Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-06-09

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
jects, of politics and of his duties as
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
brary, room well and extensively 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-all
more or less bad as far as l remember.
He had eaten next to nothing at din
ner, but he had drunk good deal; the
wine, however, did not seem to have the
least effect upon him. / had got the
conversation definitely off the subject
of his wife when 1 made blunder. l
noticed an Erichsen's extension stand
ing on his writing table. said:
II didn't know that telephones had
penetrated into the villages yet"
"Yes," he said, II believe they are
common enough now. l had that one
fitted up during my wife's illness to
communicate with her bedroom on the
floor above us on the other side of the
house."
At that moment the bell of the tele-
| phone rang sharply.
| We both looked at each other. said,
with the stupid affectation of calmness
one always puts on when one is little
bit frightened:
| Probably 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 no one can possibly be in it.
He had turned the color of gray blot
ting paper; so probably had l.
The bell rang again--a prolonged
rafting ring.
Are you going to answer it ?" 1 said
II am not" he answered, firmly.
"Then," | said, II shall answer it my
self. 1t is some stupid trick, joke MOI
in the best of taste, for which you will
probably have to sack one or other Of
your domestics."
my servants" he answered, ''woult
not have done that. Besides, don't you
see it is impossible? The instrument il
disconnected"
"The bell rang all the same; l shall
try it,"
picked up the receiver.
"Are you thereon called.
The voice which answered me was un
mistakably the rather high staccat
voice of Mrs. Pyrwhit.
81 want you," it said, "to tell my hus
, band that he will be with me to-mor
, row."
, / still listened. Nothing more wa
said.
repeated care you there?'' and still
there was no answer.
., l turned to Pyrwhit.
= "There is no one there" 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 that night. A
q the following day was with him. W
rode together and expected an acc
" dent every minute, but none happened
: All the evening L expected him to tur
- suddenly faint and i'll, but that also di
not happen. When, at about ten o'clocl
he excused himself and said good nigl
= L felt distinctly relieved. He went u
, to his room and rung for Williams.
The rest is, of course, well know
y The mans reason had broken dow
- possibly the immediate cause being tn
=. death of Mrs. Pyrwhit. On entering h
- masters room, without the least hes
:. tation, he raised loaded revolver whic
- he carried in his hand, and shot Pyrwh
- through the heart. believe the case
:, mentioned in some of the text books @
homicidal mania.-Black and White.