El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-12-29

voice, and in another instant a dozen
men and boys came rushing into sight
in a state of such excitement that the
I'VE musicians recoiled from the gate.
and one of them went so far as to start
back toward the house. AS he did sc
he noticed a curious thing. The young
woman whom they had all perceived
standing in the door a moment before
had vanished, yet she was known to
profess the keenest curiosity of any
one in town.
"Murder. murderr" terrible and
unprecedented cry Ia this old. God
fearing town. Then came in hoarss
explanation from the jostling group
as they stopped at the gate: Mrs.
Webb has been killed! Stabbed with
q knifeI Tell Mr.. Sutherland!'
Mrs. Webbv'
AS the musicians heard this name, SO
honored and so universally beloved.
they to a man uttered a cry. Mrs.
Webb, Why. it was impossible.
Shouting in their turn for Mr.. Suther-
land. they all crowded forward.
Not Mrs. Webbp' they protested.
"who could have the daring or the
heart to kill herr" God knows" an
swered a voice from the highway. But
she's dead-we've just seen herr
Then it's the old mans work." qua
vered n piping voice we'll known as
that of the village shoemaker's. 1--WE
always said he would turn on his best
friend some day. 'Sylum's the best
place for folks as has lost their wits.
r.
But here hand was put over his
mouth. and the rest of the words be-
came an inarticulate gurgle. Mr.. Suth
erland had just appeared on the porch.
and these were not men to let their
voices be heard in his presence
He was a superb looking man. with
an expression of mingled kindness and
dignity that invariably awakened both
awe and admiration in the spectator.
No man in the country-I was going to
say no woman-was more beloved, nor
was any held in higher esteem. Yet he
could not control his only son, as every
one within ten miles of the hill we'll
knew.
pain and shock.
What name are you shouting out
there?" he brokenly demanded. Gag
atha Webb
rs agatha Webb hurt?"
dozen voices at once. We've just
come from the house. All the town is
up. Some say her husband did it,
mo, no. was Mr.. Sutherlands de-
cisive, though half inaudible response.
"Philemon Webb might end his own
life. but not Agatha's. 1t was the
money
Here he caught himself up. and. rails
ing his voice. addressed the crowd of
villa gers more directly.
Wait" said he. land I will go back
with you. Where is Frederick he
demanded of such members of his own
household as stood about him.
No one knew.
Il wish some one would find my
son. 1 want him to go into town with
me-"
Hes over in the woods there" vol
unteered a voice from without.
I'm the woodsr repeated the father
in a surprised tone.
Eyes. sir; we all saw him go. Shall
we sing out to him?"
mo. no: L will manage very we'll
without him." And taking up his hat
Mr.. Sutherland stepped out again upon
the porch.
Suddenly he stopped. A hand had
been laid on his arm and an insinuat-
ing voice was murmuring in his ear:
do you mind if l go with you? 1
will not make any trouble"
1t was the same young lady we have
seen before
The old gentleman frowned. he who
never frowned. and remarked shortly:
"a scene of murder is no place for
women"
The face upturned to his remained
unmoved.
81 think 1 will CO." she quickly per-
sisted. II can easily mingle with the
crowd"
He said not another word against It.
Miss Page was under pay in his house.
but for the last few weeks no one had
undertaken to contradict her. In the
interval since her first appearance on
the porch she had exchanged the light
dress in which she had danced at the
hall for darker and much more serv-
iceable one. and perhaps this token Of
her determination may have had lIs
influence in silencing him. He Joined
the crowd. and together they moved
down hill. This was too much for the
servants of the house. One by one
they. too. left the house till it stood alb
solutely empty. Jerry snuffed out the
candles and shut the front door. but
the side entrance stood wide open, and
into this entrance, as the last footstep
died out on the hillside, passed slight
and resoiute figure. 1t was that of the