Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-08-05
CHAPTER Ill.

As WILDLY assembled the stairs III
the hail. Matthews admitted one OF the
undertakers and his assistants and
showed them into Strong's room
| WILDLY went into the bedroom above
closed the door, threw himself on u
lounge, and shut his eyes. Ina few min
utes he began TO feel less nervous. a
rcstful sensation stole over him, and he
felt sleepy. Suddenly his nina re-
yerted to what seemed a vaguc dream OF
the night before. Was it dream or
could ii have been reality? He spraus
up, quivering all over with excitement
but the more he thought Of It the more
the memory etaded HIM, till in despera-
ton he sat down on the lounge and
buried his face in his hands. just then
he heard step in the hall, and some one
raped on his door,
lie rose and went 10 the door, TWAS
Matthews.
"Col. Warrenton is downstairs, sir, and
wants to see you
"Send him up here, said WILDLY. Il
don't care to go down.
In ia moment Col. Warrenton entered,
lie was short Widdle-agcd man, with
red face and iTpn-gray hair. He put
his silk hat on table and gave WILDLY
his hand.
81 was dumfounded by the news" he
said. I'VE are such good friends that
| waived all ceremony and came right
round
"l'm glad you did, old man, returned
WILDLY, "sit down, and excuse me if
| am not entertaining. The truth is,
am badly broken up over this affair.
Something is wrong with me; am not
myself at all,
The visitors glance wandered aim
lessly about the room in the silence that
followed Wbdby's remark, Then the
colonel said;
"You need not tell me anything. |
have heard all about it from Capt.
Welsh He and | have been intimate
friends for years. You have not asked
for NV advice, but, | love you like a
brotf cr and don't want iosee you run
your head into trouble ior the lack of a
LAWYERS opinion"
why do ! need legal advice" asked
WILDLY, nervousy, In what way? l
don't understand"
The lawyer drew his chair nearer to
the young man, who was seated or the
lounge, and laid his hand on his knee.
"0f course it is absurd to think of
your being concerned in Strong's death,
Alfred" he began; but | am obliged,
through the force of habit, to look at
such affairs from professional stand
point. know you are innocent; but
innocent men have been hanged before
this, and have seen men put on trial
for murder with less circumstantial
evidence against them than there is
against you"
WILDLY brushed back his disheveIed
hair with quivering hand, and stared
at his friend.
"You mean that ! may yet be ac'
cusedr'
ut all depends on Hendricks" the
colonel interrupted. "lle is the bright
est man in his line in the world If he
gets on the track Of the real criminal
you are all right, and not soul will
accuse you; but II his Investigations
should be confined to this house 1t might
grow very unpleasant for you, 1t
struck me that this view of the case
might not occur to you, and that is the
reason am here. You see. it is well
that | came of my own accord, for il
you had sent for me it might have an
ugly look"
The young man rose and began &c
walk to and fro across the room. II am
very much obliged he sighed. 81
never dreamed of being suspected. Mat
thews said that after left the room
during the inquest something wa'
brought up about the blood stain on my
hand and uncle's will; but that did moi
trouble me-"
Col. Warrenton's glance followed bis
friends form back and forth for a mo
ment; then he said:
Pardon me, my boy, but do you real
! ly know II you got the blood on your
hand from the sheet, or from the por
tiere9 Is your memory clear on thai
point?"
mo; | did not notice il till started
to wash my hands. In fact, the detec
tive called my attention to it. mus
have been very much excited, or woult
have noticed thing like that; but OLE
man, my head is in such a whirl tina
do notS know what ! am saying.
oversight, and feel as II had beer
drugged, Besides"-Whidby stopped
at the colonels side and put his hand OF