Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-09-16
CHAPTER XVII.

Sonntag-or Wilson, MS I ought to call
him MOVEMENT first, with the lantern
Jackson had used; Mr.. Perry followed;
l came next, and Skinner brought up
the rear with another lantern.
"Be careful and don't strike your
heads against the dirt above, or some OF
1t will come down." Wilson called back
to us. AS the passage was not more
than three and half or four feet in
height, it was rather difficult to follow
his advice.
'Do you suppose Jackson did all this
work himselt?" heard Mr.. Perry ask.
Undoubtedly" Sonntag replied.
"You see, he used to come to Nelson
vile quite frequently. For the past
six weeks he had not been seen about
here. But then that is no sign that
he was not here. Probably during
those six weeks he was at work. Here
we are" he said, as he crawled out into
the room.
Mr.. Perry followed quickly, and I
beard him exclaim, in tones of horrors:
"What in heavens name is that?"
Wilson placed the lantern on the floor
and bent down over the PROSTATE body
Of Mr.. Morley.
"Why, were there two? Is lie dead,
too9" Mr.. Perry went on. "This is
terriblel--a most horrible affair! Who
can it be?"
The elder detective silently motioned
to Skinner, and together they gently
turned the body over.
The president leaned down, and then
started back. CONSERVATION, doubt,
amazement, horror, were on his face as
he glanced from one to the other of us.
Sylvester Morleyl" he finally
gasped, "Imposslblel" Then he leaned
over the body again. 1T looks very
much like him, very much like him, "
he whispered, CHANGING down at Will
son, who gravely nodded his head.
"What? You mean 1t Is Morley--thls
body Morley's? Great God in Heavenl"
We stood silently around the body for
some time, none Of us willing to utter
word. But the realization Of what
the fathers death, and in such n vio-
lent way, would mean to Florence had
been growing stronger and stronger in
my mind, and finally broke down un-
der it, covered my face with my hands
and groaned aloud.
Soon felt touch on my arm. Glanc-
ing up, saw Mr., Perry standing be-
side me.
ut is most terrible affair, Nelson;
but never mind, my boy" he said, soft
ly, In On attempt at comfort. His next
words told me, however, that he did
not know the real cause for my grief.
II know how you must feel to have o
horrible event like this happen on your
place. But you are cleared, at any rate,
1t will soon be known that you are In
nocent of the crime the suspicion Of
which you have borne 30 long and so
patiently"
Imade an effort at control, and when
I again addressed Mr.. Perry noticed
Wilson and Skinner holding a whis-
pered conversation. The younger
mans face was toward me, and as
his eye caught mine there was so
much pity and sympathy in it that
could not help feeling some wonder.
ITO think of it all happening on my
grandfather's place, whose character
was as far removed from anything
criminal as heaven is high above
earth," I finally managed to murmur,
unwilling to state the real cause of my
emotion.
as he quite deadP" Mr.. Perry asked
again, turning to Wilson. For an
swer the detective pulled back his coat
and vest and pointed to the shirt bos-
.om, which was dyed with the life
stream.
"You see," he answered, quietly,
"quite dead. Shot through the heart"
"Did jackson do it?" the president
asked, turning to me. I nodded my
head.
"Why should he? What was Mr..
Morley"
Fortunately, Skinner, who had arisen
after his whispered conversation with
Wilson, and gone poking about in the
corners and behind the empty barrels
and boxes, here uttered a shout which
caused us all to glance in his direction.
He was Juggling at some object inside
Of barrel, and soon brought out q
large valise, which from It's apparent
weight and plethoric appearance was
stuffed full.
"Ah, that looks promislngl" ejacu-
lated Mr.. Perry, starting eagerly for
ward.
The valise was deposited on the floor,
and the president went down on his
knees, in great excitement, to tumble
with the catch.
LET me get at it." said Wilson.
While the two were endeavoring to
omen the bag. skinner. came to where I