Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-25
Chapter V.

or two new facts. First, that all the doors
of the house were found unlocked; and sec
ondly, that the constable had been among
the first to come in, so that he could vouch
that no disarrangement had been made in
the rooms, with the exception Of Batsy's re-
movaI to the bed.
Then, his attention being drawn to the
dead woman. he discovered the key in her
tightly closed hand.
Where does this key belong?" he asked
They showed him the drawers in the cup
board
One is empty" said Mr. Sutherland.
IF the other is found to be in the same
condition, then her money has been taken.
That key she holds should open both these
drawers"
Then let it be made use of at once. 1t is
important that We should know whether
theft has been committed here as well as
murder" And drawing the key out, he
handed it to Mr.. Fenton.
The constable Immediately unlocked the
drawer and brought it and its contents to
the table.
mo money here" said he.
But papers as good as money" announced
the doctor. See! here are deeds and more
than one valuable bond. l judge she was a
richer woman than any of US knew.
Mr.. Sutherland, meantime, was looking
with an air Of disappointment into the now
empty drawer.
Just as l feared" said he. "She has
been robbed of her ready money. 1t was
doubtless in the other drawer"
How came she by the key, then?"
That is one of the mysteries of the af-
fair; this murder is by no means simple
one. 1 begin to think We shall find it full of
mysteries
''Batsy's death, for instance?''
oh. yes, Batsy! I had forgotten that
she was found dead, too"
Without a wound, DOCTOR
She had heart disease. 1 doctored her
Tor IL The fright has killed her"
The look Of her face confirmed that"
Let me see, So 1t does; but we must
have an autopsy to prove it."
Il would like to explain before any fur
ther measures are taken how / came to
know that Agatha Webb had money in her
house" said Mr.. Sutherland, as they STEP
ped back into the other room. Two DAYS
ago 1 was sitting with my family at din
ner; old gossip Judy came in. Had Mrs
Sutherland been living she would not have
presumed to intrude upon US at mealtirne
but as We have no one now to uphold our
dignity this woman rushed into our pres
ence painting with news, and told us all
IN one breath how she had just come from
Mrs. Webb, who had a pile of money i'm
her house That she had just seen 1t with
her own eyes; that going upstairs, as
usual, without knocking she had seen Mrs
Webb through the crack of the sitting
room door, walking toward the fireplace
cupboard with huge roll of bills in her
Rand That listening, she heard her saw:
far to have in the house After which she
heard first one lock turned and then an
other. and satisfied that the money had
been put into some receptacle in the c7In-
board. she crept out quietly as she had
come in and ran away to tell the neighbOrs
happily l was the first one she told bur /
have no doubt that, in spite of all my in
functions. she has related the news to
every one who would listen"
w as the young woman l see down yon-
der at the table with you when Judy told
toward the yard.
Mr.. Sutherland pondered. mo: do not
think she was. Frederick was seated al
the table with me, and my housekeener was
pouring the tea. but Miss Page had not VET
come down, L think; she has been puttinq-
On great airs of late"
can it be possible that he does not know
thstt MS son. Frederick. wants to marry
this girl, muttered the clergyman int ~.
cOnstabe's ear ---'' 'ti0
The constable shook his head. Mr. Sutb-
g -oti.d was one Of those debonair men.
trab!e. ''-e-ii iiiipelie-
The coroner leaving the house was
aOI'o"=d by Mr. Sutherland. As the FIN
iSures OF the TWO men appeared on tn
doorstep a faint cheer was heard fron
Cie Two or three favored persons who were
a4Io" "a 10 look through the gate But To
lE4S token Of welcome neither se,tIey,.,T
responded by much as a look ali ,bir
attention beng ensrossed by the sight If
thy sohtary Inquire of Miss Page. who still
1850 44'A 1tSt4iA upon the lawn. MpticptaS-
a. statue, but with her eyes fixed unan
tneir races. sha awaited their approacI,
, !" men they We're near her she thrust one
t4''-.I from under her cloak and pointing
10 the grass at her feet said quietly:
See this?''
They h&stened toward her and bent dow.
10 examine the spot she indicated
W nat dc you find there?'' cried NJ
Sutherland, whose cyesight was not GOOD
Blood, responded the coroner nII,cEino
Up olaCe OF grass and surveying il closeIv
Blood echoed Miss Page with so sue
sestiEe glance that Mr. Sutherland s,ere5
at her in amazement nor Observation-Disclosures; "a , Gu
own emotion. MS
How are you able to discern a stain So
~ - - t. EeptiDie? asked the coroner
see IN the whole yard" she ret3rted 9,d
with slight bow, which was nor I,,itboI,+
rs element OF mockery, she turned toward
a most unaccOuntable girl commented
the doctor But she is right about these
stains Abel" he called to the man al the
gate, bring box or barrel here and cover
up this spot L don't want It disturbed Inv
tTampling feet till the jury l shall soon "a II
shan have had an opportunity to look AT
Abel started to obey just as the voune
girl laid her hand on the gate to open il.
Won't You help me?'' she asked. The
crowd is 50 great they won't let me
Won't they?" The words came from,
without. Just slip out 1 slip in, and
Suu II Hllu "A place made for yOu.''
Not recognizing the voice she basita+ed
Tor moment, but. seeing the gate SWAY
Ing, she pushed against il lust as a youne
man stepped through the gan NeccssariIV
they came face 10 face
All. it's YOU he muttered giving he,
sharp glance. e''Hs iei
I do not know you" she hauehtiIv de-
Cared, and slipping by him with sucb dey
terity that she was out of the gate before
he could respond. s 'eho'e
But he only snapped his finger and tbur,t
mockingly at her and smiled knowinojv n
Abel. who had fingered TO watch the end o,
this encounter. H vi
supple as a willow twig Ell =" he lauoba5
well, have made whistles ont 81 .-iIIa 49,
before now, and-halloo! where did voi, eai
that?' ~" &C
He was pointing 10 a rare flower thu
hung limp and faded from AbeI's hutton
hole. 'on
This? Oh. found 1t In the housa Won
der. II was lying on the floor of the inna,
Dom, almost under Batsy's skirts Cur;o,,.
sort OF flower. / wonder where she got II D.
The intruder betrayed at once an unac
countable emotion There was a stranp.
glitter in his light green eyes that mad,
Abel shift rather uneasily on his feet
was that before this pretty mink yo,