Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-08-12
CHApT'ER ".


Hearing the voices Of the undertaken
and bis men in Strong's room, he en-
tered 1t. The men looked up from the
coffin at him, and l!odson, the under
takcr. bowed and said good morning as
Warrcnton approached and looked at
the dead mans face.
ave never seen anything like that
smile. colonel" said Ilodsou, "and I've
been in this business over 20 years. 1t
was all could do TO get my men to go
TO work when they first saw him. We
tried to close his eyes, but the lids are
as stiff as whalcbone."
The colonel shuddered at the coarse
ness Of the mans words,
"Ilow do you explain the smile?" he
asked.
~ cant explain It at all" answered
the undertaken. 81 don't think such a
thing ever happened before"
Warrenton bent over the coffin for
moment. ut seems to me to be
genuine smile. unmiyed with any SEN
sation of pain. or even surprise"
"Ue was laughing, colonel, II ever
man laughed in his life. ] amt par
ticularly superstitious. once I'M
screwed box and let n man out that
had passed for dead % hours. | was
alone with It at midnight. You can bet
tbot rave me shock; but. frankly, I'd
hate to spend night with this one"
"Whidby slept in that room. didn't
he?" asked the lawyer. glancng indif-
fercntly towards the portiere.
"Yes sir but fine Indications are that
tho decd wos done very ouietly. Per.
Inns Mr. WILDLY was drupyed.">
Uodson turned IN rive some orders
10 his men The colonel went into
Wbidhv,s room and let tbc curtain fnll
behind him. The room had not been
mt 10 rights A chair stood between
The por,iere md the he'd lis bnck was
towards him. W arrenton listened,
Jlodson was still talking 70 his men. and
the colonel could hear them using their
tack. hammers Ouicllv and steolthilv
he stepped TO the chnir and turned its
bnck IN the licht from the window. He
found what he feared was there-a faint
smear of blood inst where Wbidby had
caught the chair with his right hnnd
"Enouph TO draw the halter around
his neck" thought the LAWYER. ~ hone
I, escaped that detectives He had
met renIoced tho cbo;r vhor tho NOS
there was drawn back and Hodson
looked in.
~ beg pardon. colonel. but Can't
Welsh aked me TO allow no one to come
in here. | thought YOU went into the
hail."
~ was Just wondering how WILDLY
could have silent so soundlv unless he
WINS drurged." said the colonel ~
would moi have come in If had thought
1t was forbidden. WILDLY and are so
intimate. Won know | feel nc 10 were
at home here"
"Oh. no harm done" said thc under
takcr. as he held the curtain aside for
Worrenton IN noss out
The colonel went into tbe holl and
turned into the parlor. Here he looked
about amlessly for a moment and then
seeing an open door which led 70 the
servants rooms in the rear, he passed
out,
Ina little room adjoining the kitchen
he found Matthews.
81 want to see you Matthew'S said
the colonel. ~ want TO o,k vo, some
questions Mr., Whidby is So excited
and upset that | don't wish TO disturb
him. and vet | must get some lpbt nm
this subject"
II don't know much about It, sir"
replied the gardener. 1--WE told all |
know to the iury."
The colonel sat down on window.s,II
and lighted a cigar.
"You can trust me, YOU know. Mat,
thews. am an old friend of the fam
ily."
"0h. know that, sir well enough I"
"You have been in Mr.. Strong's serv-
ice long time, Matthews, and you may
now remember some things that YOU
did not think of when you were testi-
fying, For instance. have you anv rec