El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-02
CHAPTER XVIII.
A Willy WITNESS.

A Willy WITNESS.
Frederick rose early. He had slept
but little. The words he had overheard
at the end of the lot the night before
were still ringing in his ears. Going
down the back stairs in his anxiety to
avoid Amabel, he came upon one Of the
Btablemen.
-Drcn rue vInage tuIs morning :
he asked.
No, sir, but Lem has. There's great
news there. l wonder If any one has
told Mr.. Sutherland"
What news, Jake? / don't think my
father is up yet"
why, sir, there were two more deaths
in town last night-the brothers Zabe!
and folks do say Uem heard it dog
en- times between the grocery and tho
hsh markeD that it was one Of these
old men who killed Mrs. Webb. The
dagger has been found in their house
and most Of the money. Why, sir.
what's the matter? Are you sick?"
Frederick made an effort and stood
upright. He had nearly fallen.
''No-that is, l am not quite myself.
So many horrors, Jake"
What did they die Of? You say they
are both dead-both?'
Yes, sir, and it's dreadful to think
of, but it was hunger. sir. Bread came
too late. Both men are mere skeletons
to look at. They have kept themselves
close for weeks now, and nobody knew
how bad of they were. l don't won
der 1t upset you, sir. We all feel it
bit and just dread to tell Mr.. Suther-
land"
Frederick staggered away. He had
never in his life been SO near mental
and physical collapse. At the thresh-
old of the sitting room door he met hia
father. Mr.. Sutherland was looking
both troubled and anxious-more so.
Frederick thought. than when he sign
ed the check for him on the previous
night. AS their eyes met both showed
embarrassment, but Frederick. whose
nerves had been highly strung up BY
what he had just heard. soon control
led himself and. surveying his father
with forced calmness, began:
This is dreadful news. sir"
But his father, intent on his own
thought, hurriedly interrupted him.
You told me yesterday that every
thing was broken off between you and
Miss Page. yet | saw you re-enter the
house together last night n little while
after I gave you the money you asked
for"
Il know, and it must have had a bad
appearance. l entreat you. however. to
believe that this meeting between Miss
Page aud myself was against my wish
and that the relations between us have
not been affected by anything that
passed between u.s."
am glad n hear II NV son Ynrr
could not do worse by yourself than to
return to your old devotion"
Il agree with you, sir" And then,
becausa no Could nat h@,a L. C'----,~-'--
She frowned 1t was an instantane-
GUS expression of displeasure which
was soon lost in one of her gurglinR
laughs
"Is my touch so burdeusome?" she
demanded. IF the pressure of one fin-
ger is so unbearable to your sensitive
nerves. how will you relish the weight
Of my whole hand!'
There was a fierceuess In her tone. q
purpose in her look that for the first
time in his struggle with her revealed
the full depth of her DARK nature.
Shrinking from her appalled,. he put up
his hand in protest. at which she
"
= cautious gesture toward the room in
to which Mr. Sutherland and his
friends haG disappeared. she whisper
ed significantly:
I'VE may not have another chance to
confer together. Understand. then. that
II will not be necessary for you tn tell
me. in so many words, that you are
ready TO link your fortunes to mine;
the taking off of the ring you wear and
your slow putting of it on again in my
presence. will be understood by me As
q token that you have reconsidered
your present attitude a1d desire my ST.
lence and-myself."
Frederick could not repress a shud-
der.
For an instant he was tempted to
succumb on the spot and have the long
agony over. Then his horror of the wo-
man rose to such a pitch that he utter
ed an execration. and, turning away
from her face. which was rapidly grow
ing loathsome to him, he ran out of the
passageway into tho garden. seelng az