The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-06-11

He spoke of his wife with great affec.
ton and regret, but still he could speak
of her and not unsteadily. At dinner
he also spoke of one or two other sub
iects, of politics and of his duties as 3
magistrate, and of course he made the
requisite fuss about his gratitude to me
for coming down to Ellerdon at that
time. After dinner we sat in the IL
Drary, a rooN well and expensive ely fur
nished, but without the least attempt at
taste. There were a few oil paintings
on the walls-a presentation portrait
of himself, and a landscape or two-alI
more or less bad as far as / remember.
He had eaten next to nothing at din
ner, but he had drunk a good deal; the
wine, however, did not seem to have the
least effect upon him. 1 had got the
conversation definitely off the subject
Of his wife when l made a blunder. l
noticed an Erichsen's extension stand.
ing On his writing table. 1 said:
Il didn't know that telephones had
penetrated into the villages yet"
Yes" he said, Il believe they are
common enough now. 1 had that one
fitted up during my wife's illness to
communicate with her bedroom on the
floor above US on the other side CT the
house."
At that moment the bell of the tele-
phone rang sharply.
We both looked at each other. ISaid.
with the stupid affectation of calmness
ono alrEay-S nuLc ON "han nm &c N 1if+1e
bit frightened:
Probably a servant in that room
wishes to speak to you"
He got up, walked over to the ma.
chine, and swung the green cord
towards me; the end of it was loose.
81 had it disconnected this morning.
he said; 'also, the door of that room is
locked, and nj one can possibly be in it,
He had turned the color Of gray blot
ting paper; so probably had /.
The bell rang again-a prolonged
rafting ring.
Are you going to answer ii 2" l said
81 am not" he answered, firmly.
"Then,"I said, Il shall answer 1t my.
self. Il is some stupid trick, a joke not
in the best of taste, for which you will
probably have to sack one or other OF
your dOmestics."
MY servants" he answered. "would
not have done that. Besides, don't yor
see it is impossible? The Instruments;
disconnected"
THE bell rang all the same; 1 shall
try it."
l picked up the receiver.
Are you thereof called.
The voice which answered me was IN
mistakably the rather high staccate
voice of Mrs. Pyrwhit.
Il want ycu," it said. "to tell my hus.
band that he will be with me to-mor
row."
I still listened. Nothing more wa.
said.
1 repeated "Are you there?" and still
there was no answer.
l turned to Pyrwhit.
There is no one there" I said. "Pos
sibly there is thunder in the air affect.
ing the bell in some mysterious way.
There must be some simple explanation
and I'll find it all out tomorrow"
He went to bed early hat night. ALI
the following day 1 was with him. We
rode together and 1 expected an acci
dent every minute, but none happened.
All the evening 1 expected him to turf
suddenly faint and i'll, but that also did
not happen. When, at about ten o'clock,
he excused himself and said good night
1 felt distinctly relieved. He went uE
to his room and rung for Williams.
The rest is, of course, well known
The mans reason had broken down
possibly the immediate cause being the
death of Mrs. Pyrwhit. On entering his
masters room, without the Least hest.
~tation, he raised a loaded revolver which
he carried in his hand. and shot Pyrwhi.
through the heart. l believe the case is
NO. 49, =. L -.