The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-19
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.
Sutherlandtown was a seaport. The
village, which was a small one, con-
sisted of one long street running par
allel with the coast and numerous cross
streets running down from the hillside
and ending on the wharves. On one OF
| the corners thus made, stood the Webb
house, with its front door on the main
street and its side door on one of the
hillside lanes. AS the group of men
and boys who had been in search of Mr..
Sutherland entered this last mentioned
| lane, they could pick out his house
from all the others. as it was the only
one in which a light was still burning.
Mr.. Sutherland lost no time in entering
upon the scene of tragedy. AS his i'm
posing figure emerged from the dark
ness and paused on the outskirts of the
house, murmur of welcome went up,
after which a way was made for him
to the front door.
But before ne could enter, some one
plucked him by the sleeve.
Look up" whispered a voice into his
ear.
lie did so. and saw a womans body
hanging half out OF an upper window.
1t hung limp, and the sight made him
sick, notwithstanding his three score
years of experience.
Who's that?" he cried. That's not
Agatha Webbs head and shoulders"
NO, it's Betsy, the cook. She's dead,
too. We left her where we found her
for the coroner to see"
But this is horrible" murmured Mr..
Sutherland. Has there been a butcher
| here?"
As ne uttered these words, he felt
another quick pressure on his arm.
Looking down, he saw leaning against
him the form of a young woman, but
before he could address her she had
started upright again and was moving
on with the throng. It was MSS Page.
1T was the sight of this woman
hanging from the window which first
drew attention to the house." volun-
teered a man who was standing as a
sort of q guardian at the main gate
way. Some of the sailors wives who
had been to the WharveS to see their
husbands off on the ship that sailed at
daybreak saw it as they came up the
lane on their way home, and gave the
alarm Without that we might not yet
have known what had happened.
But Mrs. Webb?"
Come in and see
There was a board fence about the
simple yard within which stood the
humble house forever after to be point
ed out as the scene of Sutherlandtown's
most heartrendering tragedy. In this
fence was a gate, and through this gate
now passed Mr.. Sutherland and his
would-be companion, Miss Page. A
path bordered by lilac bushes led the
way to the house, the door of which
stood wide open. AS soon as Mr.. Suth-
erland entered upon this path a man
appeared from the house and came di-
rectly toward him. 1t was Amos Fen
ton, the constable.
"Ah, Mr.. Sutherland" said he, Sad
business, a very sad businessi But
what little girl have you there?'
This is Miss Page, my housekeep-
er's niece. She would come. Inquisi-
tiveness, the cause. I do not approve
OF it
Miss Page must remain on the door
ing yourself" he said respectfully, in
recognition of the fact that nothing of
importance was ever undertaken in
Sutherlandtown without the presence
of Mr.. Sutherland.
Miss Page curtsied, looking so be-
witchins in the fresh morning light
that the tough old constable scratched
his chin in grudging admiration But
ne did not reconsider his determination.
Seeing this, she accepted her defeat
gracefully. and moved aside to where
the bushes offered hec more or less pro
lection from the curiosity of those
about her Meanwhile Mr.. Sutherland
had stepped into the house.
He found himself in a small hall with
a staircase in front and an open door
at the left On the threshold of this
open door a man stood, who, at sight
Of him. dotted his nat. Passing by this
man, Mr.. Sutherland entered the room
beyond. \ table spread with eatables
met his view, beside which, in an atti-
tude which struck him at the moment
as peculiar, sat Philemon Webb, the
well known master OF the house.
Astonished at seeing his old friend in
this room and in such a position, he
was about to address him, when Mr..
Fenton stopped him.
Wait" he said Take a look at
poor Philemon before you disturb him.
He was sitting just as You see him
when re broke into the house n half
hour ago, and we have let him he for
reasons you can easily appreciate. FIX
anime him closely, Mr.. Sutherland: he
won't notice it,"
But what ais him? Why does he
sit crouched against the table? IS he
hurt. too?"
No; look at his eyes"
Mr.. Sutherland stopped and pushed
aside the long gray locks that half con-
cealed the countenance of his aged
friend
Why" he cried, startled. They are
closed 1e isn't dead?'
NO; he is asleep"
Asleep"
yes. He was asleep whe- we came
in, and he is asleep yet. Some of the
neighbors wanted to wake him, but l
would not let them. His wits are not
strong enough to bear sudden shock"
No, no. poor Philemon, But that he
-l,e lsr+
what do these bottles mean, and this
parade Of supper in the room they were
not accustomed TO eat in?'
I'VE don't know. 1t has not been