Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-05

p%ository OF secrets to be found in all that
region. He had been married three times,
and could still count thirteen children
around his board; one reason, perhaps. why
he had learned to cultivate silence to such
a degree. Happily, the time had come for
him to talk, and he talked. This is what
he said:
Some fifteen years ago Philemon Webb
came to me with a small sum of money
which he said he wished to have me invest
for his wife. 1t was the fruit Of a small
speculation of his and he wanted it given
Internationally to her without her knowl-
edge or that Of the %neighbors. l accord
ingly made out a deed OF gift, which he
signed with joyful a~lacrity, and then after
due thought and careful investigation | put
the money into a new enterprise then being
started in Boston. 1t was the best stroke of
business l ever did in my life. At the end
of a year 1t paid double and after five had
rolled away the accumulated interest had
reached such a sum that both Philemon and
myself thought 1t wisest to let her know
what she was worth and what was being
done with the money. l was in hopes it
would lead her to make some change in
her mode of living. which seemed to me out
OF Keeping with her appearance and mental
qualifications, while he, l imagine, looked
for something more important still, u smile
on the face which had somehow lost the
trick of merriment, though it had never
acquired that of ill-nature. But we did
not know Agatha; at least | did not. When
she learned that she was rich she looked at
hrst awe-struok and then heart-pierced.
Forgetting me OF ignoring me-, 1t makes no
matter which, she threw herself into Phile-
mons arms and wept, while he, poor faith
full fellow, looked as distressed as If he had
brought news of failure instead of triumph
ant success. l suppose she thought of her
buried children and what the money would
have been to her if they had lived, but she
did not speak of them, nor am | quite sure
they were in her thoughts when, after the
first excitement was over, she drew back
and said quietly, but in a tone of strong
feeling to Philemon: You meant me a
happy surprise, and it shall be so, Philemon.
This is heart money; we will use it to make
our townsfolk happy l saw him glance at
her dress, which was a purple calico. re-
member it because of that look and because
of the sad smile with which she followed
his glance. Can we not afford now he
ventured, "a little show of luxury or at least
a ribbon or so for this beautiful throat of
yours? She did not answer him, but her
look had a rare compassion in it, q COM
passion, strange to say, that seemed to be
expended upon him rather than upon her
self. Philemon swallowed his disappoint-
ment. Agatha is right, he said to me. we
do not need luxury. ] do not know how
l so far forgot myself as to mention it,
That was ten years ago and every day since
then her property has increased. l did not
know then, and l do not know now. why
they were both so anxious that all knowl-
edge Of their good fortune should be kept
from those about them, but that 1t was to be
so kept was made very evident to me, and,
Notwithstanding all temptations to the con-
trary, 1 have refrained from uttering a word
likely to give away their secret. The money,
which to all appearance was the cause of
her tragic and untimely death, was interest
money which l was delegated to deliver her.
l took it to her day before yesterday and
1t was all in crisp new notes, some of them
20 shillings, but most Of them 10 and 5
shillin4s. l am free to say there was not
such another roll Of fresh money in town"
Warn all shopkeepers to keep a lookout
OF the money they receive" was DR.. Talbot's
comment to the constable. Fresh SO and
$40 bills are not any too common in this
town. And now about her will. Did you
draw that up, Harvey"
mo. / did not know she had made one.
L often spoke to her about the advisability
il nci uoiuB 81, u she always put me OH.
And now it seems that she had it drawn up
in Boston. Could not trust her old friend
with too many secrets, l suppose"
so you don't know how her money has
been left?"
mo more than you do
Here an interruption occurred. The door
opened and a slim young man, wearing
speotacles, came in. At sight of him they
all rose.
"Well?" eagerly inquired DIR. Talbot.
Nothing new" answered the young man,
with a consequential air. THE elder woman
died from loss of blood consequent upon a
blow given by a small, three-sided, slender
blade; the younger from a stroke of apo
plexy, induced by fright"
Good! / am glad to hear my instincts
were not at fault. Loss of blood, Ell?
Death, then, was not instantaneous"
mo"
"Strange!" fell from the lips of his two
listeners. She lived, yet gave no alarm"
None that was heard suggested the
young doctor, who was from another town.
Or, if heard, reached no ears but
P~hilemon's," observed the constable. Some
thing must have taken him upstairs"
Il am not so sure" said the coroner,
that Philemon is not answerable for the
whole crime, notwithstanding our failure
to find the missing money anywhere in the
house. How else account for the r~esigna-
ton with which she evidently met her
death. Had a stranger struck her, Agatha
Webb would have struggled. There is no
sign of struggle in the ROOM
She would have struggled against Phile-
mon had she had strength to struggle. I
think she was asleep when she was struck"
"Ah! and was not standing by the table.
How about the blood there, then"
''ShOOk from the mlIrdprnr'S 6nparc in
fright or disgust"
There was no blood on Philemon's fingers.
No; he wiped them on his sleeve"
"If he was the one to use the dagger
against her, where is The dagger? Should
We not be able to find it somewhere about
the premfses?"
III may have buried it outside. Crazy
men are supernaturally cumming"
when you can produce it from any place
inside that board fence, I will consider your
theory. At present | limit my suspicious of
Philemon to the half-unconscious attentions
which a man of disordered intellect might
give a wife bleeding and dying under his
eyes. My idea on the subject is"
Would you be so kind as not to give