The Delta independent., 1898-04-29
TINES - - - 81
N0RTH~MMll-l y
WALK ~fiARBEN
lWYSTERH~~~
AuTAoc OF
'Tne IHsn sF Iae enHSeiNo- suS:
"A HHLL99eeST eIss esSs sySSsp SSo rrc
CoPrs'.-T 'ss7. rS SiiI ~ aAssss.

cOtOul 6ulC1ue. tuus ne WAS hlllto "
rome cce else. We need not explain now.
/ am satisfied Gu that point, and that
Is why It looks SO gloomy for Montcas-
tie. Sister. yen must really cut with
the truth. Did you and he go to ths
train that night? Answer me-"
Miss Benton seemed tco much agitat-
ed to speak. She we.t to the bell and
rang AID cGre back to her chair. She
was very white and trembling frc:n
head to foot. Presently Mary entered.
ibid you ring. niss?" she asked.
Is Mr.. Montcnstle in the smo:irg
roonr" said Miss Benton.
"Nu, miss; he's in Mr.. Aliens room.
Mr.. Allen has lind another hemorrhare.
. Pretty bad one. We wanted to send
for q doctor, tut he wouldn't let us.
'Tell Mr.. Mon.caStle to cone to mo
st opce," commanded Miss Benton.
''Tell him not to wait a minute.
No one sIoke till Montcustle entered.
"What is it?' he asked. looking at
bis fianoee in surprise.
"Mr. Hendricks is about to h:rdcuff
me" explained Miss Benton, with sar-
casm. "He says he can prove that we
went to the station tie night father
died and that suspicion has teen direct
ed against Cs."
"Whati" murdered Montccstle.
"How dare you. sir!"
Hendricks faced him calmly.
''At such time, IL you refuse to c.
plain your conduct when requested
civilly. it is right and proper that srs-
picion should fall on you. am simply
seeking for information.
but yen are going into our own
private Affairs" answered Mcrtcastle.
because Mr.. Benton happened to lie
killed that night is 70 reascn we should
make 4 confdant Of you unless we wish
to do so."
"You can explain now or do 1t In
court" answered Hendricks, with
smile. "Frcm my standI oint as de-
tective I am obliged to regard your
conduct that night as suspicious.
"He is right, Mortcastlel" troke in
Ralph excitedly. "As the present head
Of this family insist OH I'M explrna-
tion. II you had anything TO do with
the crime"-
Brother, be ashamed Of yoursclfr'
cried Miss Benton, IisinR and standing
between the two men. Remember that
AEthur-MT. T.Nontcastle-is our guest.
"Do you mean to accuse me Of the
mssdes1" asked Nontcsstie, white with
raee.
"l'll accuse you Of what like and
punch your blasted head, toa IL you
aon's explain why you were riding in .
cab with my sister at that hoPr Of the
night. Do you understand? Out with
it, or I'll order your arrest in 9 minutel
I am tired Of this mystery" 2
1ontcastle stood AZ il turned to stone.
Miss Benton covered her face and began
tc sob.
"Tell them," ste said to Montcnstle.
"There il nothing else to do. Brother
says it was not suicide. acd shall not
feel 90 bad about it. thought had
driven poor papa TO it,"
Nontcastle leaned on . table fer .
minute, tken cleared his throat and be-
gan.
Its tempest In a teapot" he said.
II am willing to make a statement, but
I want it distinctly understood that
nm doing 1t ut the request Of this lady
Gnd not ut the command of her brother.
Fer several months Miss Benton aud
have been engaged. have an aunt liv-
ing in San Francisco who has made I1c
the heir to her fortune. Iwrote to her
Of my intentions, but shc had made an
other choice for r1e md gave me to un-
derstand plainly that il Miss Benton
and ] were married she would cut mo
out Of her will. Notwithstanding this
] determined to carry out my plans
und formally proposed to Nj. Benton
for the hand Of his daughter. He had
never liked me, and when told him
what my aunt had written he fiatly re-
fused to give his consent. Then Mis-
Benton and ! planned nm elope;rent for
the night her father was killed. We
would not have gone at such . late
hour. but IL was the orly time we could
get away without being seen. hur-
Yiedly packed my things in q valise.
Miss Benton put some Ct her things in
q travelling bag. and Mary, in whom We
bad conided. was TO forward her trunk
the next day. We were ready to go
when Alice-Mis Benton-decidsd 70
appeal to her father once more"
You'd better let me tell what hap
pened next" broke in Miss Benton. 81
heard father walking in his ROOM I
think it was about 20 minutes before
O'Clock. I knew he was in one Of his
sleepless moods and went up and found
him in Q frightfully nervous condition.
u was about some business dispute he
had had that Afternoon with Mr.. Allen.
IL seemed that Mr.. Allen had been try
ing TO force him TO sign some paper
which would give Mr.. Allen half in
sefest in IN invention which had cost
my father ten timer as nroh as Mr..
Allen hsd said IL should. After he had
sold me all his troubles and had abused
me eoundly ON account Of my engage
u,eDt inIplored him to reconsider his
,rcision in regard 10 Mr.. Montcastle.
This threw him into srrribIe fury. He
mot only refused to give his consent to