubt came from
the sheet, or from the curtain between
the rooms. He said your explanation
satisfied him, and that he did not be-
lieve guilty man would wait for the
police to come before he washed his
hands and then do it right before 'em.
1t seems to me it would be foolish to
mix You up in it, sir, even If you did
know about the will"
"Will? What will are you talking
about?" asked WILDLY, abruptly.
"Why, masters will, sir. They must
"a opened his desk an got into his pri-
yate papers, for they said there was
will maxim you heir to all the property
They seemed to think there was motive
enough, but they couldn't fasten 1t on
you."
"What else did you hear, Matthews"
WILDLY had turned pale, and was twist
ing his handkerchief tightly in his
hands. IF one is to be suspected OF
numbering ones nearest relative in cold
blood, it is a substantial comfort to
know that there is not enough evidence
to convict. Did you hear anything
else?"
"Nothin' important, sir. There was
a good deal said about a report that
master was thinkin' about gettin mar
ried, and that he would likely alter his
will if he did. Mr.. Soddingham men-
toned that it had been talked OF at the
club, but that you had laughed at the
report. They seemed to have found
some of the young lady's letters with
masters papers, and they appeared to
point that way"
II think l did deny the report at
first said WILDLY, thoughtfully, but
l confess l had just begun to think my
uncle was in love. She is worthy
young woman, but much too young
for him, and was influenced by his
wealth. Perhaps you had better go
and speak to the undertaken. lsuppose
they will want to put up the coffin in
here. | shall 60 upstairs and occupy
the front room. don't feel like going
out; my head aches, and | don't seem
to have my wits about me. could not
rest in my old room with the undertaken