Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-19
CHAPTER Nv.

rival occurred. II was one Of the village
ele-gyuen.
CHAPTER Nv.
This gentleman had some information 20
give. AS he was returning home from the
bedside Of a sick parishioner. some little
time before. he had been run against on
this very corner BY a man rushing out o.
the gateway in a state OF great agitation.
This man held something in his hand that
glittered. and though the encounter nearly
upset them both. he had not stopped to
utter an apology, but stumbled away into
the darkness in a dazed and feeble way,
showing thai he was neither young nor &C
tive. The minister had not been able TO
see his face. but noticed the ends OF a long
beard blowing over his shoulder as he hUr-
riei away.
Philemon was a clean-shaven man. Asked
IL he could give the time OF this encounter.
he replied that it was after Il and before
L. fer he was in his own house by i.
Did you look W at these windows be
fore leaving 90 asked Mr.. Ferton, Tor this
interview had taken place in the presence
OF the dead.
Il must have for now ! remember they
we're both lighted"
Were the shades up?'
! AAAAh AUAs Va Z SLA-4- nav NAANN ~
ceiling Of the room. I remember seeing
nothing"
How were the shades when you broke
into the house this morning." inquired Mr..
Sutherland Of the constable.
Just as they are now; re have moved
nothing. The shades we're both down-one
Of them over an open window"
Well, we may find this encounter OF Mr..
Cranes Of decided inheritance"
4 wish I had seen the mans face" re-
marked the latter.
What did the object look like, you saw
glittering in his hand?'
i should not like to venture an opinion.
I saw it but an instant
Gould it have been a knife or an old fash
Toned dagger
1T might have been"
Alas, poor Agathai That money. some
thing she so d~espised, should cause the death
Of a creature so grand and simple, Tn
happy life, unhappy death! Fenton, I shall
always mourn for Agatha Webb"
Yet she seems to have found peace at
last, q" said the minister. Il have never seen
her look so contented" Then leading Mr..
Sutherland aside he whispered. What is it
you say about money? Had she any con
siderable amount of il? ! ask because in
spite OF their humble means OF living she
always put a generous donation on ce plate,
and l have received more than once during
my pastorate an Unexpectedly large but
anonymous contribution for certain charities.
As it was always for sick or suffering chill
dren, L"
Yes. yes; I have no doubt it came from
her. She was by no means poor, though l
myself never knew the extent of her means
till lately. Philemon was a good business
man once; but they evidently preferred 10
live simply, having no children living
They have lost six, I have been told"
so the Portchester folks say. They
probably had no heart for display or for
even the simplest Injuries. At ell events
they did not indulge in them"
Philemon has long been past INDUCING in
anything"
%, he likes his comfort. and he has had IL,
TOO. Agatha never stinted him"
But why do you think her death was due
10 her having money"
she had q large sum tn the house, and
there are some who knew this
And it Is gone"
That we sham know later"
As the coroner arrived Al this moment the
minister's curiosity had 20 wait. Fortu-
nately for MS equRniInity no one had the
| presumption 20 ask hin TO leave the room.
The coroner was q man Of but few words,
and but lI,le given 10 emotion. Yet they
were surprised al his first question.
Who is the young woman who is standing
outside there, the only one z The yard2'
Mr.. Sutherland, moving rapidly TO the
window, drew aside the shade.
1t is Miss Page, my housekeeper's niece, -
he explained. I do not understand her in
Ieres- in this affair; she followed me here
from the house and could hardly be goc 10
leave this room into which she inJruded her
self against my express command
But look at her atitude," Il was Mr..
FenJon who spoke. She's crazier than
Philemon, it seems 10 me-
There was some reason for this remark.
Guarded by the high fence from the gaze
OF the pushing crowd without. she stood up
right ana inmOyable in the middle OF the
yard, like one on watch. The hood. which
she had dropped from her head when she
thought her eyes and smile might be Of use
10 her IN the furtherauce OF her plans, had
been draw over il again. so that she looked
more like q statue in gray than a living
breathing woman. YET there was menace
in her attitude and a purpose in the solitary
stand she took in that circle OF board
girded grass. which caused d thrill in the
breasts OF those who looked al her from
the chamber Of death.
a mysterious young woman" muttered
the minister.
And one that I neither countenance nor
understand, interpolated Mr.. Sutherland.
4 have just shown her the displeasure !
feel at her actions by disnissiug her from
my house"
The coroner gave him a quick look. seemed
about TO speak, but changed his mind and
turned toward the dead woman.
10 be Continued