El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-12-29
CHAPTER II.
A RLooDY SLEEVE.


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 wharfs.
| 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 this house from all the others.
as it was the only one in which light
| was still burning. Mr.. Sutherland lost
no time in entering upon the scene of
the tragedy. AS his imposing figure
emerged from the darkness and paused
on the outskirts of the crowd blocking
up every entrance to the house, q MUIR
muir of welcome went up. after which
q way was made for him to the front
door.
But before he could enter some one
, plucked him by the sleeve.
"Look up" whispered voice into
his ear.
He did so and saw a woman's body
1t hung limp. and the sight made him
sick Notwithstanding his threescore
years of experience.
who's that?' he cried. That's not
Agatha Webb's head and shoulders"
mo. it's Batsy. the cook. She's dead
too. We left her where we found
her for the coroner to see"
But this is horribler' murmured Mr.
Sutherland. HAS there been a butch
er here?"
AS he uttered these words he felt an
other quick pressure on his arm. Look
ing 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. 1t was Miss Page.
at 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
sort of guardian at the main gateway.
Some of the sailors wives who had
been to the wharfs to see their hus-
bands off on the ship that sailed at day
break 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 Sutherland
towns most hearrrending 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..
Sutherland entered upon this path .
man appeared from the house and
came directly toward him. 1t was
Amos Fenton. the constable.
"Ah. Mr.. Sutherland" said he, 'sad
business. very sad business! But
what little girl have you thereT
This is Miss Page. my housekeepers
niece. She would come. InQuisitive-
ness. the cause. i dc not approve Of
it."
Miss Page must remain on the door
step. We allow no one inside except
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 cOurtesied, looking SO be-
witching in the fresh morning light
that the tough old constable scratched
his chin in grudging admiration. But
he did not reconsider his determination.
Seeing this. she accepted her defeat
gracefully and moved aside to where
the bushes offered her more or less pro-