Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-02

instant would pass the open door before
which l stood.
Though l had been courageous enough
up to that minute, was seized by a sud
den panic at the prospect of meeting face
to face one whose hands were perhaps drip
ping with the blood of his victim. To con-
front him there and then might mean death
to me and did not want to die but to live
for | am young, sirs, and not without a
prospect of happiness before me. So l
sprang back, and seeing no other place of
conCealment in the whole bare room,
crouched down in the shadow of the man you
call Philemon. For one, two minutes, !
knelt there in state of mortal terror,
while the feet descended, paused, started to
enter the room where l was, hesitated,
turned and finally left the house"
Miss Page, wait, wait" put in the cor
oner. You saw him; you can tell who this
man was?"
The eagerness of his appeal seemed to
excite her. A light color appeared in her
checks and she took a step forward but
before the words for which they so anxiously
waited could leave her lips she gave start
and drew back with an ejaculation which
left a more or less sinister echo in the ears
of all who heard it.
Frederick had just shown himself at the
top of the staircase
Good morning, gentlemen" said he, ad-
vancing into their midst with an air whose
unexpected manliness disguised his inward
agitation. THE few words have just heard
Miss Page say are of so important a nature
l hnd 1t impossible not to join you"
Amabel, upon whose lips faint compla-
cent smile had appeared as he stepped by
her, glanced up at these words in secret as
tonishment at the Indifference they showed
and then dropped her eyes to his hands with
an intent gaze which seemed to affect him
unpleasantly, for he thrust them immc-
diately behind him, though he did not lower
his head or lose his air of determination.
rs my presence here undesirable?" he
inquired, with a glance toward his father
Sweetwater looked as if he thought It
was, but he did not presume to say any.
thing, and the others being too interested
in the developments of Miss Pages story to
waste any time on lesser matters, Frederick
remained greatly to Miss Pages evident
satisfaction.
did you see this mans face?" Mr.. Court
ney now broke in, in urgent inquiry
Her answer came slowly, after another
long look in Frederick's direction.
mo, did not dare to make the effort I
| simply heard his footsteps"
See, now" muttered Sweetwater. but IN
so low a tone she did not hear him "She
condemns herself There isn't woman liv-
ing WHO would fail to look up under those
circumstances even at the risk of her life -
Knapp seemed to agree with him, but Mr.
Courtney, following his one idea, pressed
his former question, saying:
"Was It an old mans step?"
1T was not an agile one"
and you did not catch the least glimpse
of the mans face or fgure?'
"Not a glimpse"
so you are in no position to identity
him?"
IF by any chance should hear those same
footsteps coming down a flight Of stairs |
think l should be able TO recognize them, "
she allowed, in the sweetest tones at her
command
"She knows it is too late for her to hear
those of the two dead labels" growled the
man from Boston.
I'VE are no nearer the solution of this
mystery than we were in the beginning, "
remarked the coroner.
Gentlemen, / have not yet finished my
story" Amabel sweetly intimated. perhaps
what l have yet to tell may give you some
clue as to who this man was"
"Ah, yes; go on, go on. You have not
yet explained how you came to be in pos
session Of Agatha's money"
Just So" she answered, with another
quick look at Frederick, the last she gave
him for some time. LAS soon, then, as
dared, | ran out Of the house into the yard.
The moon. which had been under a cloud,
was now shining brightly, and by its light
/ saw that the space before me was empty
and that | might venture to enter the street.
But before doing so | looked about for the
dagger / had thrown from me before going
in, but / could not find II. II had been picked
up by the fugitive and carried away.
Annoyed at the ccwardice which had led me
10 lose such a valuable piece of evidence
through a purely wOmanish emotion, / was
about to leave the yard when my eyes fell
on the little bundle Of sandwiches, which |
had brought down from the hill and which
/ had let fall under the pear tree at the first
scream / had heard from the house. It had
burst open and two or three of the sand
wiches lay broken on the ground. But those
that were intact I picked up, and, being
more than ever anxious to cover up by some