Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05


passageway into the garden, seeing as
he ran persistent vision of himself
pulling off the ring and putting 1t back
again, under the spell of look he re-
belled against even while he yielded to
its influence.
II will not wear a ring. I will not
subject myself to the possibility Of
,obeying her .behest under sudden
stress Of fear or fascination" he ex-
claimed, pausing by the well curb and
looking over it at his reflection in the
water beneath. 'If drop 1t here, 1
at least lose the horror of doing what
she suggests under some Involuntary
impulse" But the thought that the
mere absence Of the ring from his fin
ger would not stand in the way of his
going through the motions to which
she had just given such significance
deferred him from the sacrifice of q
valuable family jewel, and he left the
spot with an air Of frenzy such as
man displays when he feels himself
on the verge of a doom he can neither
meet nor avert.
As he re-entered the house he felt
himself enveloped in the atmosphere
OF coming crisis. He could hear
voices In the upper hall, and among
them he caught the accents Of her he
had learned so lately to fear. 1mpelled
by something deeper than curiosity
and more potent even than dread, he
FASTENED toward the stairs. When
half way up them, he caught sight of
Amabel. She was leaning back against
the balustrade that ran across the up
per hall, with her hands gripping the
rail on either side Of her and her face
turned toward the five men who had
evidently issued from Mr.. Sutherland's
study to interview her.
AS her back was to Frederick, he
could not Judge Of the expression Of
that face save by the effect 1t had upon
the different men confronting her. But
to see them was enough. From their
girl was In one of her battling moods
and that, from his father down, not
one of the men present knew what to
make of her.
At the sound his feet made, relaxa-
ton took place in her body, and she
lost something Of the defiant attitude
she had before maintained. Presently
he heard her voice:
II am willing to answer any ques-
tons you may choose to put me here,
but cannot consent to shut myself in
with you in that small study. should
suffocate."
Frederick could perceive the looks
which passed between the five men as
sembled before her and was astonished
to note that the Insignificant fellow
they called Sweetwater was the first
to answer.
Every WE'LL" said he. ''If you enjoy
the publicity of the open hall, no one
here will object. Is not that SO, gen.
tlemen?"
Her two little fingers, which were
turned toward Frederick, ran up and
down the rail, making peculiar rasp-
ing noise, which for moment was the
only sound to be heard. Then Mr..
Courtney said:
Glow came you to have the handling
of the money taken from Agatha
Webb's private drawer"
1t was startling question, but 1t
seemed to affect Amabel less than it
did Frederick. 1t made him start, but
she only turned her head trife aside,
SO that the peculiar smile with which
she prepared to answer could be seen
by any one standing below.
Suppose you ask something less lead
ing than that to begin with" she sug-
gested in her high. unmusical voice.
from the searching nature Of this In
quiry you evidently believe have in
formation of an important character to
give you concerning Mrs. Webb's I'M
happy death. Ask me about that. The
other question will answer later"
The aplomb with which this was said,
mixed as 1t was with feminine al
lurement Of more than ordinary subtle-
ty, made Mr.. Sutherland frown and
DR.. Talbot look perplexed, but 1t did
not embarrass Mr.. Courtney, who made
haste to respond in his driest accents.
Every well, am not particular as to
what you answer first. A flower worn
by you at the dance was found near
Batsy's skirts before she was lifted up
that morning. Can you explain this,
or, rather, will you?"
"You are not obliged to, you know"
put in Mr.. Sutherland, with his inexo-
rable sense Of Justice. "Still, If you
would, it might rob these gentlemen OF
suspicious you certainly cannot wish
them to entertain"
"What say" she remarked slowly,
will be as true to the facts as IL
stood here on my oath. can explain
how flower from my hair came to BIZ
In Mrs. Webb's house, but not how II
came to be found under Batsy's feet
That some one else must clear up
Her little finger, lifted from the rail
pointed toward Frederick, but no one
saw this unless 1t was that gentleman
himself. II wore this orchid In my
hair that night, and there would be
nothing strange in Its being afterwart
picked up In Mrs. Webb's house, be
cause was in that house at or neal
the time she was murdered"
you in that houseT
Eyes, as far as the ground floor; M
farther" Here the little finger stopped
pointing. II am ready to tell yor
about 1t, sirs, and only regret have
delayed doing SO SO long, but wished
to be sure it was necessary. You
presence here and your first question
show that 1t is"
There was suavity in her tone now
not unmixed with candor. Sweetwatel
did not seem to relish this, for he NOV
ed uneasily on his feet and lost shade
of his self satisfied attitude. He hat
still to be made acquainted with all tn,
ms and outs Of the woman's remark
able nature.
1--WE are waiting" suggested DR.. Tai
bot.
She turned to face this new speaker
and Frederick was relieved from tn
sight of her tantalizing smile.
81 will tell my story simply" sait
she, with the simple suggestion tina
you believe me; otherwise you vii
make n mtstake While was RESTING