The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1898-09-15
CHAPTER XVII.

Sonntag-or Wilson, as ought to call
him MOVEMENT first, with the lantern
jackson had used; Mr.. Perry followed;
1 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
it 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 himself2" 1 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
be 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 l
heard him exclaim, in tones of horror:
"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 he dead,
.too?" Mr.. Perry went on. This is
terrible!-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 Morley!" he finally
gasped. "Impossblel" Then he leaned
over the body again. 1T looks very
much like him, very much like him."
he whispered, glancing down at Will
son, who gravely nodded his head.
"What? You mean it is Morley-this
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 a 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.
at is a most terrible affair, Nelson
but never mind, my boy" he said. soft
ly, in an attempt at comfort. His next
words told me, however, that he did
not know the real cause for my grief
81 know how you must feel to have a
horrible event like this happen oR your
place. But you are cleared, at any rate
1t will soon be known that you are in
nocent of the crime the suspicion oi
which you have borne SO long and sc
patiently"
/ made an effort at control, and wher
/ again addressed Mr.. Perry noticed
Wilson and Skinner holding a whis
pered conversation. The younger
mans face was toward me, and as
his eve caught mine there was sc
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,'' / finally managed to murmur
unwilling to state the real cause of my
emotion.
.'Is he quite dead?' Mr.. Perry asked
again, turning to Wilson. For an
swer the detective pulled back his coa'
and vest and pointed to the shirt bos
ON, which was dyed with the life
stream.
"You see," he answered, quietly
1'quite dead. Shot through the heart.
Ibid jackson do it?' the presiden
asked, turning to me. j nodded m.
head.
''why should he? What was MI
Morley"
Fortunately, Skinner, who had arisel
after his whispered conversation wit
Wilson, and gone poking about in tn
corners and behind the empty barrel
and boxes, here uttered a shout whic
caused us all to glance in his direction
He was tugging at some object insid
of a barrel, and soon brought out
large yalise, which from its apparen
weight and plethoric appearance wa
stuffed full.
"Ah, that looks promising!" ejacu
lateu MT. ItrIy, siai tiiS SaSSiiy ANi
ward.
The valise was deposited on the flool
and the president went down on hi
knees, in great excitement, to fumbl
with the catch.
''Let me get at it," said Wilson.
While the two were endeavoring I
open the bag, Skinner came to where
was standing, and, gazing down on tn
dead man, said, in soft tones: "Thi
will go hard with the young lady"
There was nothing particular
striking in his words, but the tone G
his voice had so much genuine feelin
in it that / voluntarily turned and e'
tended my hand.
II hope you'll forgive me-" i said.
"You bet" he replied, grasping m
hand "You did pretty near choke tn
daylight out of me, though. What
grip you've got!" he added, with
bright smile. "But then that's a
right. I'm thankful you didn't shoe
[ was going TO tell you who l was,
there was no use for further concea
ment from you, but you didn't give m
any chance"
.'Why was the whole affair kept frol
me so carefully?" asked.