The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-26
AGATHA WEBB
Nv ANNA KATHARINE GREEN.
Copyrighted. 1893. " S. s. Mcclure Co.
CHAPTER ".

.ro new ~facts-nrst, that all the doors OF The
house we're found unlocked. and secondly. that
,hs Constable had been among the first 10
.ore I'm. 40 that he could vouch TINT no diaar.
,.npement had been made In the rooms, with
the exception OF Batsy's removal to the bed.
Then. his attention being drawn 10 the dead
xomop, he discovered the key in her tightly
closed hand.
myers -sAs tbia Eav beloug2" he asked,
They showed him the drawers In the Gun.
voarG.
ZONE 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 those drawers"
'rhen let It be made use Of at once. r. ia
important that we should know whether theft
has been committed hero as well as murder"
And drawing the key out he handed II 70 Mr..
Fanton.
The Constable Immediately unlocked the
drawer and brought It and It's contents 10 the
table,
NO money here" said he.
But papers as good as money" announced
The doctor. "Seel here are deeds and more
than one valuable bond. l Judge she was a
richer woman than any OF us kne W."
MI. Sutherland. meantime. was looking with
m air OF disappointment into the now empty
81
drawer.
Just as / feared" said he. She has been
robbed OF her ready money. 1t was doubtless
In the other drawer"
How came she by the key. them"
That is one OF the mysteries OF the affair;
this murder is by no means a simple one. ]
begin to think we shall find it full OF mys.
%teries.'
"Batsy's death. for instance2"
"Oh. yes, Batsyl 1 had forgotten that she
was iound.dead. too"
without a wound. doctor"
"She had heart disease. ] doctored her for
Il. The fright has killed her."
THE look OF her face confirmed that"
Let me seel SO it does; but we must have
an autopsy TO prove IT,"
II would like to explain before any further
measures are taken how I came to know that
Agatha Webb had money in her house." said
Mr.. Sutherland. as they stepped back into the
other room. Two DAYS ago l was sitting with
my family at dinner; old gossip Judy came in.
Had Mrs. Sutherland been living she would not
have presumed to intrude upon us at meal
time, but as we have no one now to uphold our
dignity this woman rushed into our presence
painting with ews and told us all in one
breath how she had Just come from Mrs. Webb.
who had a.nile of money in her house: that
she had lust 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 fire.
place cupboard with a huge roll OF bills in her
hand; that listening. she heard her say:
Just fifteen hundred Toe much money by
far to have In the house After which she
heard first one lock turned and then another,
and. satisfied that the money had been put into
some recertacle in the cupboard. she crept out
as quietly as she had come in and ran away to
tell the neighbors. Happily I was the first one
che told. but 1 have ne doubt that in spite of all
my inJunctions she has related the news to
every one who would listen"
Was the young woman [ see down yonder
at the table with you when Judy told this
story?' asked the Coroner. pointing toward
the yard.
Mr.. Sutherland pondered. mo. 1 do not
think she was. Frederick was seated at the
table with me. and my housekeeper was pour
Ing The tea. but Miss Page had not yet come
down. I think she has been putting on great
airs OF late"
Can It be possible that he does not know
that his son. Frederick. wants to marry this
girl" muttered the clergyman into the Con-
stables ear.
The Constable shook his head. Mr.. Suther-
land was one Of those debonair men whose
very mildness makes them impenetrable.
The Coroner. on leaving the house. was fol-
lowed by Mr.. Sutherland. As the fine figures
Of 1.-THE two men appeared on the doorstep a
faint. cheer was heard from the two or three
favored persons who were allowed to lCok
through the gate. But to this token OF well
come neither gentleman responded by 50 much
asa look. all their attention being eugrossed
by the sight of the solitary figure OF Miss Page.
who still held her stand upon the lawn. Mo-
ton!ess as a statue. but with her eyes fixed
uDon their faces. she awaited their approach.
When they were near her she thrust one hand
IRON under her cloak. and. pointing to the
grass at her feet. said quietly:
"Sea this"
They fastened toward her and bent dow
to examine the spot.she:indicated.
What do you find there?" cried Mr.. Suther-
land. whose eyesight was not good.
Blood" responded the Coroner. plucklng
up a blade OF grass and surveying It closely.
Blood" echoed Miss Page. with so sugges-
tive a glance that NJ. Sutherland stared at her
In amazement. not understanding his own
emotion.
How we're YOU able TO discern n stain SO
nearly imperceptible?" asked the Coroner.
"lmperceptible? 1t Is the only thing I see
Ill the whole yard" She retorted. and with a
sight bow, which was not without It's element
OF mockery. she turned toward the gate.
A most unaccountable girl commented
the doctor, But she Is right about these
stains, Abel" he called TO the man at the gate.
bring a box or barrel here and cover up this
spot. ! don't want IL disturbed by tramplinR
ieet till the Jury i shall soon call shall have
MAD an opportunity to look ut IT,"
A'el started to obey lust as the young girl
her hand on the gate to open IL.
Won't YOU help me-" she asked. The
crowd Is SO great they won't let me through"
Won't theyy' The words came from with
OUT Just slip out:as, slip in. and youlkhnd
q place made for YOU"
Not recognizing the voice. she hesitated for
a moment, but seeing the gate swaying. she
pushed against II Just as n young man stepped
to, face,
"Ah. it's YOU" he muttereJ. giving her a
ehaTp. glance.
do not know you" she haughtily declared,
anu slipped by him with such dexterity that
sne was out OF the gate before he could re-
But he only snapped his finger and thumb
Hockingly at her. and smiled knowingly. at
ave-, who had fingered to watch the end OF
THIS encounter.
.uv,Snpple as a willow twig. EN-" he laughed.
wei. j have made whistles out OF willows be-
tIIe now. a~nd-halloo! where did you get
he was pointing to q rare flower that hung