Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-02

gentleman himself ~ wore this orchid in
my hair that night, and there would be
nothing strange in it's being afterward
picked UP in Mrs. Webbs house, because l
was in that house at or near the time she
was murdered
you in that house,"
YES as far as the ground floor; no fur
ther." Here the little finger stopped point>
ing. 4 am ready to tell you about it, sirs,
and only regret l have delayed doing so so
long, but l wished to be sure it was neces-
sary. Your presence here and your first
question show that it is
There was suavity in her tone now, not
unmiXed with candor. Sweetwater did not
seem to relish this, for he moved uneasily
on his feet and lost a shade of his self
satisfied attitude. He had still to be made
acquainted with all the ins and outs of
this womans remarkable nature.
I'VE are waiting" suggested DR.. Talbot.
She turned to face this new speaker, and
Frederick was relieved from the sight of her
tantaliZing smile.
Il will tell my story simply" said she,
with the simple suggestion that you be-
lieve me; otherwise you will make mistake.
While l was resting from dance the other
night l heard two of the young people talk
ing about the labels. One of them was
laughing at the old men and the other was
trying to relate some old story of early
love which had been the cause, she thought,
Of their strange and melancholy lives. / was
listening to them, but l did not take in
much of what they were saying till heard
behind me an irasctble voice exclaiming;
You laugh, do you? l wonder If you would
laugh so easily if you knew that these two
oil hay had decent meal in
fortnight? 1 didn't know the speaker, but
was thrilled by his words. Not had a
good meal these men, for a fortnight! l
felt as if personally guilty of their suffer-
ings and happening to raise my eyes at this
minute and seeing through an open door the
bountiful refreshments prepared for us all
in the supper room, felt guiltier than ever.
Suddenly took resolution 1t was queer
one and may serve to show you some OF the
oddities of my nature Though I was en-
gagged for the next dance, and though | was
dressed in the fimsy garments suitable to the
occasion, l decided to leave the ball and
carry some sandwiches down to these old
men, Procuring bit of paper, made up
bundle and stole out of the house without
having said a word to anybody Of my in
tention. Not wishing to be seen went out
by the garden door, which is at the end OF
dark hail.
"Just as the band was playing the
'HarebelI mazurka,'" interpolated Sweet
water:
Startled for the first time from her
careless composure by an interruption
of which It was impossible for her at
that minute to measure either the
motive or the meaning, she ceased to
play with her fingers on the baluster
rail and let her eyes rest for a moment
on the man who had thus spoken, as II
she hesitated between her desire TO an
nihilate him for his impertinence and fear
Of the cold hate she saw actuating his every
word and look. Then she went on, as II no
one had spoken.
IT ran down the hill recklessly. was
bent on my errand and not at all afraid
OF the dark When l reached that part or
the road where the streets branch Off l
heard footsteps in front of me. l had over
taken some one. Slackening my pace, so
that should not pass this person, whom ]
instinctiyely knew to be man. l followed
him till came to a high board fence, 1t
was that surrounding Agatha Webbs house,
and when / saw it l could not help con-
Meeting the rather stealthy gait of the man
! in front Of me with q story l mad lately
heard of the large sum of money she wa
known TO keep in her house. Whether this
Z was DeIOre OF dlleT lnlb pelSOh hlaSiPP'h'SH
round the corner cannot say, but no sooner
had / become certain he was bent upon
entering this house than my impulse TO
follow him became greater than my pre-
caution, and turning aside from the direct
path to the Zabels, i hurried down High
street just in time to see the man enter
Mrs. Webb's front gateway.
1T was a late hour for visiting, but as
the house had lights in both its lower and
upper stories, l should by good rights have
taken 1t for granted that he was an eX-
pected guest and gone my own way to the
| labels. But 1 did not. The softness with
which this person stepped and the skulking
way in which he hesitated at the front gate
aroused my worst fears, and after he had
opened that gate and Slid in, ] was so pur-
sued by the idea that he was there for no
good that j stepped inside the gate myself
and took my stand in the deep shadow
cast by the old pear tree on the righthand
side OF the walk. Did any one speak?"
There was unanimous denial from the
five gentlemen before her, yet she did not
look satisfied.
( Il thought / heard some one make a re-
mark" she said, and paused again for a