The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-27

you are looking. Is anything the mat
teri"
No. Gerty.' l managed 20 reply. only
I have been somewha, Worried BY a bad
CAGE.
You doctors should always leave your
cares behind you when visiting" she ex-
claimed, iaaghingiy, adding: II trus.
Nine. Atlantis sweet singing viii banisn
your melancholy
| paid but little attention 10 the perform
efs. for my thoughts constantly wandered
10 the dilemma In which / was situated.
Gertrude gently chided me several times
for my distracted air. and fear our part
INK that night was not as affec;ioEate as
usual. For some time l walked UP and
down AntilI etreef sireading To enter the
house. where should once more be brought
face 10 face with the dead body which
was such a burden on my mind.
Had I belonged TO any other profession
than that which l followed / would have
given information TO the authorities and
taken AL risks: for some evidence would
be called TO show how or where had OBJ
tanned the poison-evidence which, in my
case. would ncs be necessary. seeing tina:
my surgery contained the usual assort-
ment OF drugs.
Finally ] resolved 10 bury the unknown
victim in the cellar Of my house. 1t was
my own freehold, which no one could dis
turb whilst / lived. With some difficulty
prevailed on Mrs. Gauut TO keep the
secret, pointing out that whilst she was
equally innocent with myself the fact Of
the remains having been kept so long
would Of Itself be sufficient to condemn
her. Early the same eyening-it was We'd
nesday, the I5th-@e carefully conveyed
the body into the dismal vault. The beau
tiful face. nestled in a profuslon of golden
tresses. covered. for. innocent as / was.
felt as IL 1 were the actual murderer,
and could not bear 10 behold her counte-
nance.
/ was busily excavating the earth with
pick and shovel when / heard a noise over
head in the kitchen. Il was Margaret
Gaunt shouting frantically 10 some one:
You must Rot go down. You shall not
go!'
From the scuffiing OF the feet there was
evidently a violent struggle going on; n
thud followed. accompanied by loud
scream from Mrs. Gaunt. Then I heard
the footsteps Of some one cautiously de-
scending the cellar steps. My arms fell
1ifeless By my side, and a cold, clarnany
sweat broke out on my brew as vision OF
feions Death rose before me. For DIS
covery now would place my guilt beyond
all doubt in the eyes of a jury.
Nerving myself to prepare for the worst.
I approached the cellar stens and there
would have forfeited all / possessed 10
avoid meeting at such time and place
Gertrude Mayhem.
On observing the body she gave slight
scream. and then change came over her
face as she exclaimed In hysterical voice:
Horace Heythorn. now ! understand
why you were agitated Last night.
And glaring With indignant eyes. she
pointed To the dead.
In passionate words I related the whole
of the circumstances.
.tYou may 1 concluded, condemn my
conduct: but have taken the burden of
anothers guilt upon my shoulders for your
sake. For knew that il my name were
coupled with such n deed l could never
hope 10 call you mine. II summon in the
police they Will arres. me. and shall have
TO pay the penalty. whilst the real cr5n-
inal will never be brought to justice. Be-
ieye me. l entreat you, when l soIemniy
swear that / never saw or heard OF THIS
poor girl until the fatal night when she
crossed my path I'm the mysterious man
ner | have described
II was not until had finished speaking
that ! observed the ominous CLEAN In
Gerfruje's eyes, and then, with cry OF
jealous rage, She exclaimed.
"Dr Heythorn, | must be allowed 10
form my own opinions that yoa have told
tue truth up TO u certain point do not
I can Judge for myself the love | bore YOU
cannot blind me 10 what behold before
me"
Gertrude. cannot you believe mes''
81 cannot she Responded M an impress
sive tone. accept the testimony Of a MUIR
derer'
Murderer repeated tn agony. Then
/ all Is lost; for il you think me guilty.
how can expect that the world Will fail
20 condemn likewise.
~ approached she inyoinntariy shrank
away; once I thought ] could detect i
trace of womaniy pity in her counten-
anee and then. as II 10 steel herseil
against relenting. she fed from the house
deaf 10 my entreaties.
CHAPTER III.
/ The painful ordeal through which | had
passed left me IN a condition u semi
stupor. until / was aroused by Mrs. Gaunt
| who, with & motherly Kindness. led me &
/ my room. The strain OF mental anguish
had been severe. and for Il while / wa:
/ completely Frustrated with grief.
cat N s~efs itiPe.f ar n m,